St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-08-18
MUST PAY DAMAGES,
How Much W ill Uncle Sam Turn
Over to Johnny HuIl?

WASHINGTON, Aug. 1.-THE interest
officially in the Behring sea decision
now centers in the question of damages
that this country Will be obliged to pay
Great Britain for the use of seal hunt
ing subjects who were kept off Behring
sea through tue operation of the mOduS
vivendi. in accordance with art
icle of the convention for the re-
newal OF the modus vivendi. the arbi-
tration tribunal must decide how much
compensation is due Great Britain from
the United States to be used or British
subjects for abstaining from the exer-
else of the right to take seals in Behring
sea during the pendency of the arbitra-
ton. 1t is understood that the commits
sioners of arbitration have already
passed Oh the subject, but their
report has not yet been
made public. So much is detin-
itcly settled with regard to the damages
the government will be obliged to pay,
and they must be paid promptly by
agreement In the treaty renewing the
modus vivendi. But the main question
OF damages for seizures made is not in
so detnable and settled a condition.
Nothing III the arbitration treaty or the
convention for renewal of the moduS
viVendi makes provision for allowing
damages 10 persons who have been in-
Jured Though 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 diplomacy. Claims against the
United States, either Individually or in
bulk, will be filed by the owners of YES
sells seized. Then the United States
will enter into correspondence with the
government of Great Britain with ref
erence to their settlement. If it is seen
that settlement as to the justice of
the claims made and the compensation
to be made can be reached. the mat
ter VIII proceed through the
ordinary diplomatic channels. In
case of failure to come to
some basis for settlement without re-
sort to arbitration and 1T is predicted
that failure will occur, the two govern
mentS will agree to leave the question
to the Judgment of au unprejudiced
tribunal, and to this end claims com
mittee will be appointed. 1t is there
fore to be seen that some lime must
elapse before definite arrangement
will be reached respecting the course of
procedure with reference to the assess
mentOf seizure damages. An eXtraor-
binary and unexpected sequel of the
controversy is that the leSSees of the
PrlbYlotf islands, who since the agita-
tion have year by year been restrained
by the United States within narrower
limits i'll regard to the number of seals
captured, have now been officially ad-
vised that the full amount of their stipu-
lated rental will be eXacted from them
!, A1,n IT,,Tr
action of the previous adminSti alton in
reducing the rental TO correspond with
the reductions enforced in the catch,
was illegal. Secretary Carlisle today
made an official demand on the North
American Commercial company for
S2S9,717 for rental and bonus of the
Prybyloff islands. The amount. due by
years is stated as follows: 1890, S47, ,4O3;
1891. S133. CPS; 1892, Sl0S, $3.50.
The action of Secretary Carlisle is
based on all opinion rendered by Attor-
ney General Olney. In his letter to
Lloyd Travis. OF San Franscisco, presi-
dent of the North American CONNER
cial company, Secretary Carlisle says:
"The action of my predece Ssors in max
ing reductions i'll the rental and bonus
which your company agreed to pay to
the United States, under its contract
tor the exclusive privilege of TAX
ing fur seals in Alaska, was with
out authority of law" The general
contract was entered into in 1880. and
fixed the annual rental at 100000 per
year and limited the maximum catch
amy one year to 100000 seals, which
catch could be reduced in the discretion
of the secretary Of the treasury. In ad-
ditIon to this rental the government
was 10 receive $500 per skin of each
seal taken. besides other provisions as
to the care of the natives. The secretary
of the treasury fixed the limit of catch
this year at 1850 seals. The next year
about $4,000 were taken, and in 1892
1880. Acting on an opinion rendered
by Attorney General Miller, Secretary
Foster, as he had reduced the catch of
seals from the original contract of 1O0,-
COO, reduced the rent in proportion.
This action of Secretary Foster Is now
declared to have been illegal, hence the
demand made, which is understood will
be followed by legal proceedings in case
the demand is not complied with.