The record-union., 1898-08-22
First Session to Be Held In Quebec
Tomorrow.
Majority Of the Commissioners
Now There, But at Present Will
Only Take a Survey of the
Work and Appoint Committees
Meetings Will Not Be Open
and They Have a Ponderous
and Perplexing Task.

QUEBEC, Aug 21.-The first session
Of the United States and Great Britain
Joint High Commission will be held in
this city Tuesday afternoon. major
ity of the commissioners are now here,
but they do not expect to do more than
take a general survey of the work and
appoint subcommittee at the first two
sessions. The meetings of the commits
sion will not be open to the public.
1t is ponderous and perplexing task
given to the commission to perform.
Their work is that of adjustment and
readjustment of all the most import
ant questions which have been in con-
troversy between the United States and
Canada for the past century
The principal questions submitted for
the consideration of the committee are:
l. The questions in respect to fur
seals in Behring Sea and the waters or
the North Pacific Ocean.
>. Provisions in respect to fisheries off
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in
the waters of their common frontiers.
J. Provisions for the delimination and
establishment of the Alaskan Canadian
boundary by legal and scientific experts
if the commission shall so decide or 9TH
erwise.
4. Provisions for the transit of mer-
chandise in transportation TO or from
each country, across the intermediate
territory of the other, whether by land
or water, including national and arti-
fetal waterways and immediate transit
b. sea
D. Provisions relating to the transit
of merchandise from one country to
build at points in the other beyond the
border
b. The question of the alien ! abor
laws applicable to the subjects or citi-
zens of the United States and of Can
ada
T. Mining rights Of the subjects or
citizens of each country within the ter
ritory Of the other.
5. Such readjustment and concessions
as may be deemed mutually adyan-
tageous OF customs duties applicable in
each country to the products of the
soil or industry of the other upon the
basis of reciprocal equivalents
y. A revision of the agreement of
1917 respecting naval vessels of the
lakes.
10 Arrangements for the more COM
plete definition and marking of any
part OF the frontier lines by land or
water, where the same is now so in
sufficiently defined or marked as to be
liable to dispute
H. provisions for the conveyance for
trial or punishment of persons in the
lawful custody of the officers of one
country through the territory of the
other
IL. Reciprocity in wrecking and SAL
wage rights
Other questions concerning the United
states and Canada may be brought be-
fore the commission as the work goes
forward. Already many representa-
tlons from various interests to be con-
sldered by the commission are here and
eager to present their views 1t will be
impossible, however, to give general
hearings to all who may be desired TO
be heard. Chairman Fairbanks said
that where large number of men de-
sired to be heard upon any one question
they would probably be asked to select
one from their number to present their
arguments to the commission All
briefs and communications concerning
the work Of the commission should be
addressed to Chandler P. Anderson, the
commissions Secretary, who is now in
Quebec.
That the work is to be very important
and very difficult is indicated in the
fact that the commission is to take up
the very questions which the United
States and Canada have not been able
10 settle in the past decade. But now
in the opinion of Senator Fairbanks, on
the part of England and Canada, there
seems to be a disposition to have all
these questions satisfactorily adjusted
And so far as we are concerned" >"
said Senator Fairbanks, I'VE shall meet
them half way"
What disposition will finally be made
of the results of the commissions
work." he was asked.
Our findings" he said, will be sub
mitted in the form of a treaty for the
approval of the Senate of the United
States and of Great Britain"
1t is impossible to state how long the
commission probably will be in session.
The members have brought with them
an extensive equipment of books, doc
uments and maps. Many of the maps
will be brought into use in considering
the Alaskan boundary, which, except
! ing possibly the sealing and commercial
| matters. will be the most difficult ques-
| tion before the committee.
GREAT HEAT AT PARIS.