The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-12-25
WANTS UNCLE SAN To SETTLE
BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT DIS
PLAY CAN GO ABOARD
THE PRAIRIE
CONTRACTOR RAISES A ROW.
Builder of the United States PaviI.
ION Also Makes Trouble for
Secretary Brackett of
the Commission.

PARIS, Dec. 2.-Thirty cars, forming
part of the United States government
exhibit at the recent exposition, were
suddenly laid under embargo today at
Havre, the railway company declining
to surrender them pending payment Of
a claim of 5,710 francs. This extraordin-
ary action seriously delaying the depar-
ture of the United States auxiliary cruis-
or Prairie from Havre for New York with
government exhibits, was made the sub
Ject of a formal protest to the French
government by United States Ambassa-
dor Porter. The company bases its claim
on demurrage charges on freight in the
cars when the goods were brought to
the exposition for installation. Some
time ago the claim was submitted and
Maj. Bracket, secretary of the American
commission, investigated it and concluded
it had no foundation as some of the cars
charged against the American govern
ment never contained official exhibits,
while the others were cars utilized by
private exhibitors and not therefore
chargeable to the United States.
Maj. Bracket thereupon endeavored
to secure a settlement, but without avail.
The matter dragged along through the
summer, the secretary of the American
commission repeatedly expressing his
willingness to settle any just claim
against the United States. 1t rested in
this unsatisfactory condition and finally
the cars were embargoed.
COUNTERCLAIM MADE.
When Maj. Bracket was advised by
the United States agent at Havre he
wired him instructions to pay the COM
pany 500 francs in the presence of the
legal authorities and at the same time
to enter claim against the company
for 10000 francs for damages for obstruc-
ton and delay.
Last summer the company submitted
a bill of 81, ,7S2 francs for freight charges
against the commission" he said today,
"and pressed for payment Pending an
explanation of certain items l paid $4,000
francs on account at the same time
asking for details. When these were
furnished, I discovered that the COM
mission had been charged with 4,l9S
francs which should have been charged
to the Compagnie Generate TransAt-
lantie while 4,f10 francs should have
been charged to private exhibitors. The
company is therefore obliged to make
rebate
Tomorrow being holiday there will
be no loading of the Prair.e. TIE cars
will be released by the payment Of the
500 francs Should Wednesday not bring
a satisfactory solution Maj. Bracket viii
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
damage.
TROUBLE WITH CONTRACTOR.
Some trouble also arose with Philip
Lasies, the contractor who built the na-
tional pavilion. He wrote the American
commission, Dec. 16, saying the last let
ter to Commissioner Gen. Peck was not
answered. asking when the building
would be turned over to him for demoli-
ton. Two days later he notified the
commissioner. that he intended taking
possession and began destruction imme-
diately. He in turn was informed the
building would be placed under his con-
troll Dec. 20, and at a formal meeting he
was informed the commissEsl would re-
move certain furnishings not furnished
by him, a proposition to which his rep
resentative did not object. Saturday
while an attache of the American COM
mission, assisted by two workmen, was
removing property belonging to the
United States, force of police arrived
and arrested all three on the ground
that they were taking goods that did not
belong to them. NJ. Lasies brought about
the arrests.
Maj. Bracket secured their release to-
day. M. Lasies served him with legal
notice that he would not accept the pa
viIion in it's present shape and would
demand the strict compliance with the
contract and Maj. Brackett said the con-
tractor was liable to a forfeit of 2Ge
francs daily from March 20, the time the
building should have been completed
until June II, the date of completion,
and damages for defective building caus-
ing damage to the exhibits. He would
also ask damages for the arrests, in
all making a total of 20,6S0 francs
Another bone of contention may be The
settlement of the restaurant concession
in the American pavilion which has not
been paid for.