Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-07
BERING SEA CASE
The British Parliament Bill Dis
oussed in the Senate.
SENATOR MORGAN FHINKSITA MISTAKE
That an Amended Bill Has Been
Prepared.
AN EXECUTIVE SION

This is the first Saturday session that the
Senate has held cince the regular session
Of Congress convened.
There was some expectancy in the SEN
ate that the opposition to the tariff bill
might be manifested in a manner similar
to that of yesterday, but the journal was
read and approved and routine morning
business progressed without interruption.
Bills Acted On.
Senator Gallinger, from the committee
on the District of Columbia, reported a bill
Tor the construction of a bridge across the
Eastern branch of the Potomac river at
the foot Of South Capitol street in the city
OF Washington. 1t was passed
Senator Blanchard of Louisiana called I'D
the House bill authorizing the Texarkana
and Fort Smith Railroad Company to
bridge the Sulphur river In the state of
Arkansas or Texas, and 1t was passed
House bill authorizing the West Brad
oocK Srldge Company to construct a bridge
over the Monongahela river from the bor-
oagh Of Rankin to Mifr1in township, Pa.
was called up by Senator Quay, and passed
The Senate also passed House bill to ex.
tend the time authorizing the st. Louis
and Birmingham Railroad Company to
build a bridge across the Tennessee river
at Clifton, Tenn.
Inc ber1n8 Sea Matter.
Senator Hoar CMass.) called the attention
OF Senator Morgan to a dispatch in the
morning papers. saying that the British
parliament had passed an act intended to
carry out the provisions of the award of
the Bering sea tribunal, but according to
which ships which might have sailed with
out receiving notice of the passage Of the
bill should not be liable to seizure or con-
nscation. He thought IL the dispatch cor
rectly reported the text OF the act of par
lament 1t was simply an evasion Of the pro-
visions or the award of tribunal and would
allow Canadian vessels to destroy hundreds
OF thousands OF seals without fear Of ar
rest by simply claiming that they did not
know the act Of parliament has actually
passed.
He asked Mr.. Morgan as to the truth Of
the dispatch and believed that II 1t was
true some supplemental legislation should
be passed by Congress.
Mr.. Morgan, who was one of the Ameri-
can arbitrators at the Paris tribunal and
eign relations, agreed that the Senator
from Massachusetts was quite right as to
his Interpretation of the dispatch and the
danger of the determination of the Alaskan
seal herd which would follow the opera
tions of the reported act of parliament
He explain ed. however, that some two
weeks or more ago Sir Julian Pauncefote
the British ambassador, had submitted to
OF parliament which. to the best of his
recollection, corresponded exactly with the
language Of that quoted in the dispatch
There were some features of this pro-
posed act which were opposed Che used the
word advisedly) to the fair and just, inter-
probation of the provisions of the award
and those provisions of the proposed act
were firmly and emphauca rejected by
the Secretary of State and that the Brit
ish ambassador was so informed.
About the same time he learned from
the newspapers that a bill had been intro
duced into parliament for the purpose Of
giving effect to the award Of the Paris
tribunal, but whether 1t corresponded with
that submitted by Sir Julian PaunceYote
to the State Department he did not know
Hoped 1t Was a Mistake.
Shortly afterward he learned that the
bill had been withdrawn by Sir Charles
Russell (who was one of the arbitrators
for Great Britain) for the purpose Of re-
modelling it, and he still hoped that such
was a fact, and the text con tanned in the
dispatch was that Of the unamended bill,
which had been sent out by mistake. The
United States had clearly defined its at
titude by bill, which had recently passed
both houses of Congress and was in the
hands of the President.
1t was esteemed by every one concerned
to be a matter Of proprety and duty that
the government of the United States with
pose Of carrying out the provisions of the
award in perfect good faith and that Great
Britain should be required to act in the
same good faith.
Our Hesitation on the subject Of seal fish,
ing in Berlng sea antecedent to the meet
ing of the tribunal OF arbitration was predi-
Gated on the assumption that we had
right to exercise exclusive Jurisdiction in
Bering sea derived from our purchase of
Alaska, and in the exercise of that power
and right Of legislation Congress had en-
acted laws and prescribed penalties for any
who should go into those waters and cap
ture seals in violation of those statutes.
The act of 1898 submitted all those ques-
tions to the tribunal of arbitration and 1t
became necessary to pass acts to carry the
award of that tribunal into effect.
1t was certain, he continued, that the leg
islation proposed by Great Britain, as out
lined in the dispatch just read, was not in
accordance with the provisions OF the award
Of the Paris tribunal.
"I have no doubt" he declared, that the
government Of the United States will find
itself in a full state of preparation and a
full determination that all the Dement'S an
advantages of this award shall be realized
by our government 1t may be that We did
not get in that award every principle Of
law for which We contended decided In our
favor, but We got all the necessary regula-
tions which are requisite for the protection
of seal herds which belong to Us. Good
faith on the part of Great Britain requires
that she shall come forward and insist as
SIrenuOuSly anu dS HOHcSl4J dS we
to insist upon the carrying out Of all the
provisions of that award
This, he concluded, was all he could say
on the subject at this time.
An Evasion of obligations.
Senator Hoar repeated his belief that the
alleged act of parliament allowed an entire
evasion of the obligations of the law, and
subjected our sealing interests to great dan
ger, If not entire destruction. II the dis
patch was true and contained all the legis-
lation the British parliament intended to
enact at this time he should be very sorry
to feel that it was not in the power of the
administration to protect the country
against those sealers.
If there was any doubt in the mind OF the
President or of the Secretary OF State or the
Attorney General that the existing legisla-
ton was sufficient he thought that steps
should be taken in Congress to make clear
the duty of the President in the premises.
II this legislation should pass the houses
Of parliament or had already done so, he
would himself Of one else did so) in
troduce a bill giving the President ample
powers to deal with the question.
The incident closed with an Endorsement
by Senator Gray of the belief expressed by
Mr.. Morgan that the bill mentioned in the
dispatch was the original bill, which had
been withdrawn for alteration.
An Executive Session.
At 20 p. m. the Senate went into execu-
IL