New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-09
TO STOP PELAGIC SEALING.
BILLS INTRODUCED IN BOTH BRANCHES
OF CONGRESS.
THE MEASURES ARE INTENDED TO sTRENGTHE
THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATION
IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ENC

THE POSITION OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS
IN THE NEGOTIATIONS WITH ENC
LAND AND CANADA
Washington. Dec. S-The Senate Committee
on Foreign Relations to-day authorized a favor
able report on a bill prohibiting pelagc sealing
by the people Of the United States
The bill is a joint production OF the Senate
and Treasury Department. and Its passage ID
asked on the ground that with such law on
the statute books Of this country the ADMINS
tration will be in better position than al pres
ent to ask that other Governments proEip"
neIoric sealing. The bill received the affirmative
votes of all the Senators present but its pro-
visions were discussed ut considerable length
Mr. Davis reported to the Senate and asked
immediate consideration for 1t. but MT maze o'
jected on the ground of the Importance Oh .he
measure and asked that the bill be printed. Inc
first section is as follows:
That no citizen OF the United States. nor person
owing duty obedience to the laws or tLedt'.o
Of the Limited States nor Of s Pned shall
HT 0" capsre or hunt at any time or in any
whatever any fur seal In the watecs OF the facI.c
latitude. and including Behrins Sea and the Sea
Of Okhotsk
The bill also prohibits any citizen Of the United
States from equipping. using or employing or
furnishing supplies to any vessel engaged IN
killing or hunting fur seals. and declares that
no United States vessel shall be employed In TINS
work. The penalty for violating the proposed
law is Imprisonment for not more than SIX
months or fine of not less than SZoo nor more
than 81 600 both. and the forfeiture OF inc
vessel so engaged. The fourth section IS az
follows
n any vessel Of the United States snail he loura
within the waters 10 which this act apples ha'lne
on board fur sealskins or bodies OF seals OK ~, a.,
paratus or implements sutdof ha Tor such vessels was
usod or employed IN the killing or sald sehIs; W
thai said hT aus on thc Contrary is proved
TO the satisfaction OF the court
The United States courts Of Alaska. call
fornia, Oregon and Washington are 10 nave
Jurisdiction over cases arising under the act
IT is especially provided that the act Is not u
interfere with the privileges of coast Indians
nor with the taking OF seals on the frioyioh
Islands officers Of the Navy and the Revenue
Cutter Service are empowered to search sus-
pected vessels The importation or sehlsKhs
taken contrary 10 this law by any person -
prohibited. and all skins so imported are TO be
seized and destroyed.
CHAIRMAN HITS MEASURE.
Representative Hit OF Illinois. chairman OF
,,a committee on Foreign Affairs introduced
similar bill in the House. This measure supp'e-
ments the negotiations which have peeh h"''S
on for some time between the United STATES
Great Britain. Russia and Japan. Throughout
the negotiations the representatives, OF Great
Britain contended that an effort was beihR "'a'e
TO have British citizens stop pelasic s'h""s'
while AT the same time the United States per-
United its own citizens to carry on TINS des'ruc-
tion When the American Commissioners urHed
that pelagic sealing contrary 70 the DC
tates 81 humanity they were invariably met
,,,b the answer that this inhumanity was
.anctioned By the laws ~ the United STATES.
The State Department desires to overcome tniS
objection. .,- -. ,ho
The law as II stands permits citizens OF inc
United States TO take seals outside OF the thrc'
mile limit surrounding the Pribylon lsIahds
This was never intended but has come apou.
through Supreme Court decisl"h 'eSp s
the Paris Award. The law reads tnht cltAens
~ ,he United States shall not take seals IN the
waters Of Alaska. 1t was supposed thai this
Was a universal prohibition to American cru,
zens But the Paris Court ~ Arbitration htln
that the United States had no property IN inc
seals outside of the three-nile limit arounh the
| Prlbylor Islands. In constituting this the SUI
| nrene Court held that as the United states had
| no property outside the three -mile unit the
| law prohibiting the destruction OF seals IN the
| waters OF Alaska" did not apply 70 prIaglc sr"i-
| ing on the high seas In consequence. poachihR
| hv American vessels was, In effect. loRallzeh'
| and n number 81 American vessels have p"'h
| sealing IN Rehring Sea, although the Govern
| ment has been seeking 10 show that this seai-
| ing was untustinable -, ,.,..,
| c,otea will have a salutary effect on the nego-
| tiations now in progress with fnRIahu anu
| canada Mr. Hit will call the bill up AZ the
| meeting OF the Committee on Foreign AHhirs
| ,o-norroy and the purpose is TO have II re-
| norted and PASSED with the least delay pos
sihle