Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-17
FUN IN THE HOUSE.
VARIOUS VIEWS OF THE TARIFF.
Mr.. Allen Of Mississippi Enlivens the
Debate and Others Follow Suit.
FISH IN THE POTOMAC.
Senator Daniels Fails to Have the
Bill for Their Protection Re-
considered.
FISH IN THE POTOMAC.
SENATE.


Mr.. Chandl err. from the committee on innrni-
grafton, reported joint resolution authoriz-
ing and directing the Secretary of War to con-
troll, use and improve the whole of Bedioes
Island. in New York harbor, on which Bar
tholdIs statue OF liberty stands. as a free
public park, and to allow the access OF visitors
under such limitations, rules aud regulations
as the Secretary may deem eSpedlent and
necessary.
Mr. Plumb inquired whether the committee
had made any estimate of the cost.
Mr. Chandler said IL had not, and that il was
not the intention of the committee now or at
any other time to ask for appropriation.
The island was in good condition nov and all
that was desired was that the island should be
kept as public park under the control of the
Secretary OF War
The bill was referred to the committee on
military affairs.
The House bill for the establishment of new
harDor lines on Portage lake. Houghton county.
Mich, was taken from the calendar and passed.
Mr.. Stewart gave notice that he would adj
dress the Senate Oh Wednesday on the silver
bill.
CALLED BACK
On motion of Mr.. Wilson Iowa) the act for
public building at Cedar Rapids Iowa. was re-
called from the President in order to have 1t
modified
vIRGINIAs OPPOSITION TO THE FISH PROTECTION
BILL.
On motion of Mr. Daniel the vote passing the
Senate bill for the protection of fish in the
Potomac river was reconsidered. and Mr. Daniel
presented what he regarded as a substantial
objection to it,
III the bill was intended to be confined 10
these things in which the United States GOV
ernment had entire Jurisdiction. by reason of
It's jurisdiction over the District of Columbia
ne could not object to it. But IL seemed to him
from consideration of the riparian rights of
the state OF Virginia in the Potomac
river that the bill asserted juris-
dlction not possessed by the government
In SO far as the bill trod upon the toes of the
state OF virginia. the proper thing for the gov
ernment to do would be to provide for AN act
composing the whole question, but which
should not be passed without the consent of
ooth the United States and Virginia
RESPECTIVE RIGHTS OF THE UNITED STATES AND
VIRGINIA.
Mr.. Edmunds said that Mr.. Daniels speech
presented an interesting, but not difficult
question. II the United States undertook to
regulate the fishing of the whole Poto-
mac il would be beyond its
power; but the bin only undertook to regulate
the conduct OF people within the District of Co.
lumbia. The United States government was the
master OF the Potomac river in a sovereign
sense.
MR.. BLACKBURN ON vIBGINIl's FISH EXTERMr-
MAJORS
Mr. Blackburn, a member OF the committee
on fisheries, which reported the bill, replied to
Mr. Daniel argument and spoke of the pound
nets and murderous instrumentalities EN-
ployed by fishermen that were TODAY spread
on the Virginia side of the river Previous
70 the passage I'm 1881 OF the
bill to which the proposed bill was an amend
ment the shad and herring fisheries Of the Po-
tomac within the eight-miles front OF the Dis
trict had been SO ruined that a man
for Sl0O had lost money by the lease.
The fish had been practically extpr-
minated; but since the passage oil the law the
fisheries had increased four-fold For five wears
the control of the government over the subject
had been recognized and acquiesced in bv the
state of Virginia and Its people. There were but
three men who were making complaint or pro-
testing against the passage of the bill and
those three were owners of fishing shores on
the south side ofjthe Potomac within the eight
miles front Of the District
ABSOLUTE JURISDICTION OF THE GOVERNMENT
OVER THIS PART OF TIE POTOMAC
The absolute Jurisdiction of the Potomac
river on the eight miles front of the District
had been vested in the federal goyernm,n Mt for
a hundred years and all the commonwealths of
the country could not divest the government
of it.
Mr.. Ingalls, said that If the government were
to weld to the states of Virginia and Yarvland
the right to control the fisheries of the poto-
mac within the boundaries of the District of
Columbia, 1t had. logically, to yield TO them
the right to control the navigation OF the river
and every other interest in it, This was not
permissible or tolerabie.
THE MOTION TO RECONSIDER LOST
The motion to reconsider was con molten of
Mr. Blackburn) laid on the table. and the bill