The sun., 1897-07-19

The figures for 1897, showing the indebt-
edness of the North American Commercial
Company, so tar as we are aware, have not
been disclosed officially. 1t is q matter of
public report that the company has paid
nothing this year. either.
For the period of six years during which
the North American Commercial Company
paid $34O,394 only to the Government, and
withheld S7+0.577 of the money claimed
by the Government as due for rentals and
taxes, the expenses of the Government in
patrolling Behring Sea and policing the
waters for the protection of it's lessees,
were 81 1,41O,721. Add to this $74 4,645
for the salaries and expenses of the Gov
ernment's agents at the seal islands, and
the total is 81 ,4S5,3S0 During the six
years, therefore, the Governments loss on
It's contract with the North American Com.
mercial Company-that is to say, with Mr..
ID. o. MILLS and his associates-was in
round figures 81, las, 900.
Under the advice of the Attorney. Gen
eral the Secretary Of the Treasury began
several suits against MIR. MILLss company
for the money due to the Government. The
aggregate due and unpaid up to 1898 was
$S10, ,579.03. We are not informed as to
the amount for which suit was brought in
1896. Mr.. Mills knows. Probably the
Hon. WHITELAw REID knows, as q matter
of family intelligence.
Our understanding of the status of the
litigation against the North American
Commercial Company Is that the earlier
suits were decided for the Government and
against the Governments debtor In the
lower United States courts; md that the
cases are now pending on appeal in the
higher court. We may be wrong. Mr..
MILLS knows. Perhaps the honorary editor
of the Tribune knows, too.
Was 1t on account of these peculiar cir.
cumstanccs that Assistant Secretary GRID
LER of the State Department at once as
sumed that the unauthorized publication OF
the letter of instructo ions to Ambassador
HAY in the NeW York Tribune of Wednes.
day last was procured or instigated by the
Hon. WHlTELAw REID, the son in. law of
Vice-President MILLS Of the North Ameri-
can Commercial Company Mr.. CRIpLER
knows. Perhaps Mr.. REID knows, too
although he will never tell.
What Is the policy of the North Ameri-
can Commercial Company with respect to
the settlement Of the veXatious seal ques.
tioni Do MIR. MILLS and the stockholders
associated with him really desire now a
prolongation of their business under the
strict terms of the lease of 1880; or would
they rejoice to SEQ the controversy so
hopelessly involved and muddled that
even the placatory genius Of the Hon.
JOHN w. FOSTER could never straighen
it orti Would they be sorry or glad to see
England 40 exasperated by the tone of
American diplomacy as to render impossi.
BILE any solution of the question that would
restore the collection of rents and taxes,
and. what is perhaps more important to
them, of back rentals and taxes, to the old
normal baslsf Is it to their pecuniary ad.
vantage to quit and escape in the general
wind-up of the fur seal industry, or to pay
up and go ahead for the remainder of their
term under improved conditions 30 far an
the Canadian poachers are concernedl
We cannot answer these questions. The
policy and pecuniary interests of the North
American Commercial Company have not
been publicly announced by Mr.. d. o. MILLS;
and his son'in-law, the Special Jubilee Am