The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-25
CLAIM OF 5,7lO FRANCS
The Company Claims This as Freight
Charges Unpaid.
MAJOR BRACKET SAYS IT IS uNFouNDED
He Had Previously Made an investigation Of
the Matter. The Seizure Made the Sub
ect Of Formal Protest to the
French Government.
French Government.
(By the Associated Press.)

Paris, Dec. 24.-Thilty cars forming
part of the United States Govern nent ex
hibit at the recent Paris Exposition, were
suddenly laid under embargo today at
Havre, the railroad company declining to
surrender them, pending payment of a
claim of 5,710 francs. This extraordinary
action, seriously delaying the departure
OF the United States auxiliary cruiser
Prairie from Havre for New York with
the Government exhibits. was made the
subject of formal protest to tie French
Government by United States Ambassa-
dor Porter.
The company bases it's claim or demur-
rage charges on freight into the cars
when the goods were brought to the ex-
position for installation.
Some time ago the claim was submitted
and Major Bracket, Secretary OF the
American Commission, investigated it
and concluded that it had no foundation,
as some of the cars charged against the
American Government never contained
official exhibits. while the others were
cars utilized by private exhibitors aud not
therefore chargeable to the United states.
Major 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 will
lingness to settle any just claims against
the United States. The company left the
case in an unsatisfactory condition and
finally enlarged the cars.
ID for I'D I,Ny
the United States agent at Havre, he
wired him instructions to pay to the COM
pany 500 francs in the presence of the
legal authorities and at the same time
enter a claim against the company for
10000 francs, as damages for obstruction
and delay.
Last summer the company submitted
a bill of 80, 1872 francs for freight charges
against the Commission he said today,
and pressed for payment. Pending an
explanation of certain items, paid $4,000
francs on account at the same time ask
ing for details When these were fur
nished / discovered that the. commission
mad been charged with 4193 francs, which
should have been charged to the Com
ragnie Generate Trans Atlantique, while
4,110 francs should have been charged to
private exhibitors. The company is,
therefore, OBLIGED to make d 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 furth-
or the sailing of the Prairie. AT the
same time he will enter an additional
claim for damage.
Some trouble also arose with Philip
4 Iazies, the contractor who built the Ma
tional pavilion. He wrote the American
! Commission December 18th saying that
the last letter from Commissioner Gener-
al Peck was not satisfactory and asking
when the building would be turned over
to him for demolition Two days later
he notified the commission that he in
tended to take possession and begin de-
struction Immediately He in turn was
h informed that the building would be
|Aplaced under his control December goth
hand at formal meeting he was notified
hat the commission would remove certain
'haurnishings not supplied by him. propo-
ition to which his representative did
bot object.
Saturday night, while the custodian of
the buldingr4assigned by two workmen
was. removing material belonging to the
Omitted States, force of police arrived
and arrested all three on the ground that
they were taking goods which did not
belong to them. 1t is said that Mr.. Lazies
brought about the arrests.
Major Bracket secured their release
today M. Lazies served him with a legal
notice that he would not accept the pavil-
aion in its present shape and would de-
mapd damages for delay. The Frenchman
will now be held to the Strict terms of