The Portland daily press., 1888-01-14
SECRETARY Bayard's Negotiators.

1T is said t1at the uSnefleS utsOlihtoif
have made no progress. Serious objection
has been raised to the plan, said to have
been favorably considered by the commits
sion before the holidays. of submitting to ar
bitration the difference between the United
States and Canada as to the Interpretation oi
the treaty of fStS-that is to say, whether
the Canadian doctrine in regard to headland
or that of the United States shall prevail in
enforcing the provisions Of the treaty. and
whether fishing vessels Of the United States
shall be allowed commercial privileges in
Canadian ports or be excluded from them.
The first difficulty to be encountered would
be in the selection of an arbitrator. There
is no neutral power to which the United
States would be willing to submit such 4
question except Russia and England could
not agree that the Car or anyone he might
appoint should act in the capacity OF an ar
bitrator
The Behring Sea controversy, in which
Russia has direct interest in maintaining
the doctrine she laid down early in the pre3-
ent century, that the immense body OF wat
er in the northwest lying between her Asiat-
ic possession and Alaska was mare clausnm
over which she had exclusive jurisdiction,
precludes this. Our Interpretation of the
headlands doctrine also is not a question
that it is proper to submit to foreign pow
er. No question of international law Is in
volyed in it, The right Of Americans to fish
in Canadian waters was not given to them
in accordance with any principles of inter
national law. They had it before the Reyo-
luton because they were British subjects,
and all the rights which they possessed pre-
vious to the American revolt were con-
tinued by the treaty OF 1888.
Maine Custom Houses.
Congressman Dingley has been informed
by the treasury officials that the special treas
ury agent has made his report on customs
officers without visiting Maine, claiming that
a former visit had given full information.
The agent reported for an increase OF one
deputy for Camden, one for Vinal Haven,
one for Boothbay and one for Waldoboro
district above that provided in the secreta-
ry's order. Mr.. Dingley said this was well
so far as it went, but that 1t would leave
some OF the SUPPORTS without customs con-
veniences, and he asked that the same con-
veniences be given all the ports and sub
ports that were given previous to the issue
Of the order. The secretary said he would
adopt the special agents suggestions now,
and If these did not prove sufficient he would
take the subject into consideration again.
Government Investments.
The bill introduced in the Senate by Mr..
Sherman to provide for the investment OF
certain funds in the treasury directs the
Secretary of the Treasury from time to time
to invest not exceeding so per cent OF the
fund held in the treasury for the redemption
of notes of national banks. failed" in liqui-
dation" and reducing ciculation," by pur-
chase in open market Of any bonds Of the
United States bearing interest. 1t further
provides that whenever the money on hand
to the credit of said fund shall fall below 20
per cent of the funds deposited, the Secreta-
ry Of the Treasury is directed from time to
time to sell in open market any portion Of
the bonds purchased for said fund that may
be necessary in his opinion to enable him to
pay as presented any notes of national banks
for the redemption Of which the. bond is
held, the purpose being to maintain in the
treasury for such redemption not less than
20 per cent and not exceeding 80 per cent of
the money deposited. Any national bank
authorized to issue to 90per cent of the bonds
deposited by it as security for circulating
notes is authorized after the passage OF the
act to issue circulating notes to the amount
of 100 per cent of the par value Of the bonds
deposited.
How Mr.. Bliss Would do It.
resentative Bliss Of New York, to dispose Of
the surplus in the treasury Of the United
States and to prevent the accumulation
thereof, provides that whenever and as often
as there shall be an accumulation in the
treasury exceeding the sum of S10,0Oo,000
over the sum necessary to pay the regular
and contingent expenses of the government,
the secretary of the treasury shall imme
diately report the fact and the exact amount
of the surplus to the President. Within 30
days after the receipt of the report the
President shall cause the Secretary Of the
Treasury to advertise in two or more news
papers in each city of the United States con-
tanning population of over 100000 inhabi-
the United States to the full amount of the
then existing and declared surplus;
said advertisement to be made for
the space of thirty days; said advertise
ments shall set forth the number and char
acter of bonds required to be purchased, and
shall invite sealed proposals for the pur-
chase of said bonds under such ordinary
regulations as the president may direct.
Within ten days from the close of the thirty
day advertisement for proposals the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury and Controller of the
Currency and Treasurer of the United States
shall proceed to open and declare publicly
all of the bids received, with the names of
the bidders, the amount of bonds offered and
price, and they shall then and there adjudi-
cate the purchase to the person or persons
provided, however, that the President of the
United States shall have right TO reject
proposals, If in his opinion their acceptance
will be disadvantageous to the government.
Payment for Government Work.
NJ n;nclaxv nrooapfa1 20 fha uonsa ~,
Thursday, petitions numerously signed by
citizens of Auburn and Lewiston, praying
that all contractors engaged upon public
buildings or other public works, shall pay
their wOrkmen every two weeks. Congress
man Milliken, OF the Ihird District, has al,
ready introduced a bill looking toward
weekly payments in such cases, and the
same Is now before the committee of labor
in the House.
The Wool Growers.
The different representatives of the wool
interest went into session at 10 o'clock yes
terday morning, and at midnight three sub
committees were still in conference. The
fact that no agreement had been reached or
announced has been misconstrued, and the
free traders are very jubilant over what they
consider fatal disagreement between the
various representatives of the wool industry.
They will find that ''he laughs best who
laughs last" The present indications are
that there will not only be no disagreement,
but there will be hearty and harmonious
agreement as to all.the changes that will be
proposed, and that the result will be COM
paratively small number Of changes in exist
ing schedules.
The situation is this: The wool growers
have submitted pretty complete re-classi-
fcation of the wool duties, and ask for an
increase. The different interests, on the an
nouncement of this classification, were di-
yided into subcommittee. The representa-
tiyes of the wool manufactures represent
great many different interests, and the fact
that these interests are so varied has given
rise to the reports of fatal differences.
The wool Manufacturing interests rep
represent woolen and worsted cloth, carpet,
dress goods, knit goods and worsted yarns.
Necessarily much time is required to ascer-
tain in what way the recassification would
effect their varied interests This is what
has caused the delay. The subcommittee
were last night engaged In studying this
classification, and determining how 1t Is to
be applied TO the varied manufacturing in
terests. There will be an effort to prevent
the further importation OF ring waste and
noils at the present rates. The manufacture
ers admit that these rates are oppressive to
the wool growers and that it Is just that they
should be modified. The details of the
schedules proposed are Of so technical char
acter that they would not be understood by
tha oanarol raadar. bnL IL Qan ha efafqd nm