The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-02-26
BEATEN.
The Paris Award WIII Not BE Paid by
the United states.


WASHINGTON. Feb. 25.-The house in
committee of the whole resumed consid-
Grafton of the general deficiency bill. The
amendment to pay Great Britain Si25,OJO,
the amount of the awards made 10y the
Paris Bering sea tribunal against the
United States, precipitated long debate.
Mr.. Breckenridge, i'll charge ofthe bill,
explained the details of the Paris arbItra-
ton and the decision against the justice
and legality of the secures the United
States had made in the Bering sea. Great
Britain, through Sir Julian Pauncefote,
had demanded S500.0O0 and Secretary
Gresham had agreed to Si25,OOO. Tho
government. in fairness, should accept
the judgment and pay the damages.
Mr.. Cannon, republican, of Illinois, said
the fatal defect in the judgment of the
Paris tribunal was the fact that the citi-
zenship of the claimants had never been
passed upon. He called attention to the
fact that under the modus vivendi agreed
to in 1892 by Sir Charles Russell, repre-
| sentIng the British government, and L. j.
Phelps. representing the United States,
all claims for speculative damages had
been solemnly waived. In the Geneva
award all claims for speculative or con-
structive damages, amounting to hum
dreds of millions, had been ruled out on
the ground that they depend on contin-
gencies too uncertain. Some S25S,0OO of
the present award was purely speculative
damages. Besides he had reason to be-
| lieve that several of the owners of vessels
| were American citizens and not British
| subjects. At most, but 5000 could be
claimed. When Secretary Gresham Of
fered Sir Julian S425. 900, the British gov
ernment, ho said, jumped at it like bass
at fly. he would never vote to carry out
the agreement made by Secretary
Gresham.
| Mr.. Henderson, republican, OF Iowa, an
alyzed the statement of ex-Secretary Fos-
ter to the effect that SSl 900 represented
the maximum damages that could justly
| be assessed against the United States,
and 10 of the vessels seized were owned
| in whole or in part by Americans and
| therefore were excluded.
| McCreary, democrat, of Kentucky, fav-
ored The appropriation on the ground that
the United States must do one of two
things-pay this $4,000 or submit the
question of assessment of damages to a
commission.
| HIT attacked the amendment vigor-
ously. OF the 100000 claimed, positive
testimony showed that S36), 900 was owned
| by citizens of the United States. Boska-
wiz, he claimed, owned almost all the
fleet, and had sent it out to Bering sea to
lay the Foundation of a scoundrelly and
| fraudulent claim.
Breckenridge closed with declaration
that the Paris arbitration was an unfor-
tunate chapter in our diplomacy and its
result a complete fiasco. Yet VIC must
keep our faith and pay the award.
Mr.. Cannon demanded a roll call on the
amendment to pay the Bering sea award
and 1t was lost, 122 to l43.
The amendment TO pay the employees
of the house and senate and individual
clerks to members an extra months sa'
airy, carried. 1i3 TO los.
Mr.. Henderson, democrat OF North Car
olina. presented the conference report or
the postoflice bill. Tho only point in dis
pute between the two houses was the sen
ate amendment to require railway mai
clerks hereafter to be appointed to reside
at one of the terminals of tho routes Il
which they were assigned. With out &C
ton, the house at 5:l0 O'Clock adjourned
until IL o'clock tom morrow.