The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-02-11
FROM WASHINGTON.
Flood of Petitions from the Knights
of Labor.
Mr, Reeds Bill to Prevent the Extinc-
ton of Mackerel.
FROM WAsHlNcToN.
Especial to the PREss.l

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10-Congress is being
flooded just at the present time with petit
tions from the Knights of Labor assemblies
.ll-.,a 4l2s.-ss..44e4y
them are petitions for the organization Of a
territorial government in Indian Territory,
and the throwing open to settlement of the
Oklahama lands. An assembly out in Iowa
sent an earnest remonstrance against the
passage of the shipping bill which is ac-
knowledged by everyone to be one of the
most important measures for the restoration
of our commerce, and most favorable to the
laboring classes, which is now before Con-
gress. Again an assembly in Maine protests
against the bill which prohibits compulsory
pilotage. In this case a careful investigation
of the subject would have convinced the pc
titioners that this bill deserved the earnest
support of all laboring classes rather than
their opposition. In Maine there is no such
thing as compulsory pilotage, but if coasters
from New York or New Jersey came down
there they can find pilots enough if they need
them, and if they do not need them,
but are competent to do their own pi-
lotagc they do it and that is the end of it.
But, If Maine or Massachusetts coaster
goes to any port in New York or New Jer-
Sey, although her master or her mate may be
Just as competent to take her into her port
of destination as any pilot, she is neverthe-
less compelled to take ON board a regular pi-
lot which she does not need, at a cost of from
fifty to one hundred dollars. More than
this, if she is compelled to engage the SER
vices of tug she is compelled not only to
pay for the tug, which has apilot on board,
but to pay also another pilot which is no
more needed than the fifth wheel to coach.
This constitutes one Of the greatest burdens
now existing against our coasting trade, and
it was to relieve this burden, which ulti-
mately comes out of the poor sailors, the ''la-
borers'' of the sea, that the bill was intro
duced.
These petitions were undoubtedly sent in
without sufficiently careful investigation
of what their effect, if granted, would be.
Close Time for Mackerel.
A favorable report has been ordered by
| the House Committee on ways and means on
Congressman Reeds bill prohibiting the
landing of mackerel at ports in the United
States from March 1st to July 1st. This OBJ
ject of the bill is to prevent the extinction of
| these fish, as that is claimed to be theiI
| spawning time.
Personal.
Frank P. Brown of Portland, and Hon. j.
| R. Buck of Orland are spending few days
| here
| No Hearing Given to PiIlsbury Yester-
day.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1O.-Pillsbury was not
| given hearing today as intended. although
| he returned from New York for that pur-
pose. He has publicly stated that the Mas
sachusetts Senators would vote for his con-
frmation which caused the Republican Sen
| ators to withdraw their consent to the hear
ing today. 1t is doubtful now if one is given
| at all.
More Maine Postmasters.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1O.-These postmas-
ters have been appointed for Maine officers
| to-day:
| AT East Brownfeld-S A. Cole.
| At Gilbertville-Geo. A Stevens
| mAt Brownfield-R. Lnscott. vice MI Bean, re-
| moved.
| At Sweden-C. w. Bennett.
| At West Falmouth-A. S. Noyes.
OF Interest to Bankers.
The committee on banking and currency
| has agreed to report favOTably bill recent
! ly passed by the Senate which authorizes the
receiver of any national bank to purchase,
with the consent of the comptroller of the
| currency, whenever necessary to protect and
| benefit his trust, any real or personal prop
| erty pertaining thereto that is to be sold un-
| der execution or decree of foreclosure or or
| der of court
Protest Against Confirming COL
Iector of Customs.
| A protest was laid before the Senate today
in secret session against confirmation of the
collector of customs in Vermont. 1t is
tors declared to be worthy of consideration.
| The grounds oil their objection are that the
collector has appointed as deputy to take
charge of the station on the Canada line,
| through which several hundred thousand
| dollars worth of goods are annually import
| ed q man who has three fines haan indicted