Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-05-18
Letter from Washington.
IFRoM OUR REGULAR CORRESPONDENT
WASHINGTON. D. c., May Is, 1871.

WASHINGTON. D. c., May Is, 1871.
PROSPECTS OF RATIFICATION.
The treaty is, of course, the chief if not the
only subject of discussion and conversation.
Connected with it are prospects of lively little
skirmsh with Newspaper Row on the part Of
the senate, of the merits of which more anon.
The telegraph will tell you the treaty was re-
ported back from the committee on foreign re-
latons unamended, and recommendation that
it pass Casserly is the only one in direct OPP
position. Schurz and Patterson are understood
as desiring to offer some amendments, SO by not
signing the report they reserve this right. There
seems no reason to doubt the ratification, and
in the shape it left the commission. Amember
of the foreign relations committee said, should it
be necessary, there would be democratic votes
given sufficient to secure its success.
The chief objections now seem to rest upon
the question involved in the articles relating TO
the fisheries and the claims of British subjects,
which, it is urged, are both too loosely worded,
and can be construed in sense more favorable
to Great Britain than senators are willing to
give. Some of the democratic senators are I'M
derstood to complain that they have not been
consulted in any way, either during the negota-
tons or since they have been ready for the ac-
ton of the senate. Mr.. Casserly is very much
disgruntled, but that is his normal condition.
He is the democratic Cassius-one of the lean
and hungry sort, who lie awake O. nights and
plot-partizan complaints.
As to the charge of loose and vague wording,
applied to several articles, it is reported that
1 savnral
explaining, defining and limiting these and
| other clauses.
PUBLICATION OF THE TREATY.
1t strikes me the senate is getting beyond its
depths in the investigation it has lust begun
through a special committee. [ do not think
that there is any special defence to be made of
the reprehensible notion that is sometimes mis-
called enterprise, whereby a correspondent is
expected to get news no matter how and where
it is obtained. The rules which govern personal
intercourse and business between gentlemen
seem to me worthy of application in such mat
tiers. The managing editor who either expects
or tolerates any other would places subordinate
in position which is to say the least not an env-
able one do not say this is the case with regard
to the Tribune and its publication of the treaty
nor do believe its correspondent here willing
70 90 anything compromising his own position.
sun the fact remains that the Tribune did pub
ilsh the treaty, though the senate had not di-
recteo that it be given out. 1t succeeded in
obtaining it, and day in advance of its being
piiiteo ior senators use. The Tribune publica-
ton was made on the day after II came
into inc senate's possession. 1t was sent from
here the night before. Now, it is well under-
stood that the copies printed for the use os
senators were not fully set up at the time ,bot
the Tribune's copy was flying over the etectric
wire. The assistant executive clerk of the sen.
ate, carried the documents to the GOV.
eminent printing office and remained there
till the composition was finished, form
made up and sheets for the press counted out.
when the balance of the work was left to the
oversight of the foreman and the care of a
watchman. The Tnbune's dispatch was am
told, sent before the above work was completed.
II Is urged that these facts being established