The evening times., 1896-02-15

The Senate Committee on Foreign Re
latioDs gave great deal of time this
morning to the consideration of the bill
Eefcrc it providing for the total Gcstruc-
tion of the fur seal herds as the only
means of preventing reiasic sealing and
stopping the brutal slaughter now being
carried on by Canadian sca!crs.
All ncnibers CT tie committee were
present but MIR. Morgan. and owing to his
abseace final action was not taken. The
meeting disclosed the fact. however, that
the committee was in favor of The bill and
would 81 report Ia the Senate.
1t is manifest tn the committee that Great
Britain will not consent % an amendment Of
the regulations heretofore agreed upon.
and thai nothing can be done to prevent the
slaughter ihat mas Een going on Tor years.
Without the assistance of Great Britain
in policing the waters OF the Northern Pa
cific the committee believes the United
states will he unable 10 prevent this in
discriminate slaughter and ultimate total
destruction.
TO STOP ILLEGAL SEALING.
The only thing. then. that remains to be
Jonr. from the point Of view OF the COM
mittee, Is TO end the trouble by wiping out
its cause unless Great Britain enters into
an arrangement with this government that
VIII erfec;uaiiy stop Illegal sealing and
protect the herds. instead of affordng
cloak under which To carry on fragrant
violations OF the law.
The bill authorizes the President to CON
clrdc negotiations with Great Britain,
Russia aid Japan for the appointment of a
commission to investigate the present cen
dition of the seal herds, the methods or
siaughtcrinE them, ard to consider what fur-
tEcr rcgUlntions are necessary for their
prcservat ion.
Pending this investigation and report,
the President is authorized to conclude and
proclaim a modus Niycaii with the govern
mcnts indicated. providing for new reguia-
tons or suspendirS or altering the existing
rcllIla ticns established by the Paris tri-
brna!, or limiting the catch III year that
may he deemed czpcdient for the preserra-
ton of the seal herd; this mcdGs to expire
by Limitation. unless previously terminated,
January |, 1898.
If this modus is not concluded and reg
uiatiunS undc. the same. cffeCtual IN the
Judgment OF the President for preserving
the seal herd, be not Put into operation ON
or before May !, 1896. the secretary OF
the Treasury. with the approval or the
President, is authorized to take and Kill
cach and every fur seal, male and female,
as may lie found on the Prihiloff Islands
aud sell tie SKINS to tue best advantage
This stern but apparently Cniy erect
uaI remedy remaining has not been agreed
10 by the committee without the most
careful consideration and after the con-
clusion was reached that through this
means only could tie EclaEic sealinS that
is gradually, through the most barbaric
uraciiCrs, cxtcrminatinS tie seal Eerd, be
brought 10 q stop.
The committee also discussed the various
hills bcforeit, providing for the construction
of a telegraphic cable between this coun-
try ami liza waii and Japan.
The judgment OF the najority Of the com
mittec is favorable to Il proposition OF this
character, but there has been no crystaliza-
ton of sentiment upon any particular bill.