The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-02-29
NATIONAL AFFAIRS.
Action at Washington Upon Two
Matters of Interest.
British Fisheries Treaty Signed--
The Senate Passes the Blair Bill.

The labors of the American Commissioners
and the English " "Negotiators " have come to
an end, and shortly after I o'clock Wednes-
iay evening the Fisheries Treaty, which is
the outcome of the deliberations of three
months, was formally signed by the high
contracting parties on behalf OF England
and the United States
From the first meeting of the commission,
SAYS Washington special to the New YORK
World, both parties have realized the import
ance of the Question as to whether the ''touch
and trade" privilege would be extended 10
American vessels, q privilege now fully en-
loved by vessels Of other nationsin our ports.
The American fishermen have demanded the
twofold right of purchasing stores and
supplies and of selling cargoes to who
ever might desire to purchase. The op,
position to this concession, if it could
be called a concession, has proceeded from
the very first from Sir Charles Tupper.
Though Minister West and Mr.. Chamberlain
frankly admitted the justice of this demand
on the part of the United States, it re
ouired many protracted conferences and
q deal of earnest argument on the
part of his colleagues to finally induce Sir
Charles to change his view Of the subject.
He finally gave in, however, and under the
terms of the treaty the privileges enjoyed by
~
ly reciprocal.
The English Commissioners made strong
fight from the start for the preservation from
invasion by foreign fishermen of the waters
Embraced in the three-mile limit. but
hardly hoped that they would be success
full in securing a full concession from
the United States, giving up all claim to
the privilege of fishing in these waters. Ihey u
were greatly surprised, however, to find that
when the point was finally reached the Ameri-
can Commissioners were not inclined to press
the matter. For. diplomatic reasons the
Americans sedulously refrained from ex-
planning the fact that the Eastern fishermen
considered the fishing in deep water far more
profitable than that Of the Shoals, within the
limit.
In consideration of the 'touch and trade"
privilege the English Commissioners stipu
lated that license should be exacted from
American vessels trading in Canadian ports.
This license is to be adjusted to the form of
tonnage tax, and the entire feature, 1t IS
agreed. will be abolished upon the placing Of
fish on the free list of the United States.
Notwithstanding the reports with regard
to the consideration of the Behring Sea con.
troversy. the Alaska boundary question and
the exchange of imports, none OF these SUD.
jects received any attention at the hands OF
the Commissioners, nor do they figure at all
In the provisions of the treaty.
It is understood that either Sir John
Mcdonald or Sir Charles Tupper will present
the treaty to the Canadian Parliament. The
signatures of the entire commission were
appended to the treaty. Secretary Bayard,
Mr.. Putnam aud Prof. Angel signing
Chamberlain. Sir Lionel Sackville West and
Sir Charles Upper placing their signatures
opposite those Of their American colleagues.
The Blair Bill Passes the Senate.
The Blair Educational bill has passed the
United States Senate by SO yeas to 90 nays.
Twenty three Republicans and sixteen
Democrats voted for the bill; eleven Repub-
licans and seventeen Democrats voted against
it,
The bill appropriates annually for eight
years the following sums, to be expended
to secure the benefits of common school
education to ali the children of the
school age living in the United States: s; "
100000, third year, sl5,o0o, 900; fourth year,
slS,OOO,OOO; fifth year, sll,OOO,OOO; sixth
year, 50, ,000, 600; seventh year, $4,000 600:
eighth year, $4,000, 00) The money is to be
divided among the several States and
Territories and the District of Colum-
bia, in proportion to illiteracy-the computa..
tion to be made according to the census Of
lSSU anu ltttUerWIQSJ 1OJo. 1ueIe are W NC
separate schools for white and colored chill
dren.
No State or Territory is to receive money
under the tuntl itsGiovernor shall have filed
with the Secretary of the Interior state
ment showing the common-school system in
force in the State. the amount of money ex-
pended during the preceding school year
for the support Of common schools,
the number of white and colored children
between the ages of ten and twenty one,
the number Of schools in operation, the
average attendance of scholars, etc. No
amount is to be paid to any State or Terri
tory in any year greater than the amount
expended out of its own revenues in the pre-
ceding year for the maintenance Of common
schools. No part Of the fund is to be used
for the erection or rent of any school
buildings, but an additional fund of s2,000,-
COO is to be allotted in the first year to
school-houses either for construction or rent
ingl in sparsely populated distrcts-not
more than $3.50, 900 for each building.
From the Senate the bill now goes to the
House.