Evening star., 1901-12-12
THE ALASKAN SEALS
Mr. Beidler's Revival Of the Dingley
- - t3tf tt
Plan.
PROTECT Or EIfERMINATE THEM
A Commission and Modus Vivendi
Provided For.
MEAS URE A NECES SITY
PROTECT Or EIfERMlNATE TEEN
MEAs URE A NECEs sITY


MEA URE An ESSITY
| Under the title of "An act to prevent the
extermination of fur-bearing animals in
Alaska. Representative Beidier Of Ohio has
| presented to the House revival Of the
plan of the late Mr.. .Dingfeyy to either place
/ the proper protection over the lives Of fe-
male seals, or to exterminate the whole
Alaskan seal herds.
In a preamble the bill sets forth facts
which show that immediate action Is neces-
sary. 1t says that the records Of the State
and Treasury Departments up to date show
conclusively that the regulations Of the
Bering sea tribunal made at Paris, August
16, 1893, for the preservation and protection
| of the fur-sea1 herds of Alaska, have ut
| terly failed to so protect and preserve these
herds from indecent killing and ruinous di-
minution of life after seven years Of faith
full enforcement.
Failure to Amend Regulations.
The negotiations undertaken by the Jor-
| dan-Thompson commission In 1885 and 1897,
| to alter and amend these useless regula-
| tions Of the Bering sea tribunal have also
| ended in complete failure to afford the
slightest relief.
| The government Of the United States is
! reduced. it states, by the failure Of these
official negotiations to the painful position
| of being obliged to breed and protect an
nually some $1,000 female seals on the seal
! islands of Alaska for alien hunters to
| slaughter at sea- our people being absolute
| ly shut out from that killing by special act
| OF Congress.
This killing Of 10000 to 10000 mother
seals at sea by alien hunters every year
entails the cruel and indecent starvation to
death on the islands Of 1900 to 25,O00
young or pup seals every September and
October
| This ruin of the fur-seal industry of the
| United States in Alaskan waters by alien
| hunters compels the government to support
| the native inhabitants of the seal islands
! by annual appropriations from the public
| treasury; to keep a resident staff of treas
| ury agents on the said islands, and order
| the sailing and idle patrol service of four
| and five revenue-marine cutters into Alas
kan waters from May to the end of Octo-
| ber, annually.
| The preamble concludes that this cruel
and improper condition of affairs the
| seal islands of Alaska will continue for an
| indefinite period, unless Congress puts an
end to it.
A Commission Provided For.
| The bill provides that the President shall
negotiate with the government Of Great
Britain for review of the condition of af-
| lof Islands. Bering sea, Alaska. the review to
be made by Joint commission, to consist
| of not more than two members from each
| nation, the members to embody the largest
acquaintance and most extended experience
possessed by any educated men In the
premises, these men to consider and report,
| after full inspection Of the life In question
| on the ground itself and in the waters
where 1t is now endangered, even to eXter-
mination, what further regulations shall
| be ordered, if any can be devised, which
will restore and preserve the fur-seal in
duStry Of Alaska for the good Of all man.
kind and abate the shameful order of kill
! ing now permitted and conducted For the
| purpose of making this investigation by the
aid Of these men, the President may detail
a ship of the United States to convey any
| or all Of said commissioners to any part or
| into any part of the waters of the North
| Pacific ocean or Bering sea.
The members of the commission for the
| United States shall be appointed by the
! President In addition to their necessary
expenses they shall each receive the COM
pensation of 5000 per annum. In addi-
| ton thereto the United States shall bear
! its proportion Of such general expenses of
| the commission as the respective govern
ments may agree upon as necessary. The
American commissioners shall report to
the President the results Of their investi-
cations, survey and work.
A Modus Vivendi.
Pending the investigation and report Of
the commission, the President Of the United
States is authorized to conclude and pro-
claim modus vivendi with the govern
ment Of Great Britain, whereby the killing
of any or all fur seals on the land or in
the sea by the subjects of the respective
governments shall be suspended and entire
ly prohibited, except few hundred young
male seals annually on the Islands Of st.
Paul and st. George, for natives food, and
said modus vivendi shall remain in force
and binding until it is abrogated by q
mutual agreement to that end by the
United States and Great Britain.
The provisions Of the act approved April
g. 1894 providing punishment by fine, i'm
prisonment and forfeiture of vessels for
Violation of the articles of the award of
the Bering sea tribunal of arbitration, are
made applicable to all violations of the
modus Vivendi, and the President shall !
make known by proelamation the provisions |
Of the modus vivendt.
All expenses incident to the appointment |
investigation, acquisition of authentic data, |
and preparation Of the report of said United |
States commission ordered and approved |
by the President. shall be paid by the Sec |
retary of the Treasury.
To Exterminate the Seals.
If the modus vivendi authorized by section !
8 Of this act be not concluded and regula- |
tions under the same. effeetual In the judg- |
ment of the President for preserving the |
Alaskan seal herd. are not put into opera |
ton before the opening Of the pelagic seal |
ing season of 1902. then the Secretary Of |
the Treasury, with the approval Of the |
President. Is authorized to take and kill |
each and every fur seal. male and female, |
as it may be found on the Prfbilof Islands; |
the skins of said seals to be sold by him to I
the best advantage with regard to time |
and place Of sale as he may elect, and the |
proceeds thereof covered into the treasury |
OF the United States. All needful expenses |
incident toQtha thorough performance Of |
this work Off killing seals, preserving and |
transportation of SKINS, erection Of neces- |
sary buildings, employment of labor, care |
of the seal Island and Pribilof natives in |
Cured by the Secretary Of the Treasury /
shall be paid by him. a6
In commenting on the necessity of the |
measure Mr.. Beidler said to Star reporter:
II introduced this bill at the request of |