The herald., 1895-02-26
IN THE HOUSE
Argument on She Bill to Pay the Bering
Sea Award


Washington, Feb. 25.-In the House to-
day the amendment to pay Great Britain
! $425, 600 the amount of the awards made
! by the Paris Bering Sea tribunal against
/ the United States, precipitated quite a
/ long debate.
! Mr. Breckenridge of Kentucky, in charge
of the bill, explained the details of the
Paris arbitration and the decision against
the justice and the legality of the United
States seizures made in the Bering Sea.
Great Britain, through Sir Julian Paunce-
fote, had demanded $500 600 and Secretary
Gresham had agreed to Sl25, 900. The
Government in fairness should accept the
judgment and pay the damages.
Mr.. Cannon OF Illinois said the fatal de-
feet in the iugdment of the Paris tribunal
was the fact that the citizenship of the
claimants had never been passed upon.
He called attention moreover to the fact
that under the modus vivendi agreed to in
1892 by Sir Charles Russell, representing
the British Government, and e. J. Phelps
representing the United States all claims
for speculative damages had been solemnly
waived In the Geneva award all claims
for speculative or constructive damages
amounting to hundreds of millions) had
been ruled out on the ground that they de-
pend on contingencies tCo uncertain.
What made sauce for the goose made
sauce for the gander. Why should we
now pay these claims? Some S25S, 900 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 $2s, 900 could be
claimed. When Secretary Gresham offer
ed Sir Julian $425 600 the British Govern
mernt he said, jumped at it like a bass
at fly. He would never vote to carry
out the agreement made by Secretary
Gresham.
Mr.. Henderson, Representative from
Iowa, analyzed, the statement of EX-Secre-
tary Foster to the effect that $S1, 600 repre-
sented the maximum damage that could
justly be assessed against the United
States and ten of the vessels seized were
owned in whole or in part by Americans
and were therefore excluded.
Mr.. McCreary, Democrat, of Kentucky,
chairman of the Foreign Affairs Commit
tee, favored the appropriation on the
one of two things, pay this $425, 600 or
submit the question of assessment of
damages to a commission. Ii the latter
course was followed, it would cost the
Government twice $425 900 before the
matter was settled.
Mr.. Hit attacked the amendment vigor-
ously. OF the $542 600 claimed. positive
testimony showed that $500 600 was owned
by citizens of the United States. Boska-
wiz, he claimed, owned almost all the
feet and had sent it out to Bering sea
to lay the foundation of a scoundrely and
fraudulent claim. 1t looked to him. Mr..
Hit said, as if the State Department were
making a desperate struggle to maintain
the parity between claims and payments
Mr.. Breckenridge closed with a declara-
ton that the Paris arbitration was an I'M
fortunate chapter in our diplomacy and
its result a-eeH4Plete aaseer Yet we must
keep our faith and pay the award
Mr.. Cannon demanded a roll call on the
amendment to pay the Bering Sea award
and it was lost-122 to 143.
The amendment to pay the employees of
the House and Senate and the individual
clerks to members an extra months
salary, carried-l43 to los
Mr. Henderson, Democrat, n. c., pre-
sented the conference report on the Post
Office bill. The only point in dispute be
tween the two Houses was the Senate
amendment to require railway clerks here
after to be appointed to reside at one of
the terminals OF the routes to which they
were assigned.
Without action the House at $40 ad-
iourned until Il o clock tomorrow.