New-York tribune., 1873-02-17
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
DANGER THAT THE FISHERIES BILL WILL NOT
he PASSED.

B
lBY TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRlBUEBI
WASHINGTON. Feb. 49, 1873.
The Foreign Affairs Committee begin to fear that they
will lose the Fisheries bill for want OF time for its con
sideration House. Congress is bound In honor TO
make this last provision for carrying out the Treaty OF
Washington without unnecessary delay. The Parlia-
ments Of the Dominion OF Canada and OF Prince Ed
wards Island performed the legislation TO carry out
their part of Treaty time ago. but the fisheries
clauses remain imperative by reason OF te
failure of Congress These clauses provide for the
importation OF fish into the United States IN colonial
yessels free of duty and Offset for this privilege
our fishermen are permitted enjoy the inshore fisher
les along the coasts of the Provinces from which they
have heretofore been excluded, under penalty OF
forfeiture of vessel and cargo If found fishing within
marine league of the shore. The New-Engand Usher
strongly oppose the treaty, believing that the prV
ege OF the nshOre fisheries not Of sufficient value 10
compensate them for the disadvantage OF being forced
10 compete with Canadian fishermen in selling their FISH
in our markets Whether this is true not, however
nothing with the duty OF Congress 10 repeal the
duty fish imported in Canadian vessels The treaty
binds Congress do this and 10 delay longer will only
place the United States in the attitude OF uDgraGousy
hesitating to do an act which bound ourselves by
solemn treaty stipulations TO perform.
HEADsTONEs FOR SOLDIERS GRAVES.
The House Military Committee intend TO report on
Wednesday next their bill to direct the Secretary OF War
mark the graves OF soldiers ih the national cemeteries
Most OF these graves are marked only by painted
boards. bearing numbers which indicate the naine com
pany and regiment Of the soldier inscribed on the
books kept the offices Of the superintendent Of the
cemeteries 1t is believed that small beadstOnes can be
procured for 50 EACH properly marked in plain letters
with the name company and regiment of the soldier
the date his death and his rank above that OF private
the invention of the sand blast having greatly cheap
ened the cost OF lettering sone The total cost Of pro-
vidng headsones according 10 the provisions OF the
BILL is estimated at 100000. The whole amount need
not be appropriated at once however The stones can
substituted year by year for the old headOOards rs
fast as the latter decay
THE WASHINGTON BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
AGAIN.
The Board OF Public Works are trying hard 20 procure
legislation that will involve the Government In obga
tion 10 pay them for whatever amount of money they
may see fit spend in street improvements around the
public buildings and grounds When the appropriation
of million and quarter made, at the beginning Of
the session. reimburse them for improvements already
made, n provision was inserted in the bill prohibiting
them from undertaking any other Government work
without express authority from Congress. They now
seek TO have this restriction removed and want bill
passed directing the Secretary OF the Treasury TO pay
them on their estimates for whatever work they
may see At to do Members OF the Board in pretty
constant attendance about the Capitol and are IN
dustriously pressing this scheme The House
Appropriation Committee having refused TO report any
legislation this session authorizing further expenditures
by the Board Government account, the subject was
brought before the Judiciary Committee by the refer
ence OF resolution to them, week before last There
was no prOpTiety whatever in giving the Committee n
risdicOn over the question: but last Monday Mr. Bng
ham, the Chairman tired TO have resolution instruct
ing the Appropriation Committee report the legisa
tion wanted by The Board. vote this resolution
prevented by adjournment aud IL will therefore come
up again tomorrow. There many charges OF ex
and dishonesty aOat against the Board that
IL scarcely probable that Congress VIII vote 20 put
more money IN their hands until thorough luyesgt-
on can OF their proceedings and this OF course
cannot be undertaken this session.