The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-22
JOINT HIGH COMMISSION
TO MEET IN THE OTTAWA PARLIA-
MENT BUILDING ON TUESDAY.
Questions to Be Discussed by the Cam
tatives-Talk with MIR. Fairbanks.

QUEBEC, Aug. 2l-The first session of
the United States and Great Britain joint
high commission will be held in the Parlia-
ment building in this city Tuesday after
noon A majority of the commissioners are
now here, but they do not expect to Go
more than take a general survey of the
work and appoint subcommittee at the.
first two sessions The meetings of the
commission will not be open TO the public.
1t is a ponderous and perpiexing task given
to the commission to perform. Their work
is that of adjustment and REIMBURSEMENT OF
all the most important questions which have
been in controversy between the United
States and Canada for the past half CEN
fury. The commission is composed of six
members from the United States, four from
Canada, one from England and one from
Newfoundland. The United States commits
sioners are: United States Senator Charles
W. Fairbanks, of Indiana, chairman;
United States Senator George Gray, of Del
aware; Congressman Nelson Dingley of
Maine; John W. Foster, former secretary
of state and former minister to Spain, Rus
STA and Mexico; John w. kasson, of Iowa,
former minister to Germany and Austria,
and T. Jefferson Coolidge. of Massachu-
sets. former minister to France. The
Laurier, Sir r. ]. Cartwright, Sir Louis
Davies and John Charlton. II. P. Lord
Herschen is the representative from Eng
land and chairman of the British and Cana
dian delegation, and Hon. Sir James T.
Winter. premier of Newfoundland, repre-
sents the Newfoundland interests. The
principal questions submitted for the con-
sideration of the commission are:
F1rst-The questions in respect to fur seals
in Boring sea and the waters of the North
Pacific ocean.
Second-Provisions in respect to fisheries,
off the Atlantic and Pacific coasts and in
the waters of their common frontiers.
Third-Provisions for the dei1mltatlon and
establishment of the Alaska Canadian
boundary by legal and scientific experts, if
the commission shall so desire, or otherwise.
Fourth-Provisions for the transit of mer-
chandise in transportation or from either
other whether by land, including natural
and artificial waterways and intermediate
transit by sea.
Fifth-Provsions relating to the transit
of merchandise from one country to be de-
ivered at points in the other beyond the
frontier.
sixth-The question of the alien labor
laws. applicable to the subjects or citizens
of the United States and of Canada.
Seventh-Mining rights of the citizens or
subjects OF each country within the terri
tory of the other.
Eighth-Such readjustment and conces-
sons as may be deemed mutually adj
vantageous of customs duties applicable in
each country to the products of the soil or
industry OF the other, upon the basis of re-
Ninth-A revision Of the agreement of 1917
respecting naval vessels of the lakes.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for the more COM
plete definition and marking of any part of
the frontier line by land or water. where the
same is now so insufficiently defined or
marked as to be liable to dispute.
EleVenth-PION1SlOn 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.
TweIfth-Reciprocity in wrecking in saw
ing rights.
Other questions concerning the United
States and Canada may be brought before
the commission the work goes forward.
Already many representatives from the
various interests to be considered by the
commission are here and eager to present
their views. 1t will be impossible, how
ever. to give general hearings to all who
may desire to be heard.
Chairman Fairbanks stated to the Asso-
ciated Press correspondent to-day that
where large number of men desired 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 communica tons
concerning the work of the commission
should be addressed to Chandler p. Ander-
son. the commissions secretary, who is
now in Quebec. That the work is to be
very important and very difficult is indi-
Gated in the fact that the commission is TO
take up the very questions which the United
States and Canada have not been able TO
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 submit
ted in the form of 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 sit. The United
States and Canadian members have brought
with them an extensive equipment of books
documents and maps. Many of the maps
Alaskan boundaries. which. excepting pos
sibly the sealing and commercial matter,
will he the most difficult question before the
commission,