The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-18
MUST PAY RENT.
Bad News for the North
American.
CARLISLE EXACTS 1T ALL.
He Will Overthrow the Ruling
of Secretary Foster.
NO MATTER WHAT THE BILL WAS
Government Dues to Be Met in Full
by the Lessees of the Pri-
byloff Islands.
CARLISLE EXAcTs 1T ALL.
NO MATTER WHAT THE BILL WAS
Special to THE MoRsiNe CALL.


WASHINGTON. Aug. 17.-Interest ofi-
cially in the Boring Sea decision now CEN
ters in the question of the amount of dam
ages this country will. be obliged to pay
Great Britain on behalf of her seal-hunting
subjects kept out of Bering Sea through
the operation of the modus vivendi or
those seized as poachers prior to the agree
ment. =. =. -: -. =
" In accordance with article Y of the con-
ventfon for the renewal of the modus
vivendi. the arbitration tribunal must de-
eide how much compensation is due Great
Britain from the United States to be used
for British subjects, for abstaining from
theexereise of the right.to take seals in
Bertng Sea during the pendency of the
arbitration 1t is understood that the
commissioners. of arbitration have already
J assed- on the subject, but their report has
not been N ade public. 1t is definitely
settled that this Government will be
obliged 10 pay damages, and they
must be paid promptly. By the
agreement in the treaty. renewing the
nodus vivendi. the main question of
damages for seizures made is not in a de-
Unable and settled condition., Nothing in
the arbitration treaty or convention for
the removal of the modus yiyendi makes
provision for allowing damages to persons
who have been injured through the unlaw-
ful seizure of sealing vessels. and it is
stated at the Department of State that the
matter must take the course. usually fol-
lowed ia diplomacy. and claims against
the United States. either Individually or
In bulk. must be filed by the owners of the
T. vessels seized. ..s
In case of failure to come to snme.b basis
for settlement without resort to arbitra-
ti0n, and it is predicted the failure will
occur, the two Governments will agree to
leave the question to.the judgment of an
unDrejudiced tribunal, and to. this end a
Claims Commission will be appointe It
Will therefore be seen that.sonie time must
lapse before definite arrangement can be
reached respecting the course of procedure
with. reference 10 the assessment of
seizure damages.
F: Al" "extraordin ary and unexpected sequel
: 70 the controversy is that-the lessees of the
PTibyloff Islands, who since the agitation
OF the question now decided by the arbi-
tration. have, year by year, been restrained
blythe United States within the narTowest
limits in regard to the number of seals
captured, have now been officially ad-
vised that the full amount of their stipu-
lated: rent will be exacted from them by
the United States, and that the action o f
the. previous administration In reducing
rental to correspond: with the reductions
enforced in the catch was Illegal. Secre-
tary Carlisle to-day made an official:de-
mand on the Nortfr American Commercial
Company for.s2S9 III Tor rental and bonus
OF the Pribyloff Islands. .Theamount due
! by years is stated as follows: 1890, Sat-
4O2; 1891, $I38628s 1892. S108. $50. The
action of Secretary Carlisle is based ON.
the opinion rendered by Attorney General
Olney. =. :: T..
In his letter to Itdyd Isvis of San Fran
cisco. president Of the North American
Commercial Company Secretary Carlisle
says: "The action of my predecessor in
making a reduction In; the rental. and
bonus which your. company agreed to pay
TO the United States under its contract for
the exclusive priYIegeof taking fur seals
in Alaska was without authority Of law"
The original contract entered into in
1889 fixed the annual rental at $50, 600 per
year and limited the maximum catch in
any one year to 100, 600 seals, which eaten
could be reduced ia the discretion of the
Secretary of the Treasury In addition to
this rental The Government was to receive
SO 60 per skin on each seal taken, besides
other provisions as TO the care of the q "a
Z tives. Tine Secretary of the Treasury fixed
the limit Of the catch in; 1890 at 1900 seals.
The next year about $4,000 were taken and
: fn:1S92 70, ,500.. Acting on an opinion rem
dered. by Attorney General Miller, Secre-
: taIy Charles Foster. as he had reduced the
:: catch*of seals>from the original contract of
+: 400, 900" reduced the. rent in proportion.
+. Ilris action:of Secretary Foster is now de-
" elaTed 10 have. been. illegal, hence the de-
mand is.maade which it is. understood will
be. followed by:leGaf: proceedings in case
the DEM and lsnot t corn piled with.
VICTORIA b: C.,A6g. 1.-THE balance
Of indemnIty.::money paid by the British
Government, to%:Nictoria Sc aiers for losses
sustained By the enforcement Of the modus
vivendi in 1891 were forwarded TO-DAY to
Collector of Customs Milne. It smonnts
to SIS 900, making in all over 500 600 that
has been paid for actual losses sustained.
besides which consequential damages are
to be allowed, and will. as a result Of the
arbitration, have to be paid by the Ameri.
can Government.