The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-04-21
TO FIX THE DAMAGE.
LONG BATTLE OF SEIZED sEALERS
NEARING An END.
Claimants Have Formulated Their
Argument 10 BE Delivered Next
Monday-Unfted States TO Submit
Written Answer-H There In a
Disagreement, the Award VIII BE
Made by an Umpfre-sealer. Claim
SS57.7oO.


Special Dispatch TO the Post-rnteIligencer
VICTORIA. 3. G.. April ao---Yet another
chapter has been closed in the seemingly
interminable story OF the battle for COM
pensation which is being waged by the
British government in behalf OF the Vic
toria sealers unlawfully seized by the
United States during iss6 and the six years
following. Counsel for the claimants have
now completed their case. and the printed
argument was formally delivered March
81. within the time limit fixed by the COM
missioners during their session at Vic
toria. The United States will now prepare
its written argument. which is to be put
In on or before May To- Hon. Mr.. Peters
and his colleagues who have charge of the
British case are then entitled TO submit
q printed reply 20 the answer Of the
United States, which has 10 be delivered
by June /, and the commissioners meet at
Montreal June Is to fix time and place
for the crel argument. necessitated by the
fact that il will be essential 10 discuss
fully and in Detail the matters referred 20
in The printed argument, going into par
ticulars which it would be impossible TO
condense concisely and clearly for the
printed statements.
After that. IL the commissioners can
agree. the award will be made by them.
IL not. each commissioner Is TO deliver a
with evidence. arguments and judgments.
will then be referred to an umpire select
ed by the president Of the Swiss republic.
His decision is 10 be final. and the United
States is bourl Ia pay the total amount
OF damages decided upon as due. within
six months of the fixing OF the amount
either by the commissioners or the UNI
pire. as the case may be.
The British argument in the first place
contains an introductory chapter setting
out concisely all matters preliminary to
the claims convention. showing how the
subject Of arbitration came efore the
present commission. in which reference
is made 10 tie contention Of the United
States, and IL is maintained that Great
Britain is not only entitled to claim dam
ages In behalf OF the owners Of schooners
Illegally seized. but for every one interest
ed in those vessels or their cargo. as mas
ter mate member OF the crew or other
wise. Next comes n chapter on the effect
OF the Paris award. TO show that ii con-
! clusively determines all matters In con-
nection with the sealing dispute save the
question OF American citizenship and the
amount OF damages TO be paid by the
United States. The extent Of the latter
provides material for a following chapter,
II being arg'ted that the compensation
should be fol- AMI compie'e. not Only tie
actual losses being made good. but the
vessel owners being recompensed for the
probable catch. the catch which IL was
20 be reasonably expected the vessels
would have made had they not been mo-
Tested. and 20 prevent the making OF which
the Illegal action Of the United States was
taken. To these amounts is added inter
est on the amount Of loss from the time
OF It's being incurred until payment. at the
rate OF Z per cent
In reply TO the contention Of the United
States regarding citizenship, the argu-
ment OF the British counsel holds that IL
is not permitted under the terms OF the
convention 20 go behind the registry and
flag Every schooner before the commits
sion duly registered al the time OF her
seizure. must be regarded as n british
vessel. and her owners entitled 20 com
pensation AS an alfeTnative-if IL = held
that the commission s. entitled To inquire
further-the argument sets forth that the
persons vho are alleged 20 have been
American citizens at the time 81 the seiz-
ures were nevertheless doniclIed az that
time on British soil. and thereby acquired
the qualification Of British subjects TO
that extent. that they were entitled 20
Britain's protection and 20 claim compen-
sati0n through her for wrong doue them
while they were resident IN British terri
tory. even by their own government.
The argument then proceeds 10 deal
should be allowed FOR the prospective
catch. and in 90 doing refers to tire extent
OF the sealing grounds in the Beriug sen.
their limited area. and the precise In
formation in regard 20 them IN poss sasi on
Of experienced Ecaling men. b. which tnes
you'd have TO difficulty n reaching the
place az which seals were % be taken -
the proper tire - secure them.
Another chapter is devoted - the fura-
ton Of the sealing season. showing y 70
be quite possible 20 continue sealing until
az least September. II .he schponers
a the feet hn6 Il necessary a. remain out
50 long in order - counp3efe heir catch
II the discussion - this pa3at a set %
tables is inserted. showing the operations
az the different vessels reported IN me
evidence. su1 that IN every case whore rot
Interfs~pd vgth they remained in the sea
until late period in the faN Further,
the argument goes on 20 show that the
evidence Gl=cIoseS intention on the part q
all persons engaged on OF interested n the
schoouers seized, 10 remain out 1ntil lafo
IN the season ali these vessels hA wing
been equipped ard proslsionea Tor pro-
fracted cruises. which they would IN
sessete8Iv have made had they not been
iurerferea alta D. the Unf;eo States \
CHAPTER s. next devoted r. TIE m@thod
a8ortea tn computing 1ha estimated
eaten in which II Is argued that the voy-
age q: the Mary Ellen in is.f Fbotls4 %
taken a. representa- tlEe. aid that her
catch under al the circumstances dis
closed in the evidence should b accepted
ard used as basis upon Wnlen 20 deter
rrfne what any ether vessel equally weil
equipped should have Done Il not me-
Tested.
IN regard 20 .he pr1cs % sk. rs. e ia held
that the British government - entitled
20 hse paid 81 the rates current n the Lon
don rnarkz- for ire years n question: The
price IN ISIS wns s. PER skin n Sc. = -,
il lSsS. 81 - in isss. 81: IT lss1. 81 sna
sls and IN 1s%2. 50
Tnsu special conditions affecting THE
wafu~ cf the vessels seized are noted,
sAowfux bow TIRE owners are entitled %
claim q higher price than tasy zAx-s