The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1888-02-09
WASHINGTON MATTERS.

New YORK, Feb. "A Washington
despatch to the Herald says The state
ment that a treaty had been completed
by the Fishery Commissioner and trans
mitted to the Senate is cOntradicted by
several Senators. Senator Rlddleberger
demanded an open executive session
Yesterday in order that the EXtTaditiOn
treaty between the United States and
Great Britain could be publicly dis
cussed. An eXtradition treaty has been
in the secret records of the Senate near
ly two years. Unless it has been chang
ed in the meantime it contains some
provisions which, If the public were per-
mitted to know them, would secure its
rejection. These relate TO the surrender
of persons charged with political Of
fenses aud are, or were, of such a nature
as to enable the British Government To
claim the surrender of persons here. not
only foreigners but American citizens,
on the mere charge that they had, by
contributing money or in other ways,
fostered dynamite cOnspriracies and at
temps.
Considering that the main body of the
new treaty and of the present treaty as
well grants eXtradtiOn for the crimes of
murder, arson and attempt at murder or
arson, aud thus covers the actual crime
which dynamiter would commit, the
provision of the treaty which gives
Great Britain the right to claim posses.
sion of men ON the charge of eing re
motely connected with conspiracy
against her is rather strong.
The slow and secret work of the Fish.
cry Commission causes a curious stop
page of public business.
The Ways and Means Committee, in
their plans for rearranging the tariff, ARE
embarrassed because as to many pro-
ducts of the soil and the sea they need
to know. before determining rates. what
the Fishery Commission proposes doing
as to the admission of Canadian pro
ducts.
On the other hand the Fishery Com
mission is said to be waiting to see what
the new tariff bill Is like. Speaker Car
lisle will be in Washington IN time to
take part in the meeting of the Commit.
tee on Rules this afternoon. The meet.
ing will he of the greal est Importance as
preliminary to the coming debate on the
reduction of the revenue. 1t is said the
rules will be changed so as to allow the
fullest latitude to Legislators.
The new tariff bill, upon which the
| Ways and Means Committee are now
engaged. may possibly be reported to
the full committee early next week.
A prominent Democratic member of
the committee said last night "All the
statements thus far printed regarding
the bill are misleading, The sugar
schedule has not yet been considered
Tin plates, which yield a revenue of
S6,OOQ,QDO annually, have,not, been con
sidered: The metal scheduleis-the one
to which we have given the most atten-
ton Yet it is 80 far from being COM
plete that no later than last night it was
referred to a sub committee for care
full revision. 1t if not improbable that
by this committee the schedule may un-
dergo avery decided change. OF course
it is impossible to speak authoritatively
upon this point. but it is very probable
that steel rails will be reduced S1Oor $l1
per ton. Agricultural implements will
be placed on the free list. This,at least,
is our present intention, and | presume
it will not he changed. Fruit brandies
will probably go on the free list. Free
coal and free ores, however, are doubt
ful. All grades of wool will be admit
ted free. We do not propose to tempo
rlZe upon this important interest. | may
also say in this connection that the
wOolen manufacturers of the Mohawk
Valley who will be greatly benefited bv
the passage Of this bill. must either
stand or fall with us. They cannot.
however, expect measure framed in
their interest solely They must be sat
sfied with the other features of the bill
in order to secure the benefits which
they themselves desire. We are looking
to them to assist us when the matter
comes up for consideration in the House.
| am curious to see if our expectations
are well founded. Yesterday was the
anniversary of the birth of Mr.. Blaine.
and John Sherman gave a dinner to ex
Senator Malone of Virginia on the occa
sion. This is declared to be in the in
terest of harmony all around, especially
in the next delegation to the national
convention from Virginia.