Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-06-18
MATTERS OF STATE.
Commissioners to be Sent to
Study the Pet of the Darlings.
SEAL SACQUES WILL GO UP.
A Closed Season Has Been Ordered-The
Powers That Be Trying to Buy
Few Coaling Stations-The Mis-
take of Moses Douglass.
Behring sea Matters.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE agreement
between the United States and Great
Britain relative to a closed season i'll the
Behring sea embraces the distinct under
standing that Joint commission shall At
once be appointed for the purpose of in
vestigating the condition of seal life on the
Pribyler islands This commission will
consist of five members, two experts to be
selected by each government and Il chair
man to be chosen by the four. Speculation
is already rife as TO the men
who will be chosen to represent
the United States. The names most prom
inently mentioned are Henry W. Elliott,
the scientist, TO whose labors are due al
most all the trustworthy literature on the
subject of the seal; Special Agent Tingle,
who has lived upon the islands, and Special
Agent Golf, who was recently a treasury
expert, supervising the work of the North
American commercial company.
The announcement of the appointment of
the joint commission may be expected
shortly and may be soon followed by the
nomination of the arbitrator who are TO
adjudicate the main points of the contro-
verSy.
The Behring sea question was further
considered at the cabinet meeting yester-
day with a view of taking such additional
steps as may be deemed necessary to en-
force a strict compliance with the
terms of the agreement for closed
season. Certain changes have been made
in the orders to the revenue cutter
telegraphed from Washington yesterday,
but it is deemed for the best interest of
the government that they be kept from the
public for the present. All that can be
learned about them from official sources
is that they modify certain details
of yesterdays instructions, but do not
change their general character in the matter
of seizures and the institution of legal pro.
ceedings
AN IMPoRTAST CONFERENCE
was held at the White House Monday after
noon. Those present were President Har-
rison, Secretary Tracy, John w. Foster of
Gherardi. The greatest secrecy is main
tanned regarding the conference,
which had reference to securing
SANTANA bay as naval coaling station.
Admiral Gherlrdi explained to the other
gentlemen the advantages that would
accrue from securing station there. Sec
rotary Tracy keenly appreciates the neoes-
Sity for one if not two cOaling stations in
the West Indies, and it is probable that in
the near future we shall have possession of
both SANTANA bay and Mole St. Nicholas.
The British government has four such sta
lions and Germany has about completed the
purchase of the Island of St.
IhOmaS from denmark WIN the
view of terrifying it and making it
rendezvous for the Atlantic squadron.
MINISTER FRED DOUGLASS
will return firm Hayti on the next steamer
leaving Port au Prince. He would have
been here before this. but for the recently
attempted revolution in the island. II is
now officially understood as foreshadowed
in The GAZETTE, that Douglass will not be
sent back to Hayti. He has been a heavy
load to the administration. and it was with
a great sigh of relief that they heard he pur-
posed resigning as soon as he visited
Washington. His advanced age and the
unhealthfulness of the climate render it i'm
possible for him TO remain longer in Port
Au Prince. / learn through diplomatic
channels that Douglass has been more of a
stumbling block in, our negotia-
lions for Mole St. Nicholas than
has been suspected. So far from
seconding Admiral Gherardi in his efforts
to secure a harbor he took occasion. l am
told TO inform the Haytians. that the ces-
sion after all was one of comparative in
difference to the United States and that the
refusal of Hayti to surrender Mole would
not in any way affect the relations of the
two countries. Since these facts have be-
come known they have furnished a new in
depreciation of Hippolyte's insulting and
arbitrary course in the matter.