Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1911-07-14

The Lie Passed.
Washington, July S.--An exciting
s'ene yesterday enlivened the proceed
l lgs of the h ouse committee on ex
penditures In the Department Of Com
merce and Labor, investigating the
charge that the once great seal herd OF
the Pribalof Islands is being wantoniy
slaughtered by agents of the United
States Government.
Prof. Henry w. Elliott, fur seal ex-
pert, AMI United States Fish Commits
sioner Bowers, who have been In con-
troversy about the seals, confronted
each other before the committee, shook
their fists and exchanged series of
lively epithets.
Prof Elliott, concluding the reading
of a statement, declared that United
States Fish Commissioner Bowers had
"pe1ured himself before this COM
mitiee.p
"Iou are a self.confessed perjury
yourself" returted Goa missioner Bow
ers
"rhst is publishing, rotton charge
that no man ever dared put bis name
to- Prof. Elicit responded, shaking
his fist IN the direction OF MIR. Bowers.
"l'll get you on the witness stand for
that statement
"Yes, and I'll prove the charge, too,
when you do" Mr.. Bowers replied vc.
hemealiy.
Presiding Representative Rothermel
Of Pennsylvania, a Quaker, suspended
the sitting. which will be continued
Monday.
During the hearing Prof. Elliott told
| the committee that COMMISSIONS Bow
ers practiced "studied de eitn while
| testifying under oath, and that he had
clearly been guilty of nalfeasance in
office and should be removed. Prof.
Elliott took exception to Commissioners
Bowers declaration that following the
expiration OF the seal-kilIing lease Of
the North American commercial Com
pany on May 80, 1910, he did not rec
ommend that the government enter
into a new lease. Prof Elliott con-
tended that Commissioner Bowers did
make such recommendation, and
that moreover, he did all in his power
to have it carried out.
| During the hearing Prof Elliot read
1
+, from an unpublished report on the
condition Of the fur seal herd Of the
Pribiloff Islands, made to the bureau
of fisheries in 1909, by George A. Clark
a member OF the advisory fur seal
board of the bureau. This report was
pessimistic concerning the future OF
the seal herd, declaring that the kill
ing Of seals during the 1909 season had
been SO close and excessive that there
would be nothing left to kill in 1910
except ,earl,ngs. Prof. Elliott con-
tended that this went TO prove his as
sertion that 1910 under government
supervision 5000 were just year old
The row in the committee room yes.
tsrday was an outgrowth OF the long
standing feud between the Camp fire
Club Of America, of which former
President Roosevelt 10 an honorary
member, ana Prof. William L. Horni-
day, superintendent Of the Bronx Zoo,
in New York, president. The Camp
Fire Club opposes the governments
policy of killing of large numbers Of
male seals each year.
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor
Nagel, Fish Commissioner Bowers, and
the other government officials in
charge OF the sea fisheries, have been
attacked by Prof. Elliott and Prof.
Horniday, for several years for their
attitude on the fur seal question. The
controversy grew so heated that Secre-
tary Nagel personally visited Pribiloff
Islands to probe conditions there.
81 told the committee yesterday that
| could prove that Prof. Elliott is .
liar and cannot be trusted, and | am
ready 10 prove my statements when
ever they want me to- said the com
missioner last night.
nnsU " Ll-I n WA ATTEn