New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-26
THE PROCEEDINGS IN DETAIL.

Washington. Feb. 25.-Some flbusterng In aid
OF the effort defeat the provision in the General
Deficiency Appropriation bill for an extra month
salary for all employees OF the House, hciudins
clerks to members. INDUCED in to-day, after the
bill had been reported to the House But the EFFORTS
we're futile, and By vote of l25 TO 10 motion 10
recommit the Dill was defeated and 1t was passed.
l45 tc 81
The principal item under discussion in Committee
OF the Whole the amendment offered py NIX
Breckenridge dDem KyD in charge OF the DILL ~
appropriate $4,000 to carry out the agreement
made by Secretary Gresham and Sir Julian Paunce-
fote British Ambassador. last August, 10 pay the
British Government for the claims on account OF
seizures and warnings Of vessels ensagei IN ths
fur seal traffic The Committee Appropriations.
by a tie vote. refused TO incorporate the Item IN
the bill to be reported 10 the House
Mr.. Cannon Htep.. lll) combated the appropria-
ton He said the amount proposed not in Itself
important. but II important that the payment,
II IL be made should be made in pursuance OF weii-
settled principles Upon the facts contained In the
document furnished 10 Congress this month by the
state Department relating 10 the Behrins Sea Ar
bitrailon Mr.. Cannon said. the payment or tnH
sum would be in violation OF well-setied principles
governing the ascertainment OF damages under in
ternational laws The seizure and warning out Ok
eighteen vessels were admitted by the United States
but the citizenship and damages were contested
Regarding the assertion by the gentleman from
Kentucky (Mr. BrecklnildSe) tHdt uhueE t"e S0n-
venton OF 1892. between Secretary Blaine ana Sir
Julian Pauncefote the United states became liable
for constructive speculative damages, Mr. Cam
nor said that in the modus vyendi OF that year.
made by Sir Charles Russell and f. j. Phelps
the question OF speculative damages was expressly
waived OF the $4,000 claimed by the British AM
bassador S2JsoO for speculative damages alone
Mr. Cannon quoted from the award in the Geneva
Arbitration the unanimous opinion OK the tribunal
that speculative damages could not be considered.
because they depended upon such contingencies that
no calculation could he based thereon.
.What is sauce for the goose should be sauce for
the gsnder." When secretary Gresham offered
s,2jooo In a lump sum. Sir Julian Pauncefoie and
the British Government jumped at Il like a duck
grabbing a June bug Mr. Cannon said that In the
settlement of the claim made by Secretary Gresham
he ignored the contention OF Mr.. Foster. agent ot
the United States that these eigf teen vesses seized
~ warned off Behring Sea by the United states Az
thor.ties did not belong British subjects NO m
N,stigation OF that point was made. said Mr cannon
and because IL not considered ne snou'u opp'Ss
the payment OF the money.
Mr. Hooker dem. Miss) sustained the amehd-
rent on the ground that the United states "as
bound to meet and settle these damages
Mr. Henderson tRep.. Iowa. said that. with Amer-
can citizens knocking at the door for the payment
OF claims long adjudicated to be due ana win 'e
award Of the Geneva Tribunal against the 1hi'ea
states on the subject OF conseque ntiai danageS ne
a
Treasury to dump ha.f million dollars INFO the
British treasury-especai,y when there was high
authority the statement that much OF the CAIN
u,,s unfounled and unjust. 30 American citizen
WAS entitled to A cent OF damages and yet Mr. fos-
ter In the discharge OF his duty, told his Govern
ment that ten OF the eighteen vessels whose
behalf claims for damages filed belonged
wholly or part. and mostly aitogethe-. to Amer-
can citizens, sailing under the British flag that
they might destroy these seals or all the Gains
made according to Mr. Foster. Sl.s SIS probably
well founded the remainder were speculative or
wholly unfounded For one. said Mr.. Henderson. he
was In favor OF the commission provided for in the
passing upon these Gains, 80 that
there Americans masqueradng under British
auspices they might be smoked out. (Applause)
Mr. McCreary dem. Ky.) favored the amend.
ment He said the situation was just this: The
United States must either pay the lump OF
si?51oo in settlement of these claims or submit them
10 the scrutiny and award OF a joint commission.
He mad no hesitation in saying that he In IA
vor of paying the s25.0s0. settlement by the COM
mission would the Government az least twice
fecting that the present condition was due to ar9i-
treton proposed agreed to by the Harrison Az
mnis,ra tion--Secretary Blaine on one side and sH
Julian Pauncefote on the other
Mr. Hit Rep Ill) opposing the amendment ana
Tying the claims exposed the basis OF the claims
on behalf OF Thomas H. Cooper, ,,s M Brit'ia M sSo,sc.
man Of straw. put up by an American ci,izeh St
San Francisco who: said Mr. Hitt. engaged IN ne
scheme TO destroy the seas Ss So'e reasv ,ss The
whole amount Of $4,000 claimed by Sir Julian, said
NJ Htt. only sls2cCo bad ,, no been shown to he
and English dummies The whole mount OF the