The Chitina leader., 1913-07-01
Late Telegraph News

resolution passed by congress
 Henry w. Elliott and Andrew Gal lagher. experts, have been employed to investigate the conditions of the fur seal rookeries of the Priblioi Islands and of the inhabitants of the islands, and will start at once on their mission.
 Under the treaty with Japan, Rus. sia and England, whereby pelagic sealing by the citizens of these countries is to be prohibited by their respective governments, the United
 States is to take a census of the seal herds on the islands.
 Owing to the delay in the passage |of the sundry civil bill, carrying an appropriation for this work, and also
 for the supplies with which the natives of the islands and the gov ernment employees there, are fur
 nished by the department, extreme
 haste is required if the government
 is to comply with it's duties under
 the treaty, and also to prevent suf-
 fering of the residents of the island
 from want of food, the supply of
 which is practically exhausted. The
 earliest possible date at which yes
 sel can arrive there will be July s.
 This not only leaves a very narrow
 margin of food for the natives and for the officers on the seal islands, but may involve their being placed upon seal meat ration meanwhile The department has not funds with which to purchase the supplies, which are needed. or with which to charter the vessel. This vessel must be chartered, the supplies must be purchased and loaded on her, and she must leave not later than June 25 in order to reach the islands by July 6. The question of actual suffering for the government officers and the natives who are the wards of the government is involved in her get ting there on time.
 Furthermore, unless she reaches the islands by July 10 the census of the seal herds contemplated by the treaty with Japan, Russia and Eng land can not be taken, because the enumerators required for this inn portant work are to go on the steamer, and no money is available for sending them by any other yes sel. After July 10 the seal harems begin to break up and an accurate count will be impossible.
 There has been an entire change in the personnel of the force on the seal islands and the new represen- tative of the department must be on duty at the islands at the earliest possible date after July 1, but there are no funds with which to pay his expenses. The salmon agents and fur wardens who are in the field must practically mark time at a most critical time when they should be engaged in enforcing the laws. Some of these men are in remote regions and are mourning expenses which will exhaust the funds which are available, and to bring them in from the field will cost more than to maintain them.
 The only vessel that the bureau Of fisheries has available for work ln Alaska has been for weeks ready to go into commission, but lies idle at Bellingham, where she can not be though urgently needed 1n the salmon work. The situation IS such as to form real emergency and is one of deep anxiety to the officers of the bureau of fisheries ana the department of commerce.
 SEATTLE, June 26.-The trial of Clarence Blethen, managing editor of The Times, for criminal libel, was brought to a close this morn ing at the completion of the intro duction of evidence by the prosecu- tion. when the court instructed the jury to return a verdict of not guilty, which they did without leaving their seats.
 Blethen was indicted few days ago by the grand jury on the charge of criminal libel because of scatn- ing editorial regarding the sorialists in a recent issue of the Times. The court ruled that the editorial was not libelous and in structed the verdict.
 CHARLESTON, W. Va, June 26. An official order was issued from the headquarters of the Mine Work CTS Union calling out 15,000 men working in the New River coal fields, the strike to take effect July 1, un- less the demands of the miners are compiled with before that date. The operators declare they will fight to the bitter end and long struggle