The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-08-18
WAGON WHEAT
Hig hest Market Price.
ARCADE MILLS.
WHAT TOPAY SEAL PIRATES
Question That Will Take Time to Deter.
mine and Cause Considerable Worry.
Full Rental Demanded by Secretary Carlisle
from Lessees Of the Pribyloff Islands,
Despite Their Catch Was Limited.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 1.-THE interest. OF.
fcially, in the Bering sea decision now
centers in the question of damages this
country will be obliged to pay Great
Britain to remunerate its seal-huntIng sub
jeots who were kept out OF Bering sea
through the operation OF the modus viven-
d.. or where seized as poachers prior to an
agreement. In accordance with Article
of the convention for the removal of the
modus vivendi. the arbitration tribunal
must decide how much compensation is due
Great Britian from the United States to be
used for British subjects for Abstsining
from the exercise of tho right to take seals
In Bering sea during the pendenoy Of the
arbitration. 1t 10 understood that the COM
missloners of arbitration have already
passed on the subject, but their report has
not been made public. so much 10 definitely
settled with regard to the damages this
government will be obliged 10 pay. and
they must be paid promptly by agreement
in the treaty renewing the modus vivendi.
But tho main question OF damages for
seizures made is not in SO de6nable and
settled condition. Nothing In the srbitra-
ton treaty or the convention for q renewal
of the modus vivendl makes provision for
GLOWING damages to persons who have
been injured through the unlawful SEIZURE
OF sealing vessels, and it is stated at the
Department Of State that the matter must
take the course usually followed in diDlo-
macy claims against the United States.
eithor individually or In bulk. which Will
be filed by the owners OF vessels seized.
Then the United States will enter into COR
respondenco with the government of Great
Britain with reference TO their settlement
IT it is seen that q settlements as TO the
justice OF the claims mado and the compen-
sation to be made can be reached the mat
ter will proceed through the ordinary
channels. In case of failure to come to
some basis for settlement without resort
to arbitration, end lt Is predicted that
failure will oo cur, the two governments
will agree to leave the question to the
judgment Of an un prejudiced tribunal. and
TO this erd claims commission Will be ap-
pointed. Ii Is therefore to be seen that
some time must elapse before q deInite ar
rangement will DO reached respecting the
course of procedure with reference TO the
assessment of seizure damages.
An extraordinary and unexpected sequel
of the controversy is that the lessees of the
PribyloH Islands, who, since the agitation
of the questions now decided by arbitra-
tion. have, year by year. been restrained
by the United States within narrower linn
lis In regard to the number OF seals cap-
tured. have now been officially advised
that the full amount OF their stipulated
United states, and that the action of the
previous administration In reducing the
rental to correspond with the reductions
enforced In the catch was illegal Score
tary Carlisle to-day made an of-
loan Commercial Company for $685.
III for rental and bonus of the
Pribyloff islands. The amount due by
years Is stated as follows: 1850. S47. .403; 1891,
Sl33. .62S; 1892. Sl0S.6S6. The action of Sec-
retarv Carlisle is based on ali opinion rem
dered by Attorney-general Olney. In bis
letter to Lloyd Travis. of San Francisco
Cal. presldent of the North American
Commercial Company. Secretary Carlisle
says: Tho action of my predecessors in
making reductions in the rental and bonus
which Your company agreed to pay to the
United States, under its contract for the
exclusive privilege of taking fur seals in
Alaska. was without authority of law.n
The original contract. which was en- tered
into in 1889, fixed the annual rents a. SEC, COO
per year. and limited the catch of any one
year 90 100.0 600 seals. which catch could be
reduced In the discretion of the Secretary
of the Treasury. In addition to this rent tai
the government was TO receive $500 per
skin oil each seal taken, besides other pro-
visions as TO the care of the natives. The
Secretary of the Treasury fixed the limit
of the catch in 1890 at 500 seals. The next
year about thirteen Thousand were taken,
and In 1892 10500 Acting on an opinion
rendered by Attorney-genera Miller. SEQ
retary Charles Foster, as he had reduced
tho catch of seals from the original con-
tract of 100 600. reduced the rent in proper
tion. This action of Secretary Foster Is
now declared to have been illegal, hence
the demand made. which. it Is understood,
will be followed by legal proceedings in
case the demand Is not complied with.
Two Seal Islands Raided.