The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-24
The Joint Commission Not So Liberal
to the Seal Pirates the Lat
ter Probably Expected.
ABOUT $1,5OO,OOO DEMANDED
BY OWNERS OF SHIPS FOR ACTUAL
AND PROSPECTIVE LOSSES.
Congress to BE Asked to Settle the
pute, Now Happily Adjusted.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.--The findings or
the British-American commission chosen to
assess the damages for seizures of British
ships in Boring sea have been received by
the State Department and the British en-
bassy, The strictest reticence is main
tanned, however, on the general character
Of the finding, though it is admitted that
the total of the award against the United
States is 1854, 900, which includes principal
and interest. A separate statement of the
award divided into principal and interest
is refused at this time. In order to avoid
misrepresentation, it should be understood
that the finding against this government
is no surprise, that being a certainty under
the finding of the Paris court of arbitfa-
ton that the United States had no right
to close Bering sea against foreign ships.
The international commissions only duty
was to assess the amount of the damages.
The amount allowed is considered to some
extent a Vindication of the State Depart
ment, which had sought to settle the ques-
ton without commission for $425,00O and
the award now made exceeds this sum con-
siderably and besides this there will be the
expense of the arbitration and also the
possible establishment of some unfortunate
precedents as to the obligation of the
United States to pay estimated or prospec-
tive damages. The controversy has occu-
pied the attention of the authorities here
and in London for the last eleven years.
At the outset the tone of controversy
was very bellicose, suggesting a possible
resort to arms This was following the
seizure by the United States steamer Cor
win of the British sealers Carolina and
Thornton on Aug. /, 1886. The facts of the
seizure were not known until some time
later, and in the meantime the Corwin had
taken the Onward and Favourite. The same
policy of seizure and confiscation occurred
during the next sealing seasons, despite the
protests of Great Britain, the United States
ship Richard Rush taking the Sayward
Grace, Anna Peck. Dolphin, Alfred Adams,
Triumph, Juniata, Pathfinder, Black Dia-
mond, Lii, Ariel, Kate and Minnie. while
the United States cutter Bear took the
Ada
The claims for these seizures took a
wide range beginning with the value of
the vessels and outfits, and including not
only the value of sealskins confscated, but
also the value of skins which might have
been taken If the ships had not been seized.
This last feature OF prospective ga. dhamage,
OF each British ship the largest item of the
claim was for estimated future catch. For
instance in the case of the Carolina, the
claim for the ship was only $4,000, while
that for skins which might have been TAX
en- that year If she had not been seized
was SIG, SGT. Each ship estimated a pros
pective catch Of from $3.50 to 5000 skins,
the value being from $3.50 per skin, in 1887,
to $1225 in 1853, The total of the claims
without interest amounted to $439, l6l and
with interest at per cent. and other
charges the total reached $7S6.16
The only official statement that could be
1Ek f11Efr ont had hyY
the commissioners is contained in the fol-
lowing announcement given out at the
State Department this afternoon:
1.-The award of the Bering sea claims
commission has been filed in the Depart
ment of State. The claims as presented by
the British government to the commission
on account of Canadian vessels seized in
Bering sea aggregated, with interest, ST.
100000. These included under the Claims
treaty, several cases not embraced IN the
settlement proposed by Secretary Gresham.
The award now made amounts to 1924, 18l. 81,
to which is to be added interest which
will increase the total about so per cent:
The award is final and dispoSes of all
cases before it. Payment under the treaty
must be made within six months"
The department officials, it is assumed,
will proceed at once to prepare bill, or
an amendment to one of the regular Jappro-
priaton bills for submission to Congress,
covering the necessary appropriation TO pay
the judgments, for, being bound by treaty
not only to pay any judgment rendered,
but to pay them promptly, the government
is in honor bound to take the remaining
steps towards a settlement in short order.
There appears to be little doubt that the
United States carried its point on the main
question involved, namely, as to the right
of prospective damages for seal skins
which might have been taken If the vessels
had not been seized. The British claim in
Guided the estimated profits, which In the
aggregate ran the claim up to high fig
ure In view of the small amount of the
actual award, without interest, these large
prospective damages evidently are scaled
down to an insignificant amount or rejected
entirely. While the department officials Will
make no definite announcement to this eff
feet limitations are given that the small
ness of the award precludes the POSSIBLE
ity of any allowance having been made on
account of prospective damages. The Ala
bama claims commission established the
precedent that remote damages could not
be included III a claim and the present
award is evidently on the same line.
General John w. Foster, who is now in
general charge of Boring sea affairs, said
tonight as to the award that he was not
surprised at the result. President Cleveland
having officially declared that $4,000 was
just and equitable sum in settlement, and
therefore having appointed as the Amer
lean commissioner to adjudicate the claims
a close personal and political friend, 1T
could hardly be expected that the latter
of a less amount. Mr.. Foster was absent
from the country in Japan when Congress
took action on President Cleveland's rec
concentration, bur he regarded the commits
sion as the proper method of reaching a
settlement, and the only one which would
satisfy the country. Notwithstanding the
seizures which gave rise to the award
istration President Mckinley will doubtless
unhesitatingly recommend Congress to pro-
vide for the payment, and ne hoped and
felt sure that Congress would promptly
make the necessary appropriation to dis
charge the treaty obligation, and as the
Canadians receive interest up to date on
their deferred claims the result should be
accented on both sides in good spirit.