West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-10-01
UNCLE SAM RoseEp
OF MANY MILLIONS
Alaskan Fur-SesI Herd Reduced Al
most to Extinction TO Enrich West
Virainisn-Georss N. Bowers, now
Candidate for Congressman,
Shielded Violation OF Lsw-8owers
and His Associates Promptly Re-
moved from Office by President
Wilson

Washington, September 29.-The story
OF how the United States government has
been made to suffer property loss OF
approximately $50. 900, through the
practical extinction OF the fur seal of
Alaska, in order that the late Senator
Stephen ID. Elkins and his associates
might be enriched, and OF how this was ac-
complished by persistent violation Of the
law, with the full knowledge OF George
NJ. Bowers and other officials OF the
ference, has been extensively told in a
series OF hearings before different COM
mittees OF Congress
The story is particularly interesting at
this time because OF the highly important
part played in the proceedings by the
former United States Commissioner of
Fisheries, George NJ. Bowers. who is now
candidate for the Office of Representa-
tive in Congress from the Second West
Virginia district, backed by Davis Elkins,
son oil one OF the beneficiaries of his
failure to enforce the laws.
Mr.. Bowers was federal office holder
for more than 10 years. He is now seek
ing election to another public office. In
placing his name before the people of the
Second district for support, Mr.. Bowers
must carry with him his public record of
| 10 years service and must stand upon
that record. The ability and fitness OF a
| candidate for public Office can be judged
better by his past conduct than by his
| promises as to the future.
The record of George NJ. Bowers. in
his official capacity as United States Fish
Commissioner, in connection with the
great fur-seal scandal, is embodied in
several thousand pages of public docu-
ments, hearings, reports, etc, printed in
connection with the investigation of the
fur-seal industry. Summarized from this
mass of evidence, the story of the fur.
seal scandal and the connection of George
| M. Bowers with it is substantially az
| follows:
Senator Stephen b. Elkins became
financially interested in the business of
killing seals for their fur in 1890, when a
new contract for the killing of fur-seals
for period OF 20 years was granted by
the United States to the North American
Commercial company. The contract,
prior to that time, had been held Tor 20
years by the Alaska Commercial com
pany, whose profits were many millions
OF dollars. When the new contract was
to be let, Mr.. Elkins, who had not then
been elected to the Senate, was bidder
in connection with other parties, and the
| North American Commercial company,
successor to the Alaska Commercial COM
pany, was also bidder. There was
long and bitter struggle over the award
ing OF the contract, which ended by Mr..
Elkins becoming stakeholder in the
North American Commercial company:
George X. Jingle, friend of Elkins, be-
coming its general manager, and the
contract being awarded to this company.
This put Elkins into the business of kill
ing seals for profit.
In 1891, Secretary of the Treasury,
Charles j. Foster, entered into an ar
rangement with the North American
Commercial company by which their
annual rental was reduced from $50, 900
a year to $1,000 and the tax and bonus
on each sealskin taken was reduced from
SO. 62 to $2.62. In March 1898, John G.
Carlisle succeeded Charles J. Foster as
Secretary OF the Treasury and when the
company undertook to make its annual
settlement with him on the same basis as
before he refused to agree to the settle
ment. Suit was instituted against the
company which resulted i'm an opinion
10y the Supreme Court of the United
States, handed down on May 81. 1898,
by the terms Of which Elkins and his
associates OF the North American Com
mercial company were compelled to re-
fund to the United States something over
$90O,OOO
| Prior to 1896 there were no regulations
regarding the killing of the seals, but in
that year regulations were made prohibit
ing the killing of the small seals in order
to save the species from destruction.
This regulation prevented the company
from making as/ much money as it had
been making and was Objectionable to the
company for that reason
Because of the action Of Secretary OF
the Treasury Carlisle, resulting eventually
in heavy penalty, and because of the
PRONUNCIATION Of the new regulations. the
company began to feel the need of a
friend at court, and after Major McKin-
ley became President Senator Elkins had
bis personal and political friend appoint
ed Commissioner of Fisheries. Bowers
was appointed, because OF the insistence
OF Senator Elkins, over the vigorous
protest ofnaturaists, scientists and others
interested in the work OF the bureau,
and in the the face Of charges that bis
appointment was in violation Of law.
The testimony recorded in tine hearings
shows conclusivcly that after the APP
pointment Of Bowers the law prohibiting
the killing Of certain seals was violated
with impunity with the full knowledge
Of Bowers and without bis protest. II
shows that profits amounting 10 many
millions Of dollars we're made by the
contractors through the practical extinc-
ton OF the zeal and that when the
attention Of Bowers was called TO this
condition he sent special agent 10 make
investigation Of conditions on the seal
islands. The report Of the special agent
bore out the contention that the law was
being violated persistently and il was
promptly suppressed, while another agent