Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-14
The Southland Resolution.

The hearing began with a statement by
Representative Southland that he had in
PRODUCED the resolution by request al
though he had no apologies to offer for 1t
| and believed in the protection Of the SEALS
1t had been suggested. he said, that un-
less the regulations can be enforced prop
erly the number of fur seals ought to be
reduced to a minimum number that would
step the slaughter.
Prof. Elicit began his remarks with the
statement that the committee undoubtedly
did not know the relations of the North
American Commercial Company of San
Francisco to the seal-killing proposition
Il was before you in 1904" said Mr.. Ell
lott. and said that l appeared on my own
initiative. was not quite fink. I was
then the confidential agent of Secretary of
State John Hay, although 1 did not reveal
this TO any one except two members of the
Senate until few days ago At that time
and at that hearing Mr.. Hitchcock, then of
the Department of Commerce and Labor
promised NE that the killing would be re-
stricted. l accepted that promise in place
of the then pending legislation, but 1 sus-
pected at the time that Mr.. Hitchcock would
be removed. He was. He was sent over
to New York with the national republican
committee, where he was of just about as
much use a plum pudding dog under a
tallyho coach"
Mr.. Elliott said that the seal fight had
now reached the point where those who
were endeavoring to protect the seal herds
lessees that any legislation detrimental to
their interest would be defeated.
Fraud and Perjury Charged.
'The lessees have no legal moral right
to their lease cried Mr.. Elliott, and he
made the declaration that that lease was
secured on March -, 1890, by fraud and
perjury.
He said that December a. 1889, " liam
Window, Secretary of the Treasury, adver
tised for bids for the privilege of sealing on
the Pribilom Islands Proposals were to be
submitted not later than January "a, 1850.
On January 10, 1890 he said, the Senate
passed a resolution asking that the award
was examined. January 90 1890. the Secre-
tary renewed the advertisement, and eX-
tended it to February 20, 1900
On February p, 1890. Mr. Elliott declared,
a board appointed by Mr.. Window opened
bids, and the Secretary gave notice that I'M
less proofs were Forthcoming against the
North American Commercial Company of
San Francisco, the contract would be
awarded to that concern.
Just at this time, the witness testified,
Geo. r. Tingle, formerly a special agent of
the treasury in charge of the seal islands,
declared to the treasury officials that the
bid of the North American Commercial
Company was ineligible because the presi-
dent and stockholders of the company were
even then engaged in pelagic sealing. Mr..
Window notified Tingle that the latter must
produce proofs and gave him until March
r. $50, to do So Mr.. Window then notiried
the president of the North American Com
mercial Company of the charges. Isaac
Leabis, who held that Office. denounced the
charges as false and demanded his lease.
Tingie withdraw his charges; On March
II the lease was delivered and April l.
1890, that same Mr.. Tingle entered the en-
ploy of Isaac Leabis general manager
and superintendent of the North American
Commercial Company.
Ownership Of the Lewis.
Prof Elliott then quoted from documents
to show the ownership in January 1890,
Of the schooner j. Hamilton Lewis, to
show that prior to the granting of the
lease one of the lessees-Herman Leabis,
brother and partner of the president of
the board of lessees-was the owner of the
]. Hamilton Lewis, sealing schooner, al
though before the contract had been de-
livered the president of the North Ameri-
can Commercial Company was required to
swear that the concern was not engaged
in pelagic sealing at that time.
Quoting from other certified documents
Prof Elliott showed that Herman Leabis
had sold all interest in the j. -ariIton
Lewis to II. Leabis & Co. This transac-
ton took place on September II. 1890
Prof Elliott declared. six months after
the president of the concern had declared
that all the pelagic sealing interests of the
company had been disposed Of This
shows very plainly that his oath was
false" declared Prof Elliott dramatically
Prof. Elliott insisted that the sworn clear
ance papers of the ]. Hamilton Lewis
showed, In light Of other facts, that the