The evening times., 1897-12-18
An INDUSTRY DESTROYED
Unexpected Effect Of the Fur
Seal Act.
SKINS CAN'T BE Exported
Fair women Will Find Reason for
Protests Against the Measure, as
Beautiful Seal Coats Can No LON
ger Be Bought for Love or Money.
Representative Ba arlow's Comment.

Mr.. Hit, chairman of the House Commit
tee on Foreign Relations introduced
bill in TIE House last saturday ''pr,-
hibiting the killing Of fur seals in the
waters oil the North Pacific ocean," After
two hours debate Tuesday it was pass ID
1t also passed the Senate and has been sent
to the President for approval.
Strange as 1t may SEEM the most Objac-
tionable feature in the bill was not
apparently discovered by Mr.. johnson, of
North Dakota, and the Others who opposed
il, particularly the memmbers from Caii-
fonia. The objectionable feature reads
thus:
THAT the importation into the United
States by any person Whatsoever of fur
seal skins, taken iii the waters mentioned in
this act, whether raw, dressed, dyed OF
manufactured, is hereby prohibited. and
all such articles imported after this act
shall take effect shall not be permitted
to be exported, hut shall be seized by the
proper officers of the United States
As the United States Is tue largest
market in the world for sealskins, .his
complete stnppage OF the trade in this
country will be Il severe measure against
the British and Canadian industries.
which tal:e and cure the skins and then
dispose of them largely in the United
States.
When the bill was proposed it was
generally supposed that its only purpose
was to prohibit American citizens from
carrying on pe's gic sealing. This fea-
ture was The only one to attract atten-
tion during the discussions.
The bill was prepared at the state
Deparr ent and indorsed by both Sec
retary Shefmab and Secretary Gage. 1t
was introduced simultaneously in the Sen
ate and House with hut minor alterations.
The prohih:tivc section was in the bill It
received by Chairmen Davis and Hit, who
offered it in their respective houses.
The correspondence between Sir Will
frid Laurier, the Canadian premier. and
former Secretary Foster, the Unit'ri states
representative in the recent seal conference.
has Just been made public.
1t will he recalled that Sir LoIis Da-
vies, Canadian minister OF fisheries, in
an address at Toronto subsequ mt to
the conference, said that, III return FOR
settlement Of tie fur-seal question s.tis-
factory to the United States. Canada would
expect among other concessions reci-
procity arrangement which would admit
into the nited States free OF duty lumber,
coal, fish, harley. eggs. potatocs md
other farm products.
In his letter to Mr.. Foster Sir Wilfrid
declares that his government cannot
agree to the proposal OF the Unite,l states
for a suspension OF the killing Df seais
in the Pacific MI Pering Sea Tor one gear
from December, 1897.
He says that the fleet is fitting out for
operations, and that the sum demanded
by the sealing interests for uompens;S
tion would he far beyond what is pcs
sible for u to induce Parliament To state,
even il We could recommend it,"
lie suggests that, as the catch in the
first four months of this year will be
small, an arrangement might be made for
n suspension or cessation the next year.
Mr.. Foster, in his reply, says that the
President regrets his inability to accept
this proposition. Mr.. Foster contends that
the continuation OF pelagic sealing in the
first fsur months of the year would create
! serious inroad on the herd.
Concerning the reciprocity features he
says:
.-Notwithst anding the President feels
that the subject of the proper protec-
lion of tie seals should not be compii
Gated with other questions of intricate
public policy, in his earnest desire To
promote d more friendly state of rekt
tons, he has consented that all these
questions Should be embraced In one
series of negotiations, if, meanw hile, i
rnodus vivcadi could be agreed upon which
would save the seals from destruction |
while the negotiations were in progress
The prohibiiory section OF the bill was
shown 10 MIR. Barlow OF California today,
who was greatly surprised at 1t.
1T will create trouble he said, for |
it twilldestroya great industry in California
AIr. Champ Clark of Missouri a member |
OF the Foreign Relations Committee, said !
he knew nothing about the prohibitory |
clause Of the bill, for it had practically |
been adopted during his absence from the |
room. 1t was adopted imm.: |
'liatriy after he returned to the conmitter. |
Several otlIer members of the House ey-
presse'l surprise at the prohibitpry sec |!
ton, and declared they did not know that |
a Provision OF such character was in the |
bill