The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-25
The Quehec Conferencc.

There is little, if any, probability that
anything sensational will come out of the
Quebec conference of the joint high COM
mission of the United States, Canada and
Great Britain, now in session. The ques-
tons which win come before the commits
sion are nearly ali old, some running back
for as much as fifty years, and they are
particularly dry questions. Nevertheless
they are of Importance, and have been the
cause of a good deal of friction 1t is
the duty and purpose of the commission
to go over all of the points of difference
between the governments of the United
STATES and Canada-no question with Great
Britain comes within the scope of the
commssion-and make an earnest effort
10 arrive at a just and satisfactory set
Element of them. 1t is regarded as quite
likely that the conference will be attend
ed with fruitful results not only in the
settlement of long pending controversies.
but in bringing Americans, Canadians and
Britons into closer and more intimate
friendship.
The conference Is composed of twelve
commissioners, six from the United States
four from Canada, one from Newfound-
land and one from Great Britain. The
commissioners of the United States are;
Senator Charles w Fairbanks of Indiana.
chairman; Senator George Gray of Del
aware, Congressman Nelson w. Dingley
Of Maine, John w. Foster of Ohio, former
ly Secretary of State; John A. Kasson of
Iowa, formerly minister TO Germany, and
Lee
formerly minister to France The com
missioners of Canada are: Sir Wilfred
Laurier Sir r. ]. Cartwright Sir Leon
Davies and John Charlton, NJ p The del
egate from New Foundland is Sir James
T. Winter and from England Lord Her
schel. The personnel of che commission
marks it as being of the very highest
character. Its deliberations and conclu-
sions, it is assured viii be characterized
by liberality and justice.
The Ber.ng sea controversy is chiefly
responsible for the appointment Of the
commission, though it is by no menas the
only great question to be considered. AS
a matter of fact, there are at least twelve
issues of Importance between the United
States and Canada, ana many of them are
so involved with each other that it was
considered advisable to make the inquiry
of the commission cover the whole field
of them. These leading matters have been
summarized thus
J. The questions in respect to the fur
seals I'm Berlng sea ana the waters of the
North Pacific ocean.
2 Provisions in respect to the fisheries
off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in
the waters of their common frontiers
3. Provisions for the delmitation and es-
adjustment of the Alaska Canadian
boundary by legal and scientific experts.
if the commission shall so decide or 9TH
erwise.
4. Provisions for the transit Of merchan-
disc IN transportation 10 or from either
country. across intermediate territory of
the other, whether by land or water in
Guiding natural and artificial waterways
ana intermediate transit by sea.
o. Provisions relating TO the transit OF
merchandise from one country to be de-
livered at points in the other beyond the
frontier
o. The question Of the alien labor laws.
applicable TO subjects or citizens Of the
United States and Canada.
T. Mining rights of The citizens or sub
jccss OF each country within the territory
OF the other.
3. Such readjus,mcnt and concessions as
maV be- deemed mutually adVantageous. OF
customs duties applicable in each country
90 the products OF the soil or industry OF
the other upon the basis OF reciprocal
equivalents.
@. a revision Of the agreement of 1877 re-
sprclng naval vessels on the lakes
I'd. Arrangements for the more complete
definition and marking of any part of mo
frontier line, by land on water, whore the