Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-01-23
WASHINGTON LETTER.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES OF THE MONITOR
WashinqtOn. Jan. 1911


Washington, Jan. 10TH.
Although congress has been in ses-
sion six weeks, and a thousand bills
have been introduced, only one bill
has passed both houses, and that one
is of special interest to the large num-
Der of people who are given TO the
sport in which their patron, Isaac
Walton, SO distinguished himself, and
also to that still larger number who
are fond of fish, but not of fishing
the bill in question, being to pay the
| United States fish commissioner q
salary of $4,000 year and providing
that he shall hold no federal office.
Heretofore, the position has not been
a salaried place, the late Professor
Spencer F. Baird having thus served
the country gratuitously several years.
1t is thought the measure will become
a law, as the president is known to
have a friendly interest in piscatorial
matters and to be favorable to the
development of the fishing industries
| of the country. While on this sub
ject, it may be well to mention a new
complication that will have a disturb
ing influence upon the deliberations
of the international fisheries commits
sion, now in session at the capital,
and that is a complaint of our fisher
men on the great lakes similar to the
grievance of the New England fisher
men against their Canadian neigh
bors. The matter was presented to
Secretary Bayard by Representative
Chapman of Michigan, and the state
department telegraphed an immediate
protest to the British authorities.
There came near being a sectional
controversy in the senate the other
day, the provocation being a short
speech of Senator Chandler on his
resolution of inquiry as to the alleged
| suppression of cOlored votes in the
recent municipal election at Jackson,
Mississippi. After a few common
place comments from three or four
senators, and the passage of the res
olution, Senator Riddlebarger remark
| ed that there was no concealment of
the fact that the resolution was in
tended to affect matters that ought
| to be considered only in executive
session; and we have notice that, as
to himself, he would vote for the con-
| firmation of Mr.. Lamar. This is the
second shock of senatorial dignity
within week, as Senator Stewart of
| Nevada has made a declaration SINH
lar to that announced by the Virginia
senator. 1t is now thought that Mr..
| Lamar's confirmation is assured, as
it is assumed that all the senators of
his own party will support him; he
! will need but two republican votes,
and Messrs. Stewart and heidelberg
er have pledged these. The case is
very likely to be considered to-day,
likewise the nominations of Messrs.
Villas and Dickinson. No issue is
raised against the two latter gentle
men, and it is supposed that their
| nominations will be confirmed with
out further delay, after Mr.. Lamar's
case is disposed of, as it comes first
on the senate calendar.
AS foreshadowed in my last letter,
the president has appointed Gen. Ed
ward A. Bragg of Wisconsin to be
minister to Mexico, and though Mr..
Stockslager has not yet been made
commissioner of the general land Of
flee, / am inclined to think he will be
given the place Immediately after Mr..
Villas takes charge of the interior de-
| partment. Several officials of that
department are in dread of the prob
| able changes that the new secretary
may make, for experience has taught
| them that an incoming secretary must
provide a few offices for his friends.
| There has been a chief clerk of the
interior department in ten months;
upon the resignation of the chief
clerk at that time, Secretary Lamar
appointed an acting chief clerk, but
he, after serving six months, resign
ed, and then another was appointed,
and he is still acting. These facts
are given to illustrate the one pre-
dominating characteristic of Mr.. La
mar, and single word-procrastina-
tion-tells the story. This is his
| great failing-constitutio indo-
lence. Mr.. Villas will appoint chief
clerk before he himself is in office
week.
Last week, Senator Beck received
the cordial congratulations of his
friends and admirers on his third cleo
ton to the senate-an honor that
Kentucky has conferred on no other
man. The senator is a tower of
strength to his party, and is regard
ed as somewhat of an oracle on ques-
tions of finance and tariff. The
scholarly and sa:irical Senator In
gals, president pro tempOre of the
senate, has been receiving the condo
lences of his friends upon the loss by
fire of his fine dwelling and valuable
library in his Kansas home-the dis
aster involving the destruction of the
| bulk of the senator's savings, about
$40, 900, as the insurance was that
much short.
The calendar par excellence this season
! is issued by the Smith & Anthony Stove
Co., of Boston, manufacturers of the Gel
ebrated Hub Ranges. 1t is in six sheets,
each being a fac-simile OF a delicate
Water- color drawing by Copeland, made