The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-25
Formal Protest at Once Made to the
French Government by the
United States Ambassador.
COUNTER CLAIM FOR DAMAGES
LOADING AND SAILING OF THE
CRUISER PRAIRIE DELAYED.
Trouble with n Frenchman Who Has
the Contract of DemOIishfng
the American Pavilion.


part of the United States government ex-
hibit at the recent Paris exposition, were
suddenly laid under embargo to-day at
Havre, the railroad company declining to
surrender them, pending payment of
claim of $40 francs. This extraordinary
action, seriously delaying the departure of
the United States auxiliary cruiser Prairie
from Havre, for New York, with the gov
ernment exhibits, was made the subject or
a formal protest to the French government
by United States Ambassador Porter.
The company bases its claim on demur-
rage charges on freight in the cars when
the goods were brought to the exposition
for installation. Some time ago the claim
was submitted and Major Brackett, secre-
tary of the American commission, investi-
gated it and concluded that it had no foun-
dation, as some of the cars charged against
the American government never contained
official exhibits, while the others were cars
utilized by private exhibitors and not,
therefore, chargeable to the United States.
Major Bracket thereupon endeavored to
secure settlement, but without avail. The
matter dragged along through the summer.
the secretary of the American commission
repeatedly expressing his willingness to set
tie any just claim against the United
States The company left the case in un-
satisfactory condition and finally embar-
coed the cars.
When Major Bracket was Informed by
the United States agent at Havre he wired
him instructions to pay to the company 500
francs in the presence of the legal authori-
ties and at the same time to enter claim
against the company for 10000 francs. as
damages for obstruction and delay. Last
summer the company submitted a bill of
32.7S2 francs for freight charges against the
commission" he said to-day, land pressed
for payment. Pending an explanation Of
certain items. 1 paid $1,000 francs on
count, at the same time asking for details.
When these were furnished 1 discovered
that the commission had been charged with
4,lS3 francs which should have been
charged to the Compagnie General Trans
atlantiQue, while 4.1l0 francs should have
been charged to private exhibitors. The
company is, therefore, obliged to make a
rebate"
Tomorrow being holiday there will be
no loading of the Prairie. The cars will
be released by the payment Of the 500
francs. Should Wednesday not bring a
satisfactory solution, Major Bracket will
probably pay the rest of the claim under
protest in order not to delay further the
sailing OF the Prairie. At the same time
he will enter an additional claim for
damages.
Some trouble also arose with Philip La
zies, the contractor who built the National
pavilion. He wrote the American commits
sion on Dec. 16 saying that the last let
ter from Commissioner General Peck was
not satisfactory and asking when the build
ing would be turned over to him for de-
molition. Two days later he notified the
commission that he intended to take possess
sion and begin destruction Immediately. He
in turn was informed that the building
would be placed under his control Dec 20:
and at a formal meeting he was notified
that the commission would remove certain
furnishings not supplied by him, PROPOSE
ton to which his representative did rot
object. Saturday night, while the Amer
lean custodian of the building. assisted by
two workmen. was removing material be-
longing to the United States. force of po-
lice arrived and arrested all three on the
ground that they were taking goods whici,
lid not belong to them. 1t is stated that
n. LazIs, brought about the arrest Major
Bracket secured their release next day.
M. Lazies served him with a legal notice
that he would not accept the pavilion in
its present shape and would demand dam
ages for delay. The Frenchman will now
be held tc strict terms of the contract,
which includes demolition, and a counter
claim will be entered for a forfeit of 200
francs daily from March Is, the date when
the contract called for completion, and
June %, together with a claim Of 1000
francs for defective constructions, as the
roof leaked and certain furnishings were
ruined. More than this. there will he
special claim Of 1000 francs, IL IL can be
proved that M. Lazies brought about the
arrest, making total OF 26, 800 francs.
Another bone of contention may be the
settlement of the restaurant concession in
the American pavilion. which has not been
paid for.