The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-08


 face of the earth if bribery is tolerated. The givers and takers of bribes stand on an evil preeminence of infamy The eX- posture and punishment of public eorrup- tion is an honor to a nation, not dis grace. The shame lies in toleration not in correction, No, city or state, still less the nation, can be injured by the en- forcement of law. As long as public plum derers when detected can find a haven of refuge in any foreign land and avoid punishment, just so long encouragement is given them to continue their practices. If we fail to do all that in Us lies to stamp out corruption we can not escape our share of responsibility for the guilt The first requisite of successful self-gov- ernment is unflihching enforcement of the law and the cutting out of corruption
 Alaskan Boundary.
 For several years past the rapid devel- opment of Alaska and the establishment of growing American interests in regions heretofore unsurveyed and mperfectly known brought into prominence the ur- gent necessity of practical demarcation of the boundaries between the jurisdic- tions of the United States and Great Britain. Although the treaty of 1925 be- tween Great Britain ano Russia, the pro- visions of which were copied in the treaty of 1867 whereby Russia conveyed Alaska to the United States. was positive as to the control, first by Russia and later by the United States a strip of territory along the continental mainland from the western shore of Portland canal to Mt. St Elias, following and surrounding the fluctuations of the coast and including the islands to the westward, it's descrip- tion of the landward margin of the strip was indefinite, resting on the supposed existence of a continuous ridge or range of mountains skirting the coast as fig ured in the charts of the early naygators. It had at no time been possible for either party in interest to lay down, under the authority of the treaty. line so obvious ly exact according to it's provisions as to command the assent of the other For nearly three-fourths of q century the ab- sence of tangible local interests demand ing the exercise of positive jurisdiction on either side of the border left the ques- ton dormant. In 1878 questions of rev. enue administration on the Stikine river led to the establishment of provisional demarcation, crossing the channel be- tween two high peaks on either side about twenty-four miles above the river mouth. In 1899 similar questions growing out of the extraordinary development of mining interests in the region about the head of Lynn canal brought about a temporary modus vivendi. by which a convenient separation was made at the watershed divides of the White and Chillzoot passes and to the north of Klukwan, on the I<le- hini river. These partial and tentative adjustments could not, in the very nature of things, be satisfactory or lasting. A permanent disposition of the matter be- came imperative.
 After unavailing attempts to reach an pdar cfan int tol, mission, followed by prolonged negotia- tions, conducted in amiable spirit a convention between the United States and Great Britain was signed, January 24 1903, providing for an examination of the sub ject by a mixed tribunal of six members. three on a side, with a view to it's final disposition. Notifications were exchanged on March last, whereupon the two gov ernments appointed their respective mem- bers. Those on behalf of the United States were Elihu Root, secretary of war; Henry Cabot Lodge, a senator of the United States and George Turner, an ex- senator of the United States, while Great Britain named the Right Honorable Lord Alverstone, lord chief justice of England; Sir Louis Amable Jette. K. c. M. G., re- tired judge of the supreme court of Que bee, and A. B. Aylesworth K. C., of Toronto. This tribunal met in London on September 3. under the presidency of Lord Alverstone. The proceedings were expeditions, and marked by a friendly and conscientious spirit. The respective cases, counter cases, and arguments pre- sented the issues clearly and fully. On the 20th of October a majority of the tri- bunal reached and signed an agreement on all the questions submitted by the terms of the convention. By this award the right of the United States to control of continuous strip or border of the mainland shore, skirtng all the tide-wa- ter inlets and sinuosities of the coast. is contirmed the entrance to Portland canal Concerning which legitimate doubt ap- peared) is defined as passing by Tongass inlet and to the northwestward of Wales and Pearse islands, a line is drawn from the head of Portland canal to the fifty sixth degree of north lattude and the interior border line of the strip Is fixed by lines connecting certain mountain summits lying between Portland canal and Mt St. Elias. and running along the crest of the divide separating the coast slope from the inland watershed at the only part of the frontier where the drain age ridge approaches the coast within the distance of ten marine leagues stipulated by the treaty as the extreme width of the strip around the heads of Lynn canal
 
 While the line so traced follows the provisional demareation of 1878 at the crossing of the Stikine river. and that of 1899 at the summits of the White and ChillIoot passes. 1t runs much farther in- land from the Klehini than the tempor- ary line of the later modus vivendi and leaves the entire mining district of the Porcupine river and Glacier creek within the jurisdiction of the United States. The reward Is satisfactory in every way It is of great material advantage to our people in the far northwest It has removed from the field of discussion and possible danger a question liable 10 become more acutelv accentuated with each passing year. Finally it has furn- ished a signal proof of the fairness and good will with which two friendly nations can approach and determine issues in- volving national soYereignty and by their nature incapable of submission to a third power for adjustment.
 The award Is self-executng on the vital points TO make 1t effective as regards the otherslt only remains for the two governments to appoint, each on it's own behalf. ore of more scientific experts. who shall with all convenient speed proceed together 10 lav down the boundry line in accordance with the decision of the ma iority of the tribunal. I recommend that the congress make adequate provision for the appointment compensation and ex. penses of the members to serve on this joint boundrv commission on the part of the United States.
 Cfafy,oe A17tnst Nene-ueIa