The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-17
TO RELIEVE kLOSDIKERS.
Continued From First Page.

Mr.. johnson, Republican of Indiana,
made vigorous speech of an hour in
opposition to the bill.
de argued that the effect of this bill
and the negotiations now being con-
Quoted would be the bolstering up of two
great British industries, one in Behring
SEA and the other in London. The pres.
emf nerd was not worth protecting. He
declared that Canada would only be will
ing TO join with US in prohibiting pelagic
sealing on condition that we should al
low her to write our tariff laws.
Mr.. johnson said that we had been
inundated and shamed by the complete
surrender of our rights and honor at the
Paris tribunal. He was sarcastic in his
references to Hon. John W. Foster, whom
he termed 1.-THE great surrenderer. 80
great was his reputation in this line, he
said, that China had paid him 500, 600
for surrendering to Japan. he created
much amusement by enumerating some
of the expenses of the Paris tribunal, and
said he did not marvel that the experts
who had already made so much out of
the government should desire to keep up
an agitation which permitted them to
draw big salaries and rove over the world
at the expense Of the government.
Mr.. johnson described the destruction
of the food fish by the seals. The recent
increase in the catch at the fisheries on
the Pacific coast and Alaska, he attri-
buted to the diminution of the seal herd
II these wolves of the sea had been com
pletely exterminated, he said, we would
not be sending relief to the miners in
Alaska. Each seal requires ten pounds
of fish day. The coast of Alaska would
become the greatest cod fishery in the
world if these enemies of the fish were
destroyed.
MIR. Hepburn, Republican Of Iowa, ex-
pressed the opinion that we had the power
80 II T.
this whole question as to the seals.
Pelagic sealing was not worth more than
$3.50, 600 per annum. The bonding privi-
lege granted to Canadian roads, over which
she had absolute control, was worth 20
times az much to Canada as the fight
of pelagio sealing. He advocated retail
alton as the weapon to tie used to bring
Canada to terms.
Mr.. Loud, Republican of California, in
opposition to the bill argued that if our
citizens were to be bound, it was advis-
able that they should be bound jointly
with the subjects of Great Britain.
Mr.. Hit, chairman of the foreign
affairs committee, answered some of the
criticisms which had been advanced. The
admitted evil of the political system, he
said, was pelagic sealing, which resulted
in the killing of 10000 seals annually.
And yet, the gentleman from North Da-
kota, lJohnson), proposed to meet this
evil slaughter Dy an absolute slaughter
OF the entire herd. Was this humane
proposition from government which
was urging humanity on other nationsp
Mr.. Hit referred to the barbarity of the
practice of killing the defenceless seal
pups.
9 MIR. Livingston, Democrat of Georgia,
said: GAS chairman of the foreign affairs
committee you have in your possession
q resolution respecting the poor and de.
fonceleSs people of Cuba What do VEN
intend to do about that? Are not the
Cubans RS much entitled to your care as
the seal pups?''
Mr.. Hit replied that the question was
not asked with wen to getting a seri-
Gus answer. After further debate the bill
was passed, yeas, 14s; nays 49,
An hour was spent on legislative, exc
cutive and judicial appropriation bill
without accomplishing anything. The
bankruptcy bill was reported and an ex-
tension of time was granted in which
the minority may file its report.