The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-05
The Secretary Scratching His Head Over
The Alaska Seal Fisheries.
An IMPORTANT RAILROAD DECISION.
An opinion OF tho Attorney General. which
is in reference 20 Withholding Govern
ncnt Property Capital Notes.


nalv 20 patrol those waters and prevent seal
poaching. Secretary Blaine wants TO await
the return of the President before deciding
She policy of the Government with regard 10
soal-catching in the waters of BehTing sea-
Secretary Foster is averso o. the delay. urging
as has already been stated IN The Times, that
tho revenue cutters are nearly ready 20 sail
from San Francisco.
Mr. Blaine advised that The date of the sail
ing be postponed and nat the commanders of
the cutters be informed that their instruc-
tons would be forwarded later by special
messenger. % bo delivered at some point on
the route of the cutters. 10 Is probable that
the latter plan viii be adopted and the mes
senger To bear the instructions viii bel;
Stanley Brown. recently appointed special
Treasury agent for Alaska. The fact
is that Secretary Blaine IS very
much embarrassed over this Beh-
ring sea matter, not because of diplomatic
complications, hut because of a powerful in
hucnce that is being eXerted 10 control his de-
cision. twill Dee remembered that the contract
with the United States Government for taking
seals WAS awarded TO the North American
Commercial Company, in which Russell b.
Harrison, son of the President. is prominent
stephen b. Elkius. an old personal friend
both politically and in business of Mr.
Blaine's, is also a stockholdcr. and another in
nuentlal stOckhOlder is Senator Davis. of
West Virginia. who. though q Democrat, is q
warm personal friend of the President.
THE MAXIMUM NUMBER.
The contract stipulated that the maximum
number of seals 10 be taken IN any one year
should be 900 When the company began
operations bsst year. Mr. Gof, brother of
1eueral Nathan Gof, of West Virginia. was
Government agent IN Alaska. with authority
t0 watch over the seal industry and protect
Il The new company began to r1thlessly
slaughter young bull seals, the tuls of
which possess q higher commercial value
than other seals. Mr. Con protested
that the selection for the slaughter of
tins ONE species would seriously inJure the In
dustv. The cOmpany's agents ignored the
protest. whereupOn Mr.. Con exercised his
authority iu immediately stopping tine killing
when only Zl,O0O seals had been slaughtered.
For TINS 10 most vigorous warfare was lnaugu-
rated against Mr.. GOh. Ted 10y Russell Harrison
and Steve Llkus. They wanted govern
ment agent more plant than Goii, FOR 1t Is well
understood that with am agent that would be
tool the company could slaughter the seals
without restraint They could as easily Kill
100000 in yeaI US so 600. Not many days at-
forwards Alr Goh was removed. This action
WIS taken after q special agent had been sent
out % Investigate the facts, and had sub
mltted report not only verifying all
COTS statements but even going further and
asserting That unless the commercial company
restrained thes sealing would be impaired
senousy Mir. Con IS proof of the potent
influence Of the commercial company 1t ac-
counts for the fact that Secretary Blaine de-
slres TO defer all actions m the premises until
he can confer with the President, as the lat
ter's son Is an interested party.
lord sALIsBUBY's PEoFFEB.
Another point at issue is the profer Of Lord
Salisbury 10 suspend all slaughter of seals for
Ht least season. 10 enable the thorough ln-
yestigation of the entire situation, in order
that the two Governments may Jointly and
nmicably take action to protect and preserve
the industry. Secretary Blaine has So far de-
a.. ned TO accept this offer. and In con-
ue,ti.n with this 10 is significant that |
the Commercial Company was protected |
against their being ntertered with. at |
least during the coming season. They clam |
chat If the course indicated by Lord Salisbury !
% be adopted it should be deferred until |
the close of the coming season. Messrs. |
Ilhlls and DAVIS have employed G. VI. Hend- |
lev at "a salary of $500 year. IL |
s now understood that he is EN-
p1yed to further the interests of the
Commercial Company. his long connection /
lu "a confidential capacity with the Treasury
enabling him 20 be of special use. Hendiey
ls now enjoying q thirty days leave of alb |
seuce and he has already begun to work for
his new employers by endeayoung confluence /
decision of the Department of Justice in !
yolylng The power OF Goh TO stop seal-klllng !
last wear.
Thus it can be seen that Secretary Blaine is |
embarrassed by internal influences and per /
picking perplcXities as well as by diplomatic |
questions.
AN IMPORTANT RAILWAY DECISION.
The Attorney-General to-day rendered an |
opinion which indirectly interests the rail !
roads of the country. The question at issue |
involved the power of railroad or any |
transportation company 10 Withhold govern |
ment property until the payment for transport
ing the same was made. The details OF the case
lre that the Government being In immediate |
need of some lumber which was IN Pensacola,
Fla, for use in the repairs of the naval YES
bels at Portsmouth, \. H., made a contract
with the Louisville and Nashville Railroad
Company for rs transportation. The lumber
was needed Immediately, and besides the
Government had no means al command for its
transportation by water Hence the railroad
contract Ia the course of transportation the
lumber had TO pass over the Boston and
Name railroad Upon ITS arrival at Ports
mouth the latter company put IA a claim Tor
compensation IN addition TO its prOpOrtiOnate
share of the original contract. After inyesti-
eating the claim the naval officers at
Portsmouth allowed It. whereupOn the
Boston and Maine Company demanded
payment for compensation before delivery
] his the naval officer could not comply with,
and the railroad company positively re-
fused to deliver the lumber until
mouth officials referred the matter to Wash
lngtOn and the question was referred 10
the Attorney General. lie to-day issued in
10 the United States District
Attorney of New Hampshire iustructing him
90 adopt means TO force the delivery of the
lumber. This is practically q decision that
the Government property cannot be retained
to enforce the payment OF transportation
sharges.
THE ITALIAN QUESTION.
Premier Rudini's late note TO Marquis I'm
,eriali has not, in the opinion Of the State
Department people, wrought any change in
the Italian question. lmperiali was extremely
Ieucent about the matter to-day and would
only say. You must let the communication
speak for itself" State Department officials,
while slow TO express opinion, do not attach
much importance 20 the last note. 1t is
regarded here as intended solely for
home consumption" and 70 be used there
lof me purpose OF inspiring the Italian people
"th the idea that their government IS pur-
sung q vigorous and resentful policy. Whlle
Is thought the relations between the two
nauons are not in the least improved by tins
.e-est Italian "capor" the great difference OF
e~e Tone Of the note which embodied
a. demand and an ultimatum. and
j." latest. which suggests "a grievance and
protest. Is freely commented upon IN