Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-04-20
THE SENATE At WORK.
It Breaks It's Record by Getting the
Boring Sea MOduS
IN ONLY TWO SESSIONS.
Extremely Quick Work for That Dscrspid Old
BOdy-Soms Of the Provisions Of the Agree
ment Signed BY Blaine and the
British Minister.


WASHINGTON, d. c., April 16.-In his
message transmitting the Bering Sea
Modus Vivendi to the Senate yesterday,
the President said: "As the value and
effectiveness Of this agreement depend
largely upon its being put In force az
Bnce, 1 respectfully request a prompt
consideration Of the subject In the Sen
Rte."
The Senate aeceded to this request
with the greatest expedition. The
treaty was received yesterday after
noon. referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations, which acted upon II
this morning, and reported 1t to the
Senate favorably this afternoon. The
treaty was discussed less than two nours
and then 10 was ratified with SuOStan-
tial unanimity. AS heretofore explain
ed the modus vivendl took the
form OF a convention or treaty,
because it differed from last year
agreement in the inclusion OF clauses
relative TO damages. The preamble
is identical with that OF the Bering Sea
arbitration treaty. The convention it
self comprises seven articles, the hrst
four oi which are precisely similar In
language with the mOduS vlveudl or last
wear, with the exception Of change IN
article 1, OF the words "until May
next" 10 during the pendency OF the
arbitration" which governs the life
OF the mOdus vivendt. Briefly
stated, these articles prohibit Great
Britain and the United States from seal
killing i'm Berlng Sea and on the seal
islands (save $500 seals TO be taken
mon the islands by the United States
for the subsistence OF the nativesl dur
ing the arbitration; provide for the
seizure Of offending vessels, and permit
the residence OF British agents on the
islands during the sealing season. Ar
ticles s and are new and read as tol-
lows:
Article VT the result Of the srbitra
tion be 10 affirm the right Of British seal
ers 70 take seals In Beriug Sea within the
bounds claimed by the United states under
IT'S purchase from Russia, then cOmpensa-
ton shall be made by the United states 20
Great Britain (tOr the use or her SuolectS)
for abstaining from the exercise or tnaJ
right during the tendency or arOitrauon
upon the basis Of such regulated and
limited catch, and as in the opinion
of the arb. .tratOrS might have Oeen
taken without an undue diminutiOn OF the
seal heards, and on the other hand, II the
result OF the arbitration shall be to deny
the right Of British sealers TO take seals
within the said waters, then compensation
shall be made by Great Britain 70 the
United States (f0r itself, its citizens and
lesseesl for this agreement, TO limit the Is
land catch TO z, 800 a season upon the basis
of the difference between this number and
such larger catch as in the opinion OF the
arbitratOrs might have bean taken without
an undue diminution of the seal heard
The amount awarded, If any, in eithercase
shall be such as under all the circumstances
is lust and equitable and shall be promptly
paid.
Article VI.-This convention may be re-
noupced by either Of the contracting par
tres AT anv time after the 3lst day Of Octo-
Der. 1903, on giving TO the other party two
months notice of its termination; and at
lie expiration OF such notice the cOnven-
tion shall cease TO be in force
The seventh and last article simply
provides for the exchange OF ratitca-
tions as early as possible.
The treaty is signed by Secretary
Blaine and Sir Julian Pauncefote, and
is dated Yesterday, so that to-day the
Senate has probably broken the record
OF speedy action upon treaties,