News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-01-26
FROM WASHINGTON.
from our Regular Correspondents.
WASHINGTON, D. c.,

Jan. 10, 1888.
AS the city of Washington grows
in population, wealth, and material
attachments, develops its manifold at
fractions and broadens its influence, in
that proportion in the standing of the
District Committees in Congress i'm
proved, and in that proportion the in
te1est and pride of those committees
in their work increase. II is no small
matter to be one of very few men TO
whose hands is virtually resigned the
power of molding all legislation for
nearly quarter million people, and
of making the national capital worthy
of the nation. So, starting from the
level of slight consideration there has
been a continuous elevation of public
regard in respect TO the district COM
mittees and the district itself; and
from general neglect on the part of
it's legislators the point has been
reached where district affairs receive
the faithful and interested considera-
ton of some of the ablest men in Con-
gress. But the best efforts of the
district committee are frequently rem
dered Intellectual by the short time
given to them in the full legislative
bodies, especially in the House, and
by the modest and self-distrustful dis
position of some of the members when
district affairs are discussed, which
often prevents a quorum at such times.
From the present Congress the dis
trict will ask additional days for the
consideration of its affairs, and con-
tinuance of the intelligent labors in
its behalf by the district committees
and it's other friends in Congress, dis
regarding all discouragements and
disappointments of the past.
Lovers of fish food and of the sport
of gathering it in, are to be congratu'
lated on the spirit shown by Congress
in dealing with the Fish Commission
The first bill which has got through
both Houses in the past six weeks O
the session provides for the appoint
ment of salaried officer to preside
over the commission, and the sigma
E ture of the President is as good a
assured. The work of this bureau
was kept up to the highest mark TO
efficiency under Prof. Baird, and,
the President makes wise choice O
= q commissioner, it will continue to b
' one of the most thoroughly usefu
a branches of the public service. 1t
benifcent influence is especially fel
in the western and Southwestern
country, which is made more habits
: BILE for pioneer settlers by having it
D streams stocked without expense t
the persons directly benefited, VIII
. are generally too poor to undertake
} the expense of transportation them
: selves. This dissemination of food
fish is ia the nature of an improve
ment of the government lands, lik
planting timber trees or working wag
! on roads, and therefore no objectio
can be raised to the use of publ
t money for it.
> The passage of the bill Friday wa
; the first real recognition by Congress
3 of the value of the work thus far don
0 by the Fish Commission. 1t was
moreover q handsome posthumou
n tribute to the patient and unselfs
l. devotion of Prof. Baird TO the grea
Is est task of his life.
i Efforts are again being made tn
= session to introduce a bill increasin
10 the pay of the watchmen of the Urea
st ury Department. 1t is proposed
increase their pay from $50 a mon
to S75. The watchmen of the Stat
- War, and Navy Department buildil
be have already succeeded in getting
ce bill of this character before the Hous
in The measure which the Treasury D
at partment watchmen are preparing
y intended to include all watchmen ell
os ployed by the government. There
90 no class of departmental employ
nd more deserving of relief than t
o. watchmen, and, perhaps, those at t
IL Treasury have better claim to Co
a gressional attention. They are
he lowed no holiday and are obliged
d. be at their posts on Sundays. VIII
there is no manual labor attached
oo their positions and little that calls
lty the brain Of an Agassiz there is c.
TT tain responsibility which should be {
lrt trusted to men who are difficult to
~ obtained at the salaries now paid.
on