The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-31

Oscars Favor, aud That Comes From
Bayard's State-Oiney and Sir Julian
Paunccfote Sign an Alaskan Boundary
Treaty-Loud Bill In Committee-Con-
sressional Sews.
Washington Jan. 30-The senate COM
nittee on foreign relations today resum-
ei consideration Of the arbitration treaty
between the United States and Great
Britain with the determination to finish
it before the committee adjourned.
The committee was in session for three
hours, at the conclusion of which it ad-
journed, after having agreed by almost
unanimous vote to recommend the rati-
fication of the treaty, with amendments.
All but two OF the amendments are
merely verbal One of the two which
are essential strikes out the clause pro-
viding for the selection OF King Oscar as
umpire, leaving il to the two powers 10
select an umpire when one is consider
ed necessary.
The other important amendment is an
addition to article ! Of the treaty and
reads as follows:
NO question which affects the foreign
or domestic policy Of either OF the coun-
tries Of the contracting parties or the
relations of either with any other state
by treaty or otherwise. shall be subject
to arbitration under this treaty except
by special agreement"
This amendment was agreed to by the
unanimous vote of the committee.
The amendment eliminati ting the UNI
pire clause was agreed to by q vote of
to l. The vote in opposition to strik-
ing out the King Oscar clause is under
stood to have been cast by Senator Gray
of Delaware.
The vote on the motion TO report the
treaty favorably as amended was s to T.
Those VINO voted in the affirmative were
Messrs. Sherman, Frye, Davis, Cullom,
Long and Gray and those who voted in
the negative, Messrs. Morgan, Daniel,
Cameron and Mills. This vote, strange
iy enough, was financial rather than on
political lines. Only one Democratic
senator voted for ratification and only
one Republican against it.
1t is understood that the silver men
held that the ratification of the treaty
would have a tendency to render this
country subservient to Great Britain.
An amendment declaring in explicit
terms that the Alaskan boundary ques-
ton should not be included in the agree
ment for arbitration was voted down as
being unnecessary.
The chairman was instructed to ask
the senate TO give the treaty considera-
ton at as early d day as practicable It
is expected that when taken up it will
lead 10 protracted and animated de-
bate in executive session.
ALASKAN BOUNDARY,
Washington, Jan. 30-Secretary Olney
and Sir Julian Pauncefote, at II o'clock
today signed the convention for the
definition by commission of SO much of
the boundary line between Alaska and
the British possessions as is marked by
the 141 st meridian. The treaty Will be
sent 10 the senate on Monday and its
outlines already have been forecasted
exclusively by the Associated Press.
The treaty provides a commission Of
four members. The names are not given
in the treaty but will be agreed on here
after. The commission will meet, under
the terms of the treaty, in London or
Washington.
Tho formal name of the treaty is: "a
convention between the United States
and Great Britain. for the demarkation
of such part of the 141st meridian west
longitude AS may be necessary for the
Of the boundary between
their respective possessions in North
America"
Its purpose is 70 settle beyond doubt
the exact location of the meridian and
thus prevent the clashing between the
miners who have been attracted in large
numbers to the vicinity of the boundary,
and the location of these two countries.
The meridian named, the 141st west
longitude, was not selected as the boun-
Diary line by Secretary Olney and Sir
Julian Pauncefote. but was laid dowI. as
the line of division in the treaty of ces-
sion by which Alaska was passed by
Russia to the United States. The diff
Guilty has been to tell just where the
meridian actually runs, by no means an
easy task in such a country as Central
Alaska In even more hospitable chimes
the task of defining physically such an
abstract line as meridian is beset with
difficulties so that it was matter of no
surprise that in the present case the two
countries should clash often, now that
the territory is known to include eXtens
i've and valuable gold deposits. AS laid
down on the charts of the mouth OF
Forty Mile cleek, the Mecca Of the gold
hunters. debouches into the great Yukon
river just near enough to the meridian
TO cause each side, American and Brit
ism, TO set UP the claim that it lies in
their territory.
THE REAL DIFFICULTY.
Washington, Jan. 3e-The Alaskan
treaty, just signed. between the United
States and Great Britain does not apply
10 the boundary in the southern part Of
Alaska, but only TO that of the 14lst me-
ridian, readily fixed by astronomical OBJ
servations, in the northern part OF Alas
ka. II is the southern branch of the
which presents serious diff
culties involving questions OF territory
between the United States and Great
Britain. The main question involved is
whether the boundary is to be measured
from the mainland or from the outer
fringe OF islands along the coast IL is a
repetition Of the old contest over a closed
sea, or mare Clausum. which brought on
the dispute referred 10 the fisheries COM
mission.
The rights OF the United States arc
those ceded from Russia when the terri
tory was purchased. This boundary is
easily established in the northern part.
and the treaty JUS signed wiz run the
lire along the 141st meridian. But the
cession from Alaska states that the
souIherly boundary shall be along a crest
OF mountains supposed 70 exist near the
coast. and II these are not located. then
the boundary x u be ten marine leagues
so miles) from the coast, until the line
reaches the i4lst meridian.
About two years ago the United States
and Great Britain made a join; efor, 10
locate the supposed mountain range.
General ". ". Duffie.d was named by
ne. Tinted States as c07r-ni sSioler and