The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-17
HOUSE AND THE SEAL HERD.
THE BILL TO PROHIBIT PELAGIC
SLAUGHTER PASSED.

Caustic Criticism of Our Diplomatic
Negotiations in Reference to the
SeaIeries InduIged in-Mr. johnson
of North Dakota Refers to Hon.
John w. Foster as the Great Sur
renderer-The Bill to Send Relief
10 the Yukon Also Passed.
Washington, Dec. 16.-The House to-day
passed bill appropriating $l75,O 600 for the
relief of the people who are in the Yukon
river country, and also the bill passed by
the Senate yesterday to prohibit pelagic
sealing by American citizens
In the course Of the debate over the lat
ter bill there was some exceedingly caus-
tic criticisms of the course of our Boring
sea diplomatic negotiations.
Mr.. Johnson, rep, brought forward the
bill for the relief of the miners of the Klon-
dixie, and Mr.. Savers, dem, and Mr.. Bailey,
dem, of Texas. spoke in favor of it.
Mr.. Cannon submitted to the House
statement prepared by DR.. Sheldon Jack
son, one of the agents of the commissioner
of education, who was in the Klondike re-
gion as late as Sept. 10, that there would
be no suffering as far up the river as Fort
UhOilt but tIlc supply OH the uhOn WOulu
not last beyond March and he indOrses the
recommendation of the Secretary of War
that food be sent in by reindeer via Dyea.
Mr.. Cannon said: Whether these min
ers were in British or American territory,
whether they are American or British sub
Jects, If they are starving, it did not be
come the American congress to hesitate
about voting them relief" (Applause)
Mr.. Bailcy said he had never been able
to be charitable out of the public funds.
He believed charity ought to be voluntary,
and he had never voted for relief funds to
those stricken by fire or flood. But he
realized that distress appealed to the
hearts of all, and he would not protest
against bill designed to relieve that dis
tress. But he did protest against the SOW
eminent setting up storehoUses and becom-
ing a vender of provisions.
The bill was passed without division.
Mr.. Hit, rep, of Illinois, chairman of
the committee on foreign affairs, secured
unanimous consent for the consideration
of the bill passed by the Senate yesterday
to prohibit pelagic sealing by citizens of
the United States.
Mr.. johnson, rep, of North Dakota,
made a vigorous speech of an hour in OPP
position to the bill. He argued that the
effect of this bill and the negotiations now
being conducted would be the bolsterlng
up of two great British industries, one in
the Bering sea and the other in London.
The present herd was not protected. The
purpose was to build up a new herd. He
declared that Canada would only be will
ing to join with US in prohibiting pelagic
sealing on condition that we should allow
her to write our tariff laws.
Mr.. Johnson said we had been Inundated
and shamed by the complete surrender of
our rights and honor at the Paris tribunal.
He was particularly sarcastic in his ref
erences to Hon. John w. Foster, whom
he termed 1.-The great surrenderer." So
great was his reputation in this line, that
China had paid him 100000 for surrender
ing to Japan. He created much amuse-
ment by enumerating some of the express
sions of the Paris tribunal, and said he
did not marvel that the experts who had
already made so much out of the govern
ment should desire TO keep up an agitation
which permitted them to draw big sala-
ries and rove over the world at the ex-
pense of the government.
Mr.. Hit, chairman of the foreign affairs
committee answered some of the criti-
cisms which had been advanced. The
admitted evil of the present system, he
said, was pelagc sealing, which evil re-
suited in the killing of 10000 seals annual
ly. And yet the gentleman from North
Dakota (Mr Johnson proposed to meet
this evil of a partial slaughter by an alb
solute slaughter of the entire seal herd.
Was this a humane proposition from
government which was urging humanity
on other nations?
After further debate, the bill was pass
ed: yeas, las; nays, rs. At o'clock the
House adjourned.