Litchfield enquirer., 1879-01-30

1 iahes anu rlVerS SnoulQ either be enforced by further legislation, or abandoned altogether. The return ofthe salmon to the Connecticut
 river was established, last year, beyond ques-
 tion, by the capture of some 800 of those fish,
 weighing about coco lbs. There is now, no
 law, however, protecting the revving produc-
 tion of the salmon Originally there was such
 law but the fishermen themselves procured
 it's repeal and have, indeed, done everything
 in their power to cripple the efforts of the
 commissioners. This is particularly unfertu-
 nate just at the present time, say the commits
 sioners:
 It is unfortunate, in view of their return at
 thls tune, that the state appropriation was re-
 duced so low that salmon matching could not
 be continued. For artificial propagation must l De continued for years to come, until the an-
 nual return of fish will be sufficient, not only 1 to meet the demands of the fishermen, but al-
 so to leave breeders enough to perpetuate the
 supply by natural spawning alone. With the ] limited number of fish now secured to the riv- CT, natural spawning would be inadequate. But if natural spawning is supplemented by
 artificial propagation, which can be done at
 very moderate expense and labor, we can have salmon In such abundance and cheapness as to bring them within the reach of all provided 0taoGys that proper laws are enacted and en- forced for protecting the fish and reguatings
 the fishermen. It will be worse than useles-
 to expend money for this mos worthy and de
 srable object if the fishermen are to be per
 mitted to control all legislation upon the sub
 Ject, and to fish, as they now do, at all times and Tn all ways, according to their own wil
 regardless of the laws.
 The proposed constitutional amendment giv- ing the appointment of judges to the governor. subject to approval by the Senate, comes unanimously recommended form the State Bar Association. We believe that it would prove most valuable reform. It is the most serious objection to popular election that it's practical tendency is to the choice of mediocri- ties The choice by legislative caucuses is open to the same criticism and is still furt her subject to that sort of arrangement commonly called ''log rolling" which in effect ''pools'' the appointments of a session and disposes of them not the worthiest candidates but those who have the cunningest or the most impor- tunate backers either in the legislature itself CT around it as lobbyists. Our own belief has long been that appointment by legislature is the worst of all possible modes. Even nomi- nation by political convention is preferable, be- cause those nominees are liable to rejection by the people if very objectionable. Let the amendment pass and go to the people as soon as possible.
 The recent French crisis seems to have re- | suited from determination on the part of the | Republicans to have the chief offices in friend | ly hands, This is especially necessary in re- l gard to the high military commands. Ina centralized government like that of France, the chief danger arises from the willingness of the generals to obey what they know to be l the unconstitutional commands of a tyrannical 1 coup q etat of last year many officers high in command were implicated. The Dufaure Ministry, which is extremely moderate in it's Republication, was indisposed to act with the vigor which Gambetta thought necessary. There can be little doubt, too, that the Repub- licans are quite hungry for office and good deal inclined to adopt the Jacksonian motto ''To the victors belong the spells"
 An important decision has been rendered | against the Union Pacific R. R. Co.,, by the U. S. Supreme Court. It is decided that, in computing net earnings, the ordinary expen- ses and interest on the first mortgage bonds only can be deducted from gross expenses, and then five per cent of the remainder must be applied on the government claim. The de- cisen as whole Is adverse to the railroad company, and the government gets under it more than two-thirds of what it claimed.
 There is much criticism of the pension ar rearage bill recently signed by the president. Many objections are urged to it's justice and l still more to the enormous burden it throws upon the finances of the country. There is a general feeling of regret that the president did | not veto the bill. Even now special appro- priation is needed to pay the amount called | for, and it is evident that the ways and means cannot be easily provided.
 Sitting Bull, who has been hitherto supposed | to be defiant in his rebellion, now assumes a tone of penitence. He says he is willing to give up his guns and ponies and go on the reservation at Standing Rock.
 It is now stated that an investigation of the stubs of Benjamin Moves check-book gives reason to believe that he spent nearly $40, 900 in influencing our Legislature of 1875 not to repeal the charter of his insurance company.