Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1892-03-24
fFrom our regular correspondent
Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Mar. IA, 1892

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Mar. IA, 1892.
Senator Sherman is chairman of the Sen
ate committee on Foreign Affairs, which
makes his opinion on the Behring Sea mat
ter entitled to great weight, and his we'll
known conservatism in matters relating to
the foreign policy of this government
makes it certain that every word he utters
for publication has been carefully thought
over He said: ~ regard the treaty now
pending with the highest favor. 1t is
honorable to both nations. 1t is an exam
pie of arbitration which ought to be adopt
ed In every controversy between two coun-
tries bound by SO many ties as Great Brit
ain and the United States. war, or even
contention between them for a cause so
trivial as one years fishing for seals,
would be crime against civilization. IL
may be unpleasant and uugraceful for
Great Britain TO resist by her ships and
sailors the reckless acts of a few of her
subjects, for whose conduct Lord Sails
bury disclams all responsibility, but We
are under no such restraint and are able to
prevent such poaching on rights that we
purchased of Russia, and which Russia
aud the United States have openly assert
ed and enjoyed for one hundred years"
The last sentence states the position of
the administration. 1t will stop poaching
ii it takes every vessel in our navy to do
it. Great Britain may help if she wishes
t.. or interfere if she dares.
Secretary Blaine continues to improve
slowly, hut it Is probable that he will 90
South for while before resuming his du-
ties
Senator Hill does not 20 South in very
cheerful frame of mind, a. ne fears that a
trap is being set to make him say whether
he is for or against free coinage. Some
of his friends in Congress say that person
ally he fayors it, but that, owing to the
almost unanimous sentiment OF his state
he will probably vote against it when it
comes up in the Senate They say also
that he is willing TO promise not to veto it
should he be elected President and the bill
pass both Houses Of the next Congress
Tie need not worry himself about the next
Congress Or the next Presidency as he will
hardly be .'in it"
The Commissioner OF Patents is in no
way to blame for the circular letter he has
been compelled to issue notifying those
who do business with hi~ office that owing
to lack OF room for the storage and ar
rangement of printed copies of patents he
until additional room is provided. The
situation, aggravating and embarrassing
as it is TO manufacturers, inventors and
owners of patents, Is but the logical out
come of the steadingly increasing business
of the Patent Office. Year after year Con-
gress has been asked to provide for room
for this branch of the government. but
has neglected to do so. One-fourth of the
$4,000 600 which stands to the credit Of
the Patent once in the Treasury wonld
obyiatr all trouble for generation and it
would be allowing that cllirr to spend
part Of what il ha~ earned over and above
IT, operating expenses.
Postma- ter General Wauamaker is more
strongly in favor Of the establishment of
a postal telegraph system than ever, and
hr has had bills providing therefor intro
duced in both House AMI Senate.
Representative Oates of Alabama, has
Introduced by request, bill which dis
counts the Alliance sub-treasurv scheme.
1t provides for the issuing Of 81 600 600 to
each of the Congressional Districts of the
country, for the purpose Of enlarging the
national banking system
The Presidents proclamation of retalIa-
ton against Colombia, Hayti Nicaragua.
Honduras and Venezuela, for having ne
elected or declined 10 negotiate reciproCi-
ty agreements with the United States, uu-
der the Mckinley law, will probably be is
sued tomorrow, in accordance with the
official warning given several months ago
to those countries. The proclamation Will,
If issued, restore the duty on number of
articles including sugar and hides, from
those countries, to what it was previous
to the enactment of the Nc ckulty law
A convention composed of the po>tmas-
ters of forty -four OF our largest cities
which was in session here few days ago,
made some very important recommeuda
tions for legislation, among which may be
mentioned, an endorsement of the bill now
before Congress placing paper covered
book, in the third class and also the bill
restricting the distribution of sample
copies Of newspapers at pound rates, and
the following concerning second class
mail no newspaper With less than one
hundred subscribers shall be regarded as
bona tlde; sample copies should be wrapped
singly and have sample copy" stamped
thereon; subscriptions to newspapers shall
not be regarded as legitimate when paid
for BY advertisers in them, directly or in
directly, and sent to parties designated;
subscriptions to be regarded as bona idle
shall be for not less than three months for
weeklies, six months for monthlies, and
one year for quarterlieS. One of these
propositions-that concerning advertisers
paying for subscriptions will be fought
hard if it gets before Congress