Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-01-30
THE NATIONS SCAPITAL.
Bayard's Fishery Commission a
Failure.
General Greely Explains the Deficiency in
the Signal Service Appropriation.
The Investigation of the Reading Rail-
road Labor Troubles by the
House Committee.
eWArHIsGToy. Jan. 90.

in London last Summer for the purpose o
making inquiries whether he could be giver
an opportunity to state his views before thu
foreign relations committee of the Senate il
case he should visit America, as he at tina
time contemplated to do Hawley in reply
told him that he presumed the committee
would give him hearing. He has now re
ceived a letter from that gentlemen
saying he will be unable to make the proposed
trip. The letter was accompanied by a state
ment of reasons why, in the writer's opinion
the treaty should not be ratified. Hawley
said tonight that he had not read the state.
ment but from his conversation with Step.
MAX in London he thought it was a temper
ate argument opposing the ratification of the
treaty on the ground that it permitted the ex-
tradition of political prisoners. He declined
to give the letter to the press for the reason
that it related to matters which could be con
sidered by the Senate only in executive SEES
sion.
The war departments reply to Congress
man Boutelle's battle flag resolution is abou,
completed and will probably be forwarded to
the House early this week An army officer
says that the answer will show that the reso-
luton has developed into boomerang. II
will show that if any law has been violated
by this administration by the return of cap
tured trophies, some of the former secre-
tary's of war are equally guilty, for the lists
compiled, and which will form part of the
departments reply, show that many more
flags were delivered by Secretary Stanton
and some of his successors than under the
present regime.
About year ago, just a few days before
the death of General Hazen, the House COM
Il tl.. .x.t,
mate of the signal service bureau, due
doubtless to the fight that had so long been
waged between Congress and General Hazen.
The appropriation as reduced was passed by
Congress When General Greely succeeded
General Hazen as chief of the signal service
bureau, he saw that the appropriation would
be insufficient for the needs of the service,
but he was powerless to do anything. In the
deficiency bill of the last Congress was in
cluded an appropriation for this bureau, but
as it did not become law, the bureau at this
time is somewhat crippled by lack of funds.
1t is owing to this fact that General Greely
has been obliged to order the discontinuance
of storm signals at 33 display stations through
out the United States, and among them are
the following in New England; Cedar Tree
Neck, Chatham; Highland Light, Hull, Hy-
annis Nobiska Light Provincetown; Bris-
tol, Point Judith; Southeast Light, Block
Island, r. L., Portsmouth, n. H., Southwest
Harbor, Whitehead, Me-, and Stonington,
Conn. At these display stations whenever a
storm is approaching a storm signal flag is
hoisted. The government maintains no reg
ular force at signal stations but some compe-
tent person is selected who is paid 50 for
every signal he hoists in the day time and
So 25 for night signals. There is special
appropriation made for this branch
of the service and owing to the
severe storms which prevail in November
and December General Greely, in order to
provide for emergencies that might arise be-
tween now and the time the next approria-
ton becomes available next July, had to dis
continue those stations which would least
impair the efficiency of the service, but mt
the same time he has instructed the observ-
ers who have hitherto sent telegraphic warn
ings of the approach of storms to continue
doing so, that the display man. in case he is
willing to do so gratutiously, may continue
to display the signals. In speaking of the
matter to a reporter General Greedy said:
'sOn the first of this month my disbursing
officer informed me that we had 81 400 left
of this appropriation. Out of this amount
must come the purchase of flags, lanterns,
oil and any possible contingency, such as the
breaking of fagstaffs and halyards; and to
be on the safe side and prevent the discon-
tnuance of such important stations as New
York, Boston and other large ports in case
any extraordinary expenditures shall be nee
essary, | was forced to cut off those of lesser
importance, and which are not remote from
other signal service centres.
II was before the House committee on
appropriations last week and asked that the
amount which require should be included
in the urgent deficiency bill, and from the
remarks made by some members of the
committee believe that it will be done. All
that | require to tide me over until the next
appropriation becomes available is 81 600 :;
but in case Congress should not give me that
it was only common prudence on my part to
discontinue those stations which can best be
dispensed with.
IF Congress should include the 81 600 in
the urgent deficiency bill, as soon as that
bill becomes law these stations can be re-
established; but should Congress fail to
make the asked for appropriation shall not
be able to do anything until the regular ap-
preparation is made next July"
The report of the House committee on
commerce on the Anderson resolution, for
Company will be submitted to the House on
Tuesday, and motion will he made for
unanimous consent to take up the report for
immediate consideration. The majority re-
port will recommend the reference of the
matter to the interstate commerce commits
sion. Mr.. Rayner of Mary land will present
the minority report in favor of an insestiga
ton by a special committee of Congress.
Il. HI, ,..1 tt,atf tho minority will
meet with the most favor in the House. and
unless tactics of obstruction are resorted TO
that it will be adopted. 1t will be shown
that the Iron and Coal Company aud the
Reading Railroad Company are one corpora
tion. Ii will be shown also that the net re-
ceipts of the company during the strike have
beeu over Slo0, 900 more than during the
month before.
As to the jurisdiction of Congress in the
matter, that has already been decided by the
Supreme Court in the case appealed by the
Reading company in resistance of an attempt
on the part of State of Pennsylvania to tax
their freighis. 1t was in this case decided
in favor of the road, that Congress alone has
jurisdiction over them.
If the committeeman succeed IN getting
the report before the House, ono of the most
interesting contests of the session Will be-
gin.
The House committee on manufactures,
which has been charged with the investiga'
tions of trusts, has authorized Chairman
Bacon to appoint subcommittee to outline
plan of procedure in conducting the in
quiry. aud adjourned until next Friday, wher
the report will be passed upon by the full
committee. The discussion showed that the
committee regards it as necessary TO a sue
cessful result of the investigation that II
should be systematic, and an effort will be
made to inquire into the different trusts II
order, as far as such course may be found
expedient. :.
Congressman Dingley has presented tt
Commissioner of Internal Revenue Miller
affidavits of Maine officials showing that Col
lector Page continues to omit from the ilst'
of LIQUOR tax payers, the name and number
of the street where the tax payer does busl
ness. as the commissioner decided. IN hi
opinion of Dec 18th, it was his duty to give
He has also presented evidence OF othel
omissions in the lists. The commissione