The age-herald., 1900-12-25
PART OF EXHIBIT
 UNDER AN EMBARGO French Railroad Claims Damage
 on Certain Goods FORMAL PROTEST WAS MADE The Action Delayed Departure of the United States Auxiliary Cruiser
 Sent After Exhibit-coun-
 ter Claims Will be Filed.
FORMAL PROTEST WAS MADE

Paris December 24-Thirty cars, form
 ing part of the United States government exhibit at the recent Paris Exposition,
 were suddenly laid under embargo today at Havre, the railroad declining to surren- der them pending payment of claim of 571O francs. This extraordinary action, serl-
 ously delaying the departure of the United States auxiliary cruiser Prairie from Havre for New York with the government ex hibits, was made the subject of a formal protest to the French government by Unit ed States Ambassador Porter.
 The company basis its claims on demur- age 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 Bracket, secre- tary of the American commission, investi- gated it and concluded that it had no foun- dalton, as some of the cases charged against the American government never contained official exhibits, while the others were utilized by private exhibitors, and 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. with the American commissioners repeat edly urging just basis for agreement
 When Major Bracket was informed by the United States agent at Havre, he wired him instructions to pay the company 300 francs in the presence of the legal au- thorities, and at the same time to enter q 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 today, and pressed for payment. Pending an ex- planation of certain items I paid 25,O francs on account, at the same time asking for details. When these were furnished I discovered that the commission had been charged with 419S francs which should have, been charged to the Compagnie Gen erale Trans-Atlantique, while 4110 francs should have been charged to private ex- hibitors The company is therefore obliged to make rebate"
 Tomorrow being a holiday, there will be no loading of the Prairie. The cars will be released by the payment of the money asked Should a satisfactory solution not be had, Major Bracket will probably pay the rest of the claim under protest in or der not to further delay the sailing of the Pra1rie. At the same time he will enter a claim for damages. Some trouble also arose with Phillip Lazies, the contractor who built the national pavilion. He wrote the American commission December 16, saying that the last letter from Commis- sioner General 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 intended to take possession and begin destruction immediately He in turn was informed that the building would be placed under his control December 20 and at a formal meeting he was notified that the commission would remove certain other phases to accelerate the work
 Major Bracket secured their release to- day. M Lazies served him. with legal notice that he would not accept the pavil- ion in it's present shape and would demand for delay. The Frenchman will now be held to the strict terms of the con tract which included demolition, and a counter claim will be entered of a forfeit of 200 francs daily from March 15, the date when the contract called for completion, until June 23, together with claim of 2OOO francs for defective construction, as the roof leaked and was otherwise imperfect More than this, there will be a special claim of 2000 francs if it can be proved that M. DaZies brought about the arrests mak- ing total of $500 francs. Another bone of may be the settlement of the restaurant concession in the American pa- villion which has not been paid for