Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-10
Senate Passes Resolution Concerning the
Bering Sea Award,
moRGANS COMPLIMENTS TO SIR JULIAN
Alabama senator Makes Unpleasant
Remarks About the English Ann
bassndor ana His Course In PUB
lishing the Correspondence.


foreign relations committee to investigate
the question of the liability of the United
States for the seizure of British ships In
Bering sea in 1890. MIR. Morgan took the
position in the last congress that the settle
ment for the sum of si25oOo, as recon-
mended by the president, was neither wise
nor proper His remarks on that occasion
were the subject of some sarcastic comment
from the British ambassador here In the lat
ter's official correspondence with Lord KIM
berly. That correspondence was printed from
the British blue book recently, and most Of
Mr. Morgan's speech today was devoted to
paying his respects to Sir Julian Pauncefote.
His resolution, which was as follows, was
unanimously adopted at the conclusion Of his
speech:
Resolved, That the message of the pres
1895, and his message received in the sem
ate today meaning December ., relating to
esPs ehe OF rea sS n1 the the
Bering sea controversy be referred to the
committee on foreign relations, with IN
structions that said committee examine
into the question of said liability to Great
Britain and the amount thereof, If any, and
of any liability on the part of Great Britain
arising out of said controversy, and that
said committee shall have authority to re-
port by bill or otherwise.
Mr. Morgan addressed the senate on his
resolution concerning the claims for dam
ages preferred by England on account Of
seizures in Bering sea.
LIABILITY NOT DETERMINED.
He said he felt it incumbent upon himself
to reply to certain published comments made
upon his course in the senate by the British
premier and the British ambassador. He de-
clared that the Paris tribunal did not at
tempt to determine the question of the LA
Of he
seizures or the amount of such liability.
Great Britain contended, however, that the
liability was decided as necessary inference,
and President Cleveland, proceeding on that
assumption, had, through the State depart
ment, agreed to pay s425,00 in discharge of
this alleged liability of the United States.
But that agreement could not be carried out
without the ratification of congress.
The findings Of the tribunal rested en-
tirely upon the treaty making power of the
two governments, and the United States and
Great Britain were bound to carry out the
regulations decided on for the protection OF
the seals as much as if those regulations had
been incorporated in treaty But neither
government was bound further. At most, the
award of the arbtrators would only furnish
a remote argument for the claim of Great
Britain to damages for seizures. He would
be loyal to the findings of the tribunal, he
said, but Great Britain conveniently sought
to overstate them. Through negotiations the
SLate department aRTeSu 10 pay 9fGOVVV loE
damages and President Cleveland recon-
mended that that sum BE- appropriated Con-
gress refused to make the appropriation.
At this point Mr.. Morgan turned his at
tention to Sir Julian Pauncefote the British
and his "dolefu plants" to Lord
Kimberly. Mr.. Morgan was scornful and sar-
castle.
'Does he not know" the senator asked,
that executive agreement is binding
until ratified by congress?"
He quoted from Sir Julian's report to Lord
Kimberly that republicans populists and
appropriation, and his comment attributins
the action of the house to the necessity OF
party expediency. Mr.. Morgan declared con-
that 1t was getting to be the
fashion abroad to attribute everything that
did not please them to the Influence OF
party politics."
UNJUST AND OFFENSIVE.
He characterized Sir Juian's comments
is unjust" and offensive in the case Of
he house.
But, not content with these reflections
IN the house." said Mr. Morgan, che refers
% senators by name in a gratutous and in
,ulting manner. He does this under the
cover Of the British flag" Af,er quoting
Sir Julian's comment on his (Morgan's)
of some Of the alleged Brit
sh claimants as "recalcitrant and rascally
Americans" he declared that the British
AMBASSADORS structures were based on the
mistaken notion that the British navigation
avs should cover violations of United States
statutes. Crimes against the decalcgue could
rot, he said, be found in the koran. He
denounced the action Of the American ma
auders in Bering sea who had placed them
elves under the protection of the British
lag as guilty of surreptitious piracy. He
lid not object to the English ambassador
ritcising his course either as senator or as
membsr of the Paris tribunal in his private
to his government but he
mphaticaly protested that he had no right
o give his criticism to the American papers
n pamphlet and thus forestall reply.
Mr. Morgan was exceedingly ronical in his
eference to the indiscriminate nature of
he claims England had bundled together
nd asked us to settle for a lump sum-"
he proposition TO pay lump sum- ought
o be too revolving to lie on the Christian
tomach of the English ambassador.
The correspondence laid before the house,
Ar. Morgan said, demonstrated that there
vas no negotiation over the alleged claims
nd evidently little investigation. England
ad simply jumped at the lump sum" prop
sition made by Secretary Gresham for the
ettement of claims that had neither JUS
Ice nor morality beyond the assertion set
p, but palpably false, that the award Of
he Paris tribunal made 1t obligatory upon
he United States TO settle any claims for
amages which Great Britain might make.
Ir. Morgan insisted that II was the clear
uty of the senate to obstruct the action OF
he president in an attempt to ride down the
over of the senate in negotiating for the
sttlement of an international controversy
'ithout its advice or consent
CALLS 1T A CONSPIRACY.
Mr.. Morgan went at considerable length
lto what he termed the Infamous con-
piracy" which proceeded under the protec-
on OF the British flag for the violation of
he laws Of the United States. and claimed
nat thorough investigation and adjudica-
on of the claims would result In large all
lwances of damages to the lessees OF the
aal islands, and consequently an Increased
venue to the United States.
In concluding, Mr.. Morgan again returned
his assault on the British ambassador for
Is rough criticism Of himself OF which he
lid he was perhaps 'unbecomingly care
S."
But l do not feel resentfu" he said,
that instead OF furnishing his complaints to
le president he gave them out to the
merican press at the opening OF congress
ith a view of dispellng the mlsappreheh-
on In the public mind. II seems. however,
lat as Sir Julian had buried me under his
)nderOus logic last March Lord Kimberly
fought II necessary to exhume my remains
l-der to give the American people much
-