New-York tribune., 1900-12-25
EMBARGO ON EXHIBIT.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT CARS
TIED UP BY A FRENCH RAILROAD.
FORMAL PROTEST MADE BY AMBASSADOR
PORTER. AND SUITS FOR DAMAGES
WILL BE PROMPTLY ENTERED.

Paris. Dec. 24-Thirty cars. forming part of
the United States Government exhibit at the
recent Paris Exposition, suddenly laid
der embargo to-day at Havre the railroad COM
pany declining to surrender them pending pay
ment of claim of $40 francs This extraor-
dinary 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 pro-
test to the French Government by United States
Ambassador Porter.
The company bases its claim demurrage
charges freight in the cars when the goods
were brought to the Exposition for installation.
Some time ago the claim submitted. and
Major Bracket, secretary of the American
Commission, investigated it and concluded that
it had foundation some of the cars
charged against the American Government never
contained official exhibits, while the others
cars utilized by private exhibitors. and not.
therefore chargeable to the United States.
Major Bracket thereupon endeavored to secure
a settlement hut without avail. The matter
dragged along through the summer. the secre-
tary of the American Commission repeatedly
expressing his willingness to settle any just
claim against the United States. The company
left the case in an unsatisfactory condition, and
finally embargoed 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 authorities and at
the same time to enter claim against the
company for 10000 francs as damages for OBJ
struction and delay. Major Bracket said to-
day:
Last summer the company submitted bill of
80, 7S2 francs for freight charges against the
commission and pressed for payment. Pending
an explanation of certain items. paid 2?.OOO
francs on account. at the same time asking
for details. When these were furnished dis
covered that the Commission had been charged
with 4193 francs which should have been
charged TO the Compagnie Generate Transat-
lantioue, while 4. 10 francs should have been
charged to private exhibitors. The company is
therefore obliged TO make a. rebate
Tomorrow being a holiday there will be no
loading of the Prairie. The will be re-
leased by the payment Of the 800 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 additional claim for
damages.
Some trouble also arose with Philip Lazies. the
contractor who built the National pavilion. He
wrote to the American Commission or Decem-
Der 16 saying that the last letter from Commits
sioner-General Peck was not satisfactory, ana
asking when the building would be turned over
to him for demolition. Two days later he nou-
fed to the Commission that he intended to take
possession and begin destruction Immediately
He in turn was informed thst ths- building
would be placed under his control on December
90 and at a formal meeting ii was notified to him
that the Commission would remove certain fur
nishings not supplied by him, a proposition to
which his representative did not object Saturday
night, while the American custodian OF the
building assisted by two workmen, was remov-
ing material belonging to the United States. a
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 NJ
Lazies brought about the arrests. Major BracK-
ett secured their release to-day. NJ. LaZies
served him with a legal notice that he would
not accept the pavilion in its present shape, and
would demand damages for delay.
The Frenchman will now be held to the strict
terms of the contract. which included demol-
ton, and a counter claim will be entered OF a
forfeit Of 200 francs daily from March IN, the
date when the contract called for completion, to
June 23 together with a claim of 1000 francs
for defective construction, as the roof leaked
and certain furnishings were ruined More than
this, there will be special claim OF 1900 francs
if il be proved that NJ. LaZies brought about
the arrests. making total of $500 francs.