New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-19
THE TRIBUNE.
THE FATE OF THE FUR SEALS
NEGOTIATIONS TO SAVE THEM IN PROG
REss WITH ENGLAND.
ASSISTANT SECRETARY HAMILN GIVES THE NEWS
TO THE WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE. BUT
DOES NOT DISCLOSE THE NATURE OF
TIE BRITISH CoMMUNICAT1ON-T1iE
p1NGLEY BILL FOR THE EX-
TERMINATION OF THE
rHy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.]
hERD CONSIDERED.


Washington Feb 1s--It is apparent that uness
fhe negotiations which are now said 10 be IN prog
gress between the State Department ard the oli'-
tsb Government for more effectual regulations 1or
the protection and preservation OF the 1ur scans
IN the Northern Pacific and Behring Sea are specu-
fly pushed to favorable and satisfactory cohciu-
sion Congress will step in and pass a law peiore
the opening Of this years peiagic seaiirs season
which will either bring about such result OF pro
vide for the determination of the herd OF fur seals
by this Government
That the negotiations referred to have mace so'"e
nroeress since President Cleveland sent MS last an
rual message TO Congress early in Decemper WAS
first made known to-day by Assistant secretary
JJamln. OF the Treasury Department. at a hearing
h.fora the Committee on Ways and Means. In his
animal message the President said that communi-
cation had been sent to the British Government IN
January 1895, 10 open the way Tor negotiations
which II was hoped would result In the adoption ana
enforcement OF more effectua! regulations TOT 'he
preservation of the seals The Salisbury Government
,,,.s &c own convenience and that Of the Govern
mont Of Canada to such degree that no reply had
besn received at the date of the Presidents annua
message. Since then. 1t appears. reply OF soai'e
sort had been received. but the nature OF II was not
disclosed by Mr.. Haml!n to-day. Both ne ana ITO
lessor Henry W. Elliott, who appeared before Inc
WAYS and Means Committee. agreed that If new
and efrectual regulations not adopted and put
IN force before the beginning OF the pelagc sealing
season. a month six weeks hence there VIII be
no fur seals left 10 be protected in Alaskan waters
after next year.
PROVISIONS OF THE DINGLEY BILL.
The basis Of the discussion was the bill introduced
b. Chairman Dinghy. OF the Ways and Means
Committee, on January 3, which Is Substantially
the same as the one he offered and which was
passed by the House OF Representatives In the LID
Congress That BIZ! failed to receive consdera-
ton in the Senate on account OF the rate
date at which II received. BY the hrst section
the President is authorized and empowered to con-
Guide negotiations with the Governments OF Great
Britain Russia and Japan, or any OF them. for the
appointment of joint commission to investigate
the present condition. habits and feeding grounds,
both on land and sea, OF the fur seal herd In the
North Pacific ocean and in Behring Sea- and the
methods Of slaughtering the same. and to consider
and report what further regulations, II any, are
necessary for Its preservation.
Section authorizes the President 20 conclude a
modus vivendi with said Governments. or any Of
them, providing for new regulations or suspendng
or altering the existing regulations established by
the Paris Tribunal, or limiting the catch on the
Pr!byloff, Commander, Kurile and Robben Islands.
or any of them. In any manner which may be
deemed expedient for the preservation OF the fur
seal herd The modus vivend shall expire by limi-
taton, unless previously terminated. on January l,
1897.
Section makes the provisions OF the Act Of
and forfeiture vessels for violation Of tho
articles Of award OF the Tribunal OF Arbitration,
applicable to all violations OF the modus vivend
Section 5 provides that II the modus vvendi be
not concluded and effectual regulations be put
into operation for this years sealing season, then
the Secretary OF the Treasury with the approval OF
the President, may to be taken and killed
every fur seal, male and female it may be found
on the Prbylof islands: the skins OF said seals to
be sold by him to the best advantage and the pro-
ceeds thereof covered into the Treasury OF the
United States.
Mr. Hamlin disposed TO crlt!cise the fifth sec
f,on and suggested that II 1t should become Law
Great Britain might take the ground that II was
violation or abrosation without notice OF the arb
tration treaty and might inform British or Cana
dian seaiers that they were free to pursue and
cap,ure seals In the open sea at any OF thu
vaay This point was discussed for some time
Chairman Dingley contendns that the arbitration
treaty and tho action hereunder we're solely for tn
nrotection Of seal life the high seas. whereas tn,
bill proposed only to take and kill seals on lane
within the territorial limits and Jurisdiction Of TIT
United States. In reply to a question Mr. Hamlii
said that ne did not think 1t would be a profitable
operation for the Government to exterminate thu
seal herd, although he admitted that II would soor
he DESTROYED II existing conditions allowed I,
continue In reply to another question by Mr. John
son Of North Dakota Mr.. Hamlin said that prob
ably not more than Ave hundred American citizens
And employment and derive support from tn