Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-24
TIE SEAL FISHERIES Call for Lengthy Argument
 From Mir. Dingley. PROTECTION OF UNCLE SAM The CiSt of His RemarkS-Sun- dry Civil Appropriations
 Discussed.
PROTECTION OF UNCLE SAM

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Among the ex- ecutive comm n ications laid before the house today was letter from the secre- tary of the treasury in regard to a resolu- tion of inquiry introduced several days ago by MT. Dingley of Maine relating to the condition and prospects of the Behring sea seal herd.
 Mir. Dingley called attention to the im- portance of this letter, which showed that the Paris regulations for the protection of the Alaska seal fisheries have proved flat failure, as shown by the facts cited
 1. The lessees of the government, not withstanding there had been three years' cessation of killing seals in Aaska's seal islands, were able to secure less than 16 ,000 male seals the past season, whereas 100, GOO were easily obtained few years ago.
 2. The pelagic sealers, largely Cana dians, secured nearly 50 ,000 seals, mainly females, the past season, of which 45,0oo were killed in the Behring sea, whereas previously they had not been able to ob- tain half this number. and as ninety five sealing vessels are now preparing to sail with Alaskan spearsmen on board, there Is little doubt they will kill 100,00 seals in Behring sea the next season unless inter- fered with by new legislation or regula- tions.
 g., the treasury and of all seal experts that un der the Paris regulations within three or four, or at the most five, years the entire Alaska seal herds will be exterminated, and property worth $10 ,000 ,000 to this country and a source of comfort of inestimable value to the world will be extermlnated.
 :Obviouslv, he said, 'self-respect as we'll as tef-interest demands that this farce should be at once ended. It costs this country more than S2O0, 1000 per annum to execute the Paris regulations, and all for the benefit of the pelagic sealers, mainly Canadian.
 ''We should at once notify Great Britain of the situation-and I understand this has been done-and inform her that unless she will join us in regulations that will protect the Alaska seal herds from extermin ation we shall be obliged to at once kill and se- cure the whole herd and save to that extent the property which belongs to us; and l believe that should be done. This is the only alternative.o
 Mir. McCreary of Kentucky asked if the United States was not now paying more than 1t ever did to protect the seals, and If the arbitration at Paris was not total fail ure as far as the United States was con- cerned.
 MT. Dingley argued that he had already expressed his belief to that effect.
 MT. Reed-Are we paying out a larger sum than ever to enable the Canadian seal CTS to do their work more perfectly?
 MT. Hopkins, republican, of Illinois, asked whether or not the administration is doing anything to acquaint Great Britain with the facts.
 Mr. Dingley replied that it was, and he believed Intellectually. "Great Britain, ' said MT: Dingley, "has nearly as much financial interest in the preservation of the Alaska seal herds as this country, because the seal skins are nearly all prepared and dyed in London, giving employment prob- ably to 50 1000 persons in the English cap- ital.''
 MT. Dingley then introduced bill au- thorizing the secretary of the treasury to forthwith kill and secure the sealskins of the whole Alaskan herd of the seal islands, sell the same from time to time and con- vert the proceeds into the treasury. The second section authorizes the president to suspend the execution of the act whenever Great Britain shall unite with this coun- try in regulations that will, in his judg- ment, protect the Alaskan seal herds.
 The bill and Secretary Carlse's letter were referred to the committee on ways and means.
 Mir. McMiIlin, on the committee of ways and means, reported resolution referred to it on the 18th instant, which was agreed to, calling upon the secretary of the treas ury for additional information upon the subject, all the facts on file iu the depart ment relating to the seal business since January l, 1890, the contracts made, suits or claims against the United States arising hereunder, loss of revenue to the govern ment by the diminution of the catch, and an litemized statement of the expen ses connected with the Paris arbitration; also the expenses he government is now under for carrying out the treaty of the government of Samoa.
 The sundry civil appropriation bill was then taken up in committee of the whole.
 MT. Savers briefly explained the provi- sions of the bill, and MT. Cannon, repub- lican, of Illinois, a member of the com mittee on appropriations, expre ssed his regret at the fact that the committee had not seen best to make more generous ap- propriations for certain public works, and especially for the lighthouse es,ab ish- ment. With this general debate closed, and the bill was considered under the five minute rple for amendment.
 At tes earliest possible moment MT.
 ,republican,- got the floor and de-
 Fed an eloquent tribute to the memoru