New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-04

ton Market, to determine their food and certain
of their habits, is an excellent idea. The iDfor-
nation gained will be of especial value at this
time, when considerable legislation touching
fisheries and fishing is under consideration.
The investigations will not begin regularly I'M
til June /, but an experiment made yesterday
by Professor Rice shows how useful and practl-
cal these inquiries will be- Some Shrewsbury
oysters were carefully examined, and 1t was
quickly learned that the "green gill with
which they have been said to be afflicted is not
disease, but the result of living upon certain
marine plants 1t in no way Injuries the edibii-
ity of the oyster, however much 1t may Suggest
contact with copper. This result alone Is
sufficient to establish the popularity oil the
Commission with grateful public
The only Official duty of the ENJOYS who ar
rived at this port yesterday from Madagascar
will be to exchange Publications OF the COM
mercial treaty between our Government ana
theirs Congress has already approved the
document This is the second treaty we have
made with Madagascar. The first was in 1867.
and it was treaty of friendship and commerce.
Since then our trade has increased cOnsidera-
bly. and some modification OF the treaty was de-
sirable. The changes are generally TO our advan-
tage, although they were proposed by the Queen.
They relate to the payment of certain import
duties and similar matters. The right to estaD-
lish cOalng stations on the island is also gwen
to us. In fact the situation i'll which the treaty
leaves both nations strengthens the impression
that the principal object OF the Queen, (who mas
MANY enemies)$ in negotiating 1t, was TO
strengthen the claims for sympathy and friend
ship which she already has upon the United
States. The visit of the ENJOYS to England
was for the same purpose. Queen Ranovaona
certainly has the good will and moral support of
this Nation. although there is little chance of
her ever getting anything else. She may not
wish it, and we trust she may never need IT,
Meanwhile the ENJOYS will be heartily well
come, both in private and official lie. we nave
now a chance to give our sister Republic
France, q lesson in manners and hospitality. IL
il an opportunity that does not often occur, ana
we ought to improve it.
II has been pointed out in The TRIBUNE from
time to time, that any change which Is eiiecteu
in the Republican organizations III this city VIII
have to come from outside of the Machlhe'
The action of the leaders at the primaries III De-
cember, on the contested election cases from the
Assembly districts, and later in the selection OF
officers for the Central Committee, indicated
plainly that there was not the least sincerity III
their declarations that they wished independent
voters to share with them the work of the AS
sembly district associations Their last propo-
sal is al diaphanous as any, if not more so. 1t
il that the State Committee shall appoint sub
committee of Its country members to supervise
q re-enrolment of The Republican voters IN this
city. The Administration Leaders might just as
well spare themselves the trouble that such
performance would entail. What confidence
corld re-enrolment under the supervision OF
a subcommittee appointed by John +. Smyth
and his friends command among the lndepen-
dent Republicans None. From present APP
pearanccs little can be done to change the pres
ent state of affairs until we get new State
Committee. Meanwhile, however, much good
might be accomplished by continuing the efforts
begun by Republicans in the last Legislature to
legalize primaries and to protect them as tul'y
as general elections Until this Is accomplished,
no reform in the organization OF the party IN
this city will do any permanent good. when
Reform comes we want il to stay.