Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-30


PHASE OF THE DEBATE WAS THAT THK TREArr
ITSELF WAS NOT DISCUSSED.
The Bering sea arbitration treaty has at last i
been ratified. vote was reached yesterday
afternoon, and. without the least hitch or disa- |
greement, the Senate put itself on record in |
favor Of the treaty. There had been opposi-
tion to the document, but within the two or |
three days preceding the roll call II had van |
ished completely.
Yesterdays session was very much like its |
immediate predecessors in one respect; it was Q
dreary continuation of uninteresting speeches.
in which the already overfowed and narrowed
ground was again disturbed.
SENATOR sHERMAN's EXPLANATIONS
Senator Sherman was the first orator. He
explained away one or two points on which .
few Senators were alleged to be Q trihe be-
logged. and then gave way to those who de-
sired to prolong the agony with further sue
more or less grammatical, but non-
exciting fashion. Those who addressed
the chair after Senator Sherman got through
with his opening address were Senators Hig
gins, Morgan, Palmer and Stewart. None Of
these developed anything that looked like in
formation and when they wearied the roll was
called Seventy-two Senators-all that we're
present-voted in the affirmative. They are
the following Senators:
Allen. Allison, Barbour. Bate Berry. Black
Chandler. Cockrell, Coke. Cullom, Daniel
Dawes, Dixon, Dolph. Dubois, FELTON,, Frye,
Gallinger George, Gibson of Louisiana, Glib
son of Maryland, Gordon, German, Gray, Hale,
Hansbrongh, Hawley, Higgins, Hiscock, Hoar
Kenna, Kyle. Mcmillan. Mcpherson, Mitchell,
Morgan. Paddock. Palmer, Pasco, PETER, Per-
kins, Pettigrew, Platt, Power. Proctor, Pugh,
Quay, Ransom, Sanders, Sawyer, Sherman,
shoup. Squire, Stewart Stockbridge. Teller,
Turpie, Vance, Vest, Villas Voorhees,, Wslthall,
Warren, Washburn, White Wilson and VOL
cott
THE TREATY ITSELF NOT DISCUSSED.
One of the most noteworthy things in con-
nection with the treaty is the fact that the
treaty itself has never been discussed Senators
have reeled off learned disquisitions on
all the uuimportant issues that seemed
probable and on several that were highly
improbable. but they have unanimously
refrained from discussing the character or the
terms of the document itself.
THE COURT OF ARBITRATION.
1t is stated this afternoon-and the informa-
ton comes from a reliable source-that the
court of arbitration has been reorganized;
Austria taking the place Of Italy. There has
always been objection to Italy because
1t was believed by a good many people
that the Italian monarch would probably
be influenced in his decision by a natural de-
sire to get even for that New Orleans affair. As
against this statement is another to the effect
that this government has decided to pay Italy
lOO,O0O, francs as stated elsewhere.
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES
Before the Bering sea treaty was ratified the
President had decided upon the men whom he
desired to represent the United States upon
the arbitration board.
Ile chosen ones were ey-Senafar John n
| Spooner of Wisconsin and ex-Minister Phelps
| of Vermont 1t Is understood that Mr. Phelps
| has expressed preference for a position as
| counsel, but the administration would be
| better pleased if he would stick to the original
assignment should Mr.. Phelps insist on being
an attorney the place will be offered to some
eastern democrat of prominence and ability.
Ex-President Cleveland's name has been men
| toned in connection with the possible vacancy.
PROVISIONS OF TIE TREATY.
The Bering sea arbitration treaty or conven-
ton was signed in Washington on February 20
last by James G. Blaine on the part of the
| United States and Sir Julian Pauncefote on the
| part of Great Britain. 1t was sent to the Sem
ate in confidence on the Sth instant The
treaty provides that the Bering sea
controversy shall be submitted to a tri-
bunal of arbitration, to be composed of
seven arbitrators, the President Of the
United States and her Britannia majesty
| 10 name Two tdCu anu Tue prtelOtDt Oh france.
| the King of Italy and the King Of Sweden and
Norway to name one each. Five questions are
| to be submitted to the arbitrators. These are:
| l. What exclusive jurisdiction in the sea now
known the Bering sea, and what exclusive
rights in the seal fisheries therein. did Russia
| assert and exercise prior and up to the
| time of the cession of Alaska to the United
| States? 2. How far were these claims Of
| jurisdiction as to the seal fisheries recog-
nized and conceded by Great Britain?
3. Was the body of water now known as the
Bering sea included in the phrase Pacific
ocean used in the treaty Of 1925 between
Great Britain and Russia, and what rights. if
! any. in the Bering sea were held and exclu-
| sively exercised by Russia after said treaty?
4. Did not all the rights of Russia as to juris-
| diction and as to the seal fisheries in Bering
sea east Of the water boundary in the treaty
| between the United States and Russia of the
| 3Oth Of March, 1867, pass unimpaired to the
United States under that treaty. 8. Has the
United States any right. and, if SO. what right
| OF protection property in the fur seals fire.
bering sea when such seals are found outside
the ordinary three-mile limit?
The printed case of tho two parties. accom-
panied by documents OF official correspondence
and other evidence, is to be delivered in dupli-
cate to each arbitrator and to the agents of
| each high contracting party as as
possible after the appointment Of the tribunal,
but within period not exceeding four months
from the exchange OF the ratlhcation OF the
treaty. Within the next month. unless
more time is required, the counter cases
are to be delivered. The arbitrators are to
meet in Paris within twenty days after the de-
livery Of the counter case, or what might be
called evidence in rebuttal The question Of
the liability of either government for damages
is to be subject to further negotiations, al
though the arbitrators may decide on questions
of fact involved. All questions considered by
the tribunal. including the final decision, are
to be determined by majority Of the srbitra-
tors.
The treaty also provides for the appointment
of two commissioners by each Of the high con-
tracing parties to investigate and report facts
having relation to seal life and measures neces-
sary for its preservation. The decision Is to be
made within four months after the close Of ar
gument on both sides, and il IL to be final
The exchange of the ratification of the treaty
is to be made either at Washington or at Lon
don within six months from its date February
29), or earlier, IL possible.