The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-12-30
r,,,s SIM UNCLE SAM MUST PAY TO
T. BULL FOR BERING SEA
SEIZURES.
A LONG CONTROVERSY IS ENDED.
The Seizures of British ships were
Made by the United States In 1856.
Findings of the British-Amer-
lean Commission.


the British embassy. The strictest reti-
cence is maintained, however, on the
general character of the finding, though
it is admitted that the total of the
award against the United States IL $464,-
600, which includes principal and inter
est. A separate statement of the aware
divided into principal AMI interest IS
refused at this time. ..
In order to avoid apprehension, 1t
should be understood that the finding OF
this commission is no surprise, 1t Delng
certainty under the finding OF the
Paris court of arbitration that the
United States had no right to close. Der
ing sea against foreign ships. Inc inter-
national commissions only duty was TO
assess the amount of damage. The
amount allowed is considered to some
extent vindication of the state de-
partment which had sought to settle the
question without commission for S4Zo,-
600 as the award now made extends
this sum considerably, and besides TINS
there will be the expenses OF the arpl-
tration and also the possible esta bllsh-
ment of some unfortunate precedents as
to the obligation of the United States
to pay estimated or prospective damages.
The controversy has occupied the at
tention of the authorities here and IN
London for the last eleven years. At
the outset the tone of The controversy
was very belligerent, suggesting posi-
BILE resort to arms. This was Following
the seizure ty the United States ship
Corwin of the British schooners Carolina
and Thornton on August /, 1886. The
facts of the seizure were moi known
until some time later, and in the mean-
time the Corwin had taken the Onward
and Favourite. The same policy of
seizure and confscation occurred during
the next sealing seasons. Despite the
protests of Great Britain. the United
States ship Richard Rush taking the
Sayward, Grace, Anna Peck, Dolphin,
Alfred Adams. Triumph. ,Juanita. Path
finder, Black Diamond Lily. Ariel. Kate
and Minnie, while the United States cut
ter Bear took the Adams,
The claims for these seizures took n
wide range, beginning with the seizure
of the vessels and outfits and including
not only the value of seal skins coEhs-
Gated but also the value of skins which
might have been taken if the ships had
not been seized. This last feature of
prospective damage caused the main CON
tention. In the case of each British ship
the largest item of claim was for the es-
timated future catch. For instance, in
the case of the Carolina, the claim for
the ship was only $4,000, while that for
skins which might have been taken that
years if she had not been seized was
$16,66l. Each ship estimated a pros
pective catch of from $500 to 5000 skins,
the value being from $3.50 per skin in
1887 to 1925 in 1889. The total of
the claims without interest amounted
to $439, 161, and with interest at per
cent and other charges the total reached
$7S6 166.
ne secured here of the judgment reached
by the commissioners is contained in
'he following announcement given at the
state department this afternoon
''The award of the Boring sea claims
coElmi SsiOn has been filed in the depart
Inent of state. The claims as presented
by the British government to the com
mission on accoupt of Canadian vessels
seized in Boring sea aggregated, with
interest, $1,500,000. These included I'M
der the claims treaty several cases not
embraced in the settlement proposed by
Secretary Gresham. The award now
made amounts to S294, 1871, to which
is to be added interest, which will in
crease the total about 80 per cent.
"The award is final and dispOses of
all cases before it. Payment under the
treaty must be made within six months"
The departmental officials it is as
sumed, will proceed ut once to prepare
n bill or an amendment to one of the
regular appropriation bills for submits
sion to congress covering the necessary
appropriation to pay the judgments rem
dered, but to pay them promptly the
government is in honor bound to take
the remaining steps towards settlement
of the claim in shorts order.
Gen. Foster, who is now in general
charge of Boring sea affairs, said tonight
as to the award, that he was not sur
prised at the result. President Cleve-
land, having officially declared that
in settlement and therefore having ap-
pointed as the American commission to
adjudicate the claims close and per-
sonal friend, it could hardly be expected
that the latter would strenuously con-
tend for an award Of less amount.
Mr.: Foster was absent from the country
IN Japan when congress took action on
President Cleveland's recommendation.
but he regarded the commission as the
proper method of reaching a settlement
and the only one which would satisfy
the country. Notwithstanding the seiz-
nres which gave rise to the award were
lllllatcu ulluef Il lein )cratlc admlniStra-
ton, President Mckinley will doubtless
unhesltatingly recommend congress to
provide for the payment. and he hoped
and felt sure that congress would
promptly make the necessary appropria-
ton to discharge the treaty obligation.
here appears to be little doubt that
the United States carried it's point on
the main question involved, viz: AS to
the right of prospective damages for seal
skins which might have been taken if
the vessels had not been seized. The
British claim included the estimated
prohts which in the aggregate ran the
claim up to high figure. In view of the
small amount of the actual award with.
out interest these large prospective dam
ages evidently are scaled down to an
tirely. 'e'ee'eo en-
While the department officials will
make no definite announcement to this
erect lntimations are given that small
ness OF the award precludes the possih;l-
NY OF any allowance having been made
an account OF prospective dana ges Tho
~ claims commission estahlisbad
the precedent that remote damages comld
not DE included in a claim and fhe nras.
eht award is evidently on the same GH ne
London Press Comment
London, Dec 23.-The Times IN ~