Oregon union. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1897-1899, 1897-12-31
THE SEALING AWARD
Findings of the Commission
Reach State Department.
TOTAL NEARLY HALF A MILLION

Damages for Prospective Catch Were
Not Acknowledgements Will
Be Asked to Pay 1t.
Washington, Dec. 27.-The findings
of the British-American commission
chosen to assess the damages for seiz-
ures of British ships in Behring sea
have been received by the state depart
ment and the British embassy. The
strictest reticenee is maintained, how
ever, on the general character of the
findings, though it is admitted the total
award against the United States is 464, :
900, which includes principal and in
terest. The finding against this gov
ernment is no surprise.
The controversy has occupied the at
tention of the authorities here and in
London for the last II years. At the
outset the tone of the controversy was
belligerent, suggesting possible re-
sort to arms. This was following the
seizure, by the United States steamer
Corwin, of the British sealers Carolina
and Thornton. on August l, 1885. The
facts of the seizure were not known
until some time later. and in the mean
time, the Corwin had taken the On
ward and Favourite. The same policy
of seizure and confscation occurred
during the next sealing season, despite
the protests of Great Britain, the
United States steamer Rush taking the
Sayward, Grace, Anna Pack, Dolphin,
Alfred Adame, Triumph, Junita. Path
finder, Black Diamond, Lilly, Arctic
and Kate and Minnie, and the cutter
Bear taking the Ada.
The claims for these seizures took
wide range, beginning with the value
of the vessels and outfits, and includ-
ing not only the value of sealskins con-
fscated, but also the skins which
might have been taken if the ships had
not been seized. This last feature of
prospective damage caused the main
contention. In the case of each Brit
ish 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 81, 900,
while that for skins which might have
been taken that year il she had not
been seized was $16,667. Each ship
estimated prospective catch of from
8, 800 to 5000 skins, the value being
from So. so per skin in 1887 to $12.25
in 1889. The total of the claims,
interest, amounted to $780,
161, and with interest at 8 per cent
and other charges, the total reached
$3.50, 1876.
The only official statement that
could be secured here of the Judgment
reached by the commissioners is con-
tained in the following announcement
given out at the state department:
"The award of the Behring sea
claims commission has been filed in
the department. The claims as pre-
sented by the British government on
account of British vessels seized in
Behring sea, aggregated, with interest,
81, 500, 900. These included several
cases not embraced in the settlement
by Secretary Gresham. The
award now made amounts to $294,-
1915 81, to which will increase the total
about so per cent. The award is final,
and disposes of all cases before it. Pay
ASut u11ttCl LLO Ut Aluob UO udO0
within six months.'
The departmental officials, it is as
will proceed at once to prepare
4 bill or an amendment to one of the
appropriation bills for submission to
congress, covering the necessary appro-
oriation to pay the judgments, for, be-
ng bound by treaty not only to pay
my judgments rendered, but to pay
hem promptly, the government is in
honor bound to take the remaining
teps toward settlement in short Or
Ter.
There appears to be little doubt that
,he United States carried it's point on
he question involved, as the prospec-
i've damages were evidently scaled
lown to an insignificant amount, or
elected entirely. While the depart
nent officials will make no definite an
to this effect, intimations
re given that the smallness of the
ward precludes the possibility of any
llowance having been made on account
# prospective damages. The 'Ameri-
an claims commissions established the
'recedent that no prospective damages
ould be included in a claim, and the
resent award is evidently on the same
inc.
General J. w. Foster. who is now in
eneral charge of Behring sea affairs,
aid tonight, as to the award, that he |
Vas not surprised at the result. Presi-
ent Cleveland having officially de- |
Jared that $425, 900 was a just and
quitable sum in settlement, and hav-
ng appointed as the American commits
ioner to adjudicate the claims close
ersonal and political friend, it could
ardly be expected that the latter
7ould strenuously contend for an
ward of a less amount. Mr.. Foster
7as absent from the country in Japan
hen congress took action on Presi-
ent Cleveland's recommendation, but
e regarded the commission as the
roper method of reaching settle
rent, and the only one which would
stisfy the country.
Slain by Congo Natives.