Mr. Roosevelt to
Mr. Olney.
Embassy
of the United States,
London, June 25, 1895.
(Received July 5.)
No. 467.]
Sir: Referring to my dispatch No. 456,1 of the 19th instant, I
have the honor to inclose herewith clippings from the London Times of
to-day and the 26th instant, containing the account of the passage
through both houses of Parliament of the seal fisheries (North Pacific)
bill,2 copies of which I have
already had the honor of transmitting to you. Owing to the resignation
of the ministry and the necessity of the passage of this bill before
July 1 (the date on which the previous act expires by limitation), it
was agreed by both parties in Parliament that the seal-fisheries bill
should be regarded as “non contentious matter,” and it was accordingly
passed without amendment or extended debate.
I have, etc.,
[Page 654]
[Inclosure in No. 467—From the London
Times.]
seal fisheries (north pacific)
bill.
This bill was brought up from the Commons.
The Earl of Kimberley, in moving that it be read a first time, said
that, as it was extremely urgent that the bill should pass into law,
he should move the second reading to-morrow, and also give notice of
his intention to move that the standing orders be suspended in order
that it might pass through all its stages.
(June 25, 1895.)
The Earl of Kimberley moved the second reading of this bill. He said
he did not think it necessary for him to explain the bill. It was
simply for the purpose of enabling the Government of this country to
fulfill their agreement with Russia which had lately been renewed,
and it reenacted provisions in former acts, with alterations. The
only remark he wished to make was with regard to one single point.
He understood that objection was taken in another place to leaving
out the scheduling of the clauses of the merchant shipping act which
were applicable to the bill. The reason why that had been done was
that when they were in the former act there was this inconvenience,
that the provisions of the merchant shipping act having been altered
a year afterwards the schedule was no longer correct, and therefore
any person having the act in, his hands, and not knowing the changes
that had been made, would be misled. It was thought better,
therefore, that the provisions should not be scheduled, but that a
copy of them should be given to the captains of fishing vessels.
The bill was read a second time, and the standing orders having been
suspended, the remaining stages were taken and the bill passed.
