New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-20
THE COMMERCIAL COMPANY PROTESTS.

IT WILL DEMAND THAT THE UNITED STATES
REIMBURSE 1T FOR ITS LOSSES.
Washington, June 1o.-The North American Com
mercial Company. through its attorney, Judge y. L.
Jeffries has filed protest with Actng7Secreodry
6paulding OF the Treasury Department which repre-
sents that previous and at the time OF the lettns
Of the contract the Secretary, by public advertisement
assured the company that 1t would DO permitted TO take
st. Paul and St. George islands quota OF 6O,oOo
sealskins during 1900, and the company agreed to
pay TO the United States three times greater than
had been paid by the former lessee which proposal was
accepted that the company purchased from the former
lessee the Alaska Commercial Company, Its property
on those islands, and large stock Of supplies, pro-
visions, goods and merchandise for the wants Of the
Inhabitants, and chartered steamship at greet cost
to transport the supplies to the islands and TO bring
back 10000 sealskins.
The company further represents that In violation
of the terms and spuatons Of the contract the United
States compelled the company to cease taking seals
July 20, 1900, when the scaling season had not ex-
prel, and tho company had obtained only onethTd OF
the quota Of seaskins; account Of which the COM
pany sustained a loss in the sum of 100000 The
company protests and submits that it Is Justly entitled
to receive from the United States such sum as will
compensate ii for the loss.
The company further represents that. acting under
the authority Of law and the provisions Of the lease the
Secretary OF the Treasury April 10, 1891, fixed the
quota OF seaIskins which the company would be per-
mted 20 take during the present year at 10000 skins
and that the company again purchased large stock OF
supplies, to the amount Of $65,0O0 and chartered
steamer at great expense to transport the supplies TO
the seal Islands and to bring to San Francisco the seal
skins and now the company, having been Informed
by tho Secretary that IL will not be permitted to take
its quota of seals it respectfully enters It's protest
against such action by the United States, and gives
notice to the Secretary that it will claim to be rcin
burSed by the United States
The company further represents that In providing
for the maintenance and education Of the Inhabitants OF
the Islands OF ST. Paul and St. George 1t has expended
315O00O for which ii has not been reimbursed In any
part the company has been assured by the Score
tary that the United States will lquidate the amount
Including as we'll the price OF supplies and cost OF
schools medicines and medical attendance during 1890
and 1891. The company will be obliged hereafter to
demand OF the United States the full amount so ex-
pended.
Tie company respectfully invites the attention OF
the Secretary to the fact that the Islands Of ST. Paul
and St. George belong to and are in the undisputed
possession Of the United States; that the right of this
Government to dispose Of the fur seals born on the ISL
ands has never been questioned. This being so, the
company assumes that the right OF the United states or
It's Lessee to take fur seals those Islands Is beyond
dispute, and not subject 10 question or interference by
| England or any other foreign state. The company
pectfuly insists that the agreement between the two
Governments set forth I'm the Presidents proclamation
I'm so far it prohibits the company from taxing b
lawful quota OF sealshns. Is In cOntraventol Oh te
vested rights of this company and subjects 1t TO great