New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-23

terminating my services as agent to wit. to place
my Government possession OF an niornau ION !
have ACQUIRED which may he useful In future nego-
tations action connected with the fur seal arp
tralon. direct attention TO tn" subject %, ane
OF certain vessels in Benring Sea In 1886, 1871 ana
1889 |; will be seen from the decision OF the
was rendered in accordance with Article VIII OF me
treaty This finding viii be found to re sreeS 10 by
counsel did not in any manner Involve the Question
sy Sr the Or sy 81 it viii be
that the British Government has wh ara als
vvend io Of isss In further confirmation Of this
inclose the statement Of the British counse! De-
facts it would seem tina, the only question OF
damages open for the consideration OF the TWO GOV
vessels in Behring Sea The claims on tins account
presented by the British Government Wiii % od
bound with the British case and on page Slo OF 'ne
British counter case .., ,, 40 o
scented page 60 of the schedule Of Claims Is slS'
H. of which 1853 consists Of clam n ior pros
pectiVe earnings which suggest cannot De properly
asserted for the reasons Set forth in the United
States argument 1t will appear from an eHn',,
of the United States that most OF the vesses al,-
pear in reality to be the properly OF Aerst t ,;o
may show that others OF the vessels were the prop
a correspondence at Paris had by me Win me brdi
ish agent in reference 10 the citizenship OF iosco
sells | also inclose a memorandum in regard 10 me
value of several Of the seized vessels Which may
claims Mr.. Robert Lansing. associate couns-i IN
the arbitration made visit in 1882 TO Victoria and
in relation to this branch Of the case and have no
doubt he would cheerfully so to Washlneton at
Goyernment's interest in this matter should think
IL desirable TO confer with him.
There is nothing in the correspondence published
to-day to show that It thought desirable 10
confer with Mr. Lansing. and yet such conference
may have taken place prior TO the offer OF "A lump
sum" which Sir Julian Pauncefote so eagerly dc-
cepted. The memorandum referred to in Mir
Fosters letter is an exceedingly important docu-
ment in two particulars: IL SHOWS, hrst tnat me
claims for the value Of vessels ssized nav Deen
grossly exaggerated; ana second th.it huH1Der OF
them owned by American citizens. IN the
is vessel named Onward. the value OF which IS
put down at $1,000 on a basis OF nlnety-ioui tons
other items of information about the onward:
Alleged tonnage. 81: value claimed, 5000:
value at s42 s per ton. sI4s7 % according 10 The
memorandum there was evidence showing That an
The case OF the Onward is a fair sample from the
list given in the memorandumI, according to Which
a number OF the vessels seized and the mortgage OF
.S al OheTs OF g s1a
Boscowitz sent to San Francisco for one cooper
esed Sa s pad for nn the M and that e
title was placed N his name II Is assertea MAJ eS
res own ef figures IN the role o of
would seem though ordinary prudence demanded
before the payment Of "a lump sum" or any other
kind OF n sum TO the claimants.
But the Secretary Of State In his letter OF August
81. 1894, TO Sir Julian Pauncefote suggests. a.
why the President and himself preferred To
offer "a lump sum. that proceedings by mixed
commission. while always more or less formal ana
cumbersome. like all other processes OF lii.ca-
ton. necessarily attended with expense. not infre
queny considerable in amount well as with
delay" OF course. 1t desirable 10 get the mHrc%
into the hands OF the alleged British claimants a
speedily as possible. and in the asiest and siapes
way but why this reference 20 the expense OF
mixed commissions? 1t may be that the consciences
Of the President and his Secretary Q, state PTcked
them the least Bit about that time Had not Messrs
Phelps and Carter received extra fees'-exi-a IN
more senses than one-of S5Cyo each for their
services as counsel before the Tribunal OF ATbitra-
ton for apparent or better reason. 30 far a.
ANYBODY knew. than that there was an uneXpcn!cd
balance OF some $4,000 Of the appropriation for the
expenses OF the United States account OF the
Tribunal II is true that amount equal 10 the
extra fee of either Mr.. Phelps or Mr.. Carter
would probably have been more than enough 20 pay
all expenses Of the United states on account q
such a mixed commission Secretary Gresham
at first suggested. and as Grea, Britain accepted
this case: but then. the President and his Score
tary Of State might have felt xtra-economcal as
well a-sensitive about that time. Besides, II
was easier TO offer to pay "a lump sum. 1t Is
understood that the Administration Is so anxious to
have the s425.CD0 appropriated that vote against
It will be regarded as IAN unfriend.y act