The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-12-25
BAD DEAL IN FRANCE
THE UNITED STATES EXHIBIT LAID
UNDER EMBARGO.
RAILROAD CLAIMS FREIGHT.
sIAJ. BRACNErT HAS TROUBLE
WITH THE FRENCH COURTS.

RniIroad Company Makes Excessive
Charges which Have Been Proven
Infounded and the Contractor for
the Exposition DuiidinE Also Goes
Into the Courts Ia Enforce Unrea-
sannbIc CIaIms-Departure of Crui-
se- Prairie Delayed ON Account Of
Those Claims.
Paris. Dee 2l-Thrty cars. forming
mart III the United States government eN-
b.bH az the recent Paris exposition, were
suddenly laid under embargo to-day a.
1iavre. the railroad company declining TO
surrender them. pending payment of a
claim OF $40 fraEcs. This extraordinary
action. seriously delaying the departure
o. the auxiliary cruiser Prairie from
liavre for New York with the govern
rent exhibits. was made the subject Of
formal protest to the FRENCH govern
ment by United States Ambassador Por-
ter
The company bases its claim on dcmur-
rage charges on freight into the cars when
,he goods we're brought 90 tho exposition
for installation.
some time ago the claim was submitted.
nrd Mel Bracket. secretary os the
American commission Investigated il and
concluded that Il had no fouudaiiou. as
some Of the cars charged aeuinst tine
American government never contained
official exhibits. while the others were
cars utilized by private exhibitors and no
therefore chargeable TO the United States
Mai Bracket thereupon endeavored 10
SECURE a settlement. but without avail.
Tho matter dragged along through th-
GUNNER. the secretary OF the American
commission repeatedly expressing his
willingness TO settle any Just claim
neansi he United States. The company
i.t tle case In an unsatisfactory manner
nud finally embargocd the cars.
when Mai. Brackc,t was informed by
'he United States agent al Havre he
wired him Instructions to pay 20 the COM
Tany 20 francs in the presence OF legal
authorities and az the same time 20 en-
tor claim against The company for loon
francs as damages for obstruction and
delay
l.ast summer the company submitted
biA oi S2.7s9 francs for freight charges
against The commission" he said today.
"lnl pressed Tor payment. PENDING az
explanation OF certain items. / paid gj.4o
frames Oh account. 40 the same time ask
ins Tor details. when these were fur
..-. ,si.- ..s-is,i tla, tit,. ,,iiitti45-- i,.ti
h1d been charged with tla8 francs which
sr0uld have been charged 90 the Com
Ilsn.e Generate Trans tlantique while
4.iN francs should have been charged 10
private cxhlbi .ors. The company ls. there
iorg obliged TO make a rebate"
Tomorrow being a holiday there will b.
DO loading of the Prairie. The cars VIII
o.. released hy the payment Of the 80
francs Should "Wednesday uot bring
satisfactory solution Mai Brlckctt Will
probably pay he rest OF the claim under
ptote-s in order not to further delay the
sailing of the Prairie. ~ the same time
De- wlll enter an additional claim Tor dam
ages.
Some trouble also arose with Philip
LHzics the contractor who built the ma
foHll pavilion. lie wro.e the American
Commission Dec. ld saying that the last
lHffnr from Commissioner General Peck
was not satisfactory and asking when the
building would be turned over 20 him
for = molhion Two days later he notl-
n,i thc commission that he intended 70
Take possession and begin destruction
Immediately. lie So turn was informed
that tine building would he placed under
bis control Dec -. and al a formal meet
iug De was notified that the commission
would remove certain furnishings nos sup
piled by him. a proposition TO which his
representative did not object
saturday uigat while the American Gus
todlau OF the building. assisted by two
workmcn. was removing material belong
ins 10 the United states. force Of police
arrived gnd arrested an three on tha
ground that they were taking goods
which did not belong to them. u Is said
that NJ. Iazies brought about the ar
rests
Maj. Bracket secured their release 90
Gay. NJ. Lazies served him with legal
notice that he would not accept the pa
Nihon il its present shape and would de-
mand damages for delay The French
man will now be held 10 the strict terms
o. tne contract. which included demo,it-
Ion ana counter claim VIII De entered
ior forfeit Of go francs daily from
March rs the date when the contract
called for completion, nnd June 2 20.
rether with claim OF 900 francs for
"'iechve construction as the roof leakel
ana certain furnishings were ruined More
inan this. there viii be a special claim
% @"" francs " q can be proved ennt
~ l4ozies brought about the arres.7.
making total OF $3.50 francs. Anothc-
none Of contention may be the settle
mont OF the restaurant concession IN the
american pavilion. which has not been
paid for.