The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-17
ENGLAND'S BERING SEA CLAIM.
THE Ss25,OOO NEEDED TO PAY 1T
APT To BE APPROPRIATED.

The House Committee Fails 10 Pro-
vide for It fa the General Def-
cheney Bill, Hut the Amount VIII
Probably BE Added 10 the Bill in
the HOuse-aIr. O'NeiI of sIazsachu-
sets Makes Hitter speech
Against IL.
Washington, Feb. 1G.-The general de-
hcienoy appropriation bill. the last Of the
thirteen regular appropriation bills. was
completed by the appropriations commit
tee and reported to the House to-day. The
appropriations made by the measure are
to supply the deficiencies for the year 1895.
and prior years. and amount TO S65lS,574.
In addition 70 the appropriation made
by this bill, S2.s6i. .s2l has been appropriated
by the present congress to supply de-
hciencies.
No appropriation to pay the claims aris-
ing out of the Bering sea controversy IS
made by the bill. Secretary Gresham.
through the treasury department. sent
to the House on the 18th inst. an estimate
Of $i25ooO for the payment by the United
States for full satisfaction OF all claims
which may be made by Great Britain for
damages growing out of the controversy
as to fur seals in Bering sea, or the seiz-
ure Of British vessels engaged in taking
seal in those waters"
This estimate was considered by the com
mittee, but owing to the lateness Of its
receipt, was not incorporated IN the bill.
The committee did not have time to ex-
anime into the matter. and its members
declined to vote for or against the ap-
preparation TIL an examination could be
made. Although Il was not placed IN the
bill, 1t was decided to allow Mr. Breck-
inridge to offer It as an amendment to the
bill when taken up by the House. This
privilege does not in any way commit the
committee, and its members are free to
support or oppose II on the floor
In submitting the matter Secretary Cres-
ham says the agreement to pay a lump
sum of SA2500O In fun settlement of all de-
mands authorized to be made under the
treaty. was made by this government.
This amount, he says, IS considerably be-
low the damages claimed by Great Brit
ain, exclusive of interest for number Of
years. In closing the request for the al
lowance, he says: "If this arrangement
does not receive the approval Of congress
and the disputed questions are submitted
TO an international commission. It Is be-
lieved that the amounts allowed and the
expense OF the tribunal, including wit
nesses and the taking Of their testimony,
viii largely exceed Sl2a,000. In view OF all
| tho facts and what may be reasonably ex-
pected as the result of a commission, the
undersigned submits that a prompt and
final settlement OF the vexatious contro-
versy by an appropriation Of the lump
sum agreed upon is advisable"
rarfaf ff.aHta a
are the following:
Public buildings: Charleston, S. c., to
complete $4,000; Tallahassee. Fla, to
complete, $1,000.
The discussion in committee over the
Bering sea estimates was precipitated by
Mr.. O'Neil of Massachusetts, who opposed
II in scathing terms. He claimed, with
some heat. that he had rather go to war
with Great Britain than make this pay
ment He said, in effect, that Great Britain
was always ready to arbtrate with any
country as big as hers and that the repre-
sentatives on the part Of the United
States at the tribunal Of Paris, We're out
witted by the British representatives.
Great Britain, he asserted, trains her dipIo-
mats carefully and they are now among the
cleverest IN the world. The other members
Of the tribunal, being themselves citizens
Of monarchies We're naturally more In
sympathy with Great Britain than the
American republic. 1t was contended by
some of the other members present that
we had agreed to be bound by the findings
of the tribunal, and that we were in duty
bound to pay the award Mr.. O'Neil in-
sisted that such a payment by the United
States would be a mistake. At all events,
there was no occasion for haste in the mat
ter, while the claims of so many Of our
citizens remain unpaid.
1t is not doubted, notwithstanding Mr..
O'Nels opposition in the committee to-
day, that when the appropriation is Of
fered as an amendment to the bill in the
House it will pass.