The Washington critic., 1886-04-14
NO FISHERIES COMMISSION.

The Senate, by very emphatic vote,
has decided against the proposition
recommended by the President, that
joint commission be created to consider
and settle the fisheries question. The
matter in controversy can doubtless be
handled with greater effectiveness and
dispatch In some other way. 1t in
wolves the right of American fishermen
to put into Canadian ports and pur-
chase bait and Ice. 1t is claimed that
we, like all other countries, have the
right of trading with Canada under
the British law. Canada says not.
The question is now one for the State
Department to deal with. Secretary
Bayard evidently holds that we have
the right mentioned equally as much
as Canadian vessels have the right to
put into all American ports for pur-
poses Of trade. He is in communica-
ton with the British Government on
the subject, and there seems to be no
reason to doubt that the point in dis
pute will be satisfactorily settled, al
though while negotiations are pending
there may be clash between some
American captain and some thick
headed Canadian gun-boat commander
or port officer. If satisfactory con-
clusion is not reached and the rights of
American fishing vessels in Canadian
ports are not conceded, 1t is pretty evil
dent, judging from the temper of the
remarks made in discussing the matter
in the Senate, that resolution closing
all American ports to Canadian vessels
would pass without much opposition.
In this connection we would call the
attention of the New England fishermen
to the fact that they have staunoh
friend in Senator Morgan of Alabama.
As THE civil service rules now stand
great injustice is done to large and
growing class of Government en-
ployes, and at the same time heads of
departments and bureaus are crippled
in their efforts to secure expert workers
of the class referred to. These are the
type-writers, for whom the rules in op-
Grafton make no allowance. If the
service OF person who is really an ex-
pert in the use of the writing machine
is desired in department no provision
exists by which he OF she may be en-
ployed, except in the grades below
5000 per annum, as laborer or messen-
ger, and that makes the injustice. II
such a person enters into the civil
service competition for the classified
grades, no account can be taken of the
special qualification most desired and
while such service might be far more
valuable to the public service than
that of mere copyist or low grade
clerk, yet the standing reached In com.
petition might be so far below that at.
tanned by the non.expert that there
would be no chance for appointment,
under the rules. In some departments
there are ladies employed in type.
writing who are able to write from
four to six thousand words per diem
without single error Of spelling Oh
punctuation, or OF omission or repeti
ton. The most skillful Of printers
could hardly do better; yet most o.
these receive but $50 per month, and
$40 per month (by appointing then
messengers Of the highest grade) would
be the highest amount possible. Me
chanical Typographical draughtsmen
surveyors, stenographers, and special
lists of all kinds are provided TO,
specially under the rules, except thi
class. II should not be so.
SAYS Washington correspondent
of the Troy Times:
By lucky accident the Library bill
passed this week, and, curiousy enough
upon the very day that half dozen wealth,
citizens Of the District had met aud agreed
that II W. S. Holman OF Indiana should no
withdraw from his attitude OF objection ant
hostility to the bill they would put s25 ,0OC
In his district this fall to defeat his elec
ton,