The record-union., 1891-05-03
THE SEAL FISHERIES.
BRITONS NOT CONTENT WITH THE
SUPREME COURTS ACTION.
The ''Thunderer'' Comments Upon
Blaine's and Choate's Views of
the Question.
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.

Special TO the SUNDAY UNION.
New YORK, May 2.-Smalley, in his let
ter TO the Tribune from London says:
1.-The long summaries of undelivered
arguments of the Solicitor General and
Choate in the Sayward was cabled to the
Times, some five columns in all. The
postponement Of the case to October,
nevertheless, vexes the souls of the Brit
ons, or of such Britons as care much
about Behring Sea. No great number |
think. There is complaint of the
slow pace of justice in the Su-
preme Court. The whole civilized
world is asked to wait shriells the Times,
which proceeds TO complain that the
Federal Government raises technical OBJ
jectiOns, complaint all the more bitter
because the objections are seen to be
formidable to England.
However, there is but one element of
interest in the matter, namely: What
jurisdiction may the United States law
fnlIy exercise over Behring Sea?' Upon
this question our English critic confesses
that the published cases throw little
light. Taft's argument adds, in his
opinion, nothing TO Blaine's 'vacillating,
fun and DISTINCT and the petitioners
may confidently rest their case upon the
catalogue OF authorities which Choate
collects. The Supreme Court judges
Will hear with gratitude that, though
none Of them are like Marshall and Story,
juriStS of worldwide repute, they are re-
garded in England with respect
''We have full confidence observes
this writer, that the court will deal with
the question without regard to Blaines
inflated pretensions, or the interest of the
Alaska Company
This is ill-mannered, but apparently
not ilI-meant.
Henry George will be pleased to hear
that there are thirty-nine members of the
House of Commons who are part-cOn-
verts TO part of his scheme for robbing
the owners of land. They differ with
him about the robber. They would have
the robbing done, not by the State, but
by the municipality. They have adopted
multiplication Of the land instead of
its naturalization. The word is worse,
the theory is no better.
"Holdane, who led this little band, is
Scotch member, with taste for me-
taphysics, who was disciple OF Schop-
enhauer and Wiel before he took up with
George. He bases himself on Mills 'un-
earned increment theory phrase, which
neither Mills nor any disciple of Mills
has ever accurately defined. Holdane's
mind is opposed to naturalization with
out compensation, but thinks municip-
aliZation without compensation just.
The first proposition he affirms, so
that his discipleship to George is imper-
feet. The second may be inferred from
his complaint that the local authority
has no power TO intercept an unearned
increment for the benefit of the commu-
nifty The number of members who
differed from him was three hundred and
fourteen, so that the present majority in
the British House of Commons against
the Holdane-George views is two hun
dred and seventy-tive.
The question whether anybody con-
nected with the Evlyn Hurburt case
would be prosecuted was again put to the
| Attorney Genernal in the House of Com
mons on Thursday. He assured the
| House that the evidence was under the
| consideration of the Public Prosecutor,
/ and referred TO the report that the
| plaintiff had moved for new trial
| Sir Richard Webster is evidently uneasy,
and his position dis peculiar. 1t is
! quite possible that he, as Attorney
General, may be called on to advise
whether his own client ought to
| be proceeded against for perjury.
! Not only was he Hurlburt's counsel,
! bat he expressed his belief in his
clients story, belief of which he had
! the monopoly. Nobody else has been
| heard TO express belief in it, nor is Hurl-
! burt's temperance in London society
! expected until he has discovered Wilfred
! Murray, who produced and proved that
! he was the author of those $50 obscene
! letters, of which the handwriting can
not be distinguished from Hurlburts.
/ This eminent American, who has done
| his country so much honor, is expected
TO sail on Sunday tor New York"