The Portland daily press., 1892-02-26

Thought he came here loi ela6 parEcuiar
purpose, In speaking OF the sentiment
Of the people of Maine on = TINS ms matter, he
said: There are at Least 70 'oeo fishermen
along the coast Of Name, sturdy, fear
less men, and IT is nonsense
to say that the Inehhaden steam
ers are the nurseries OF "A American a sea-
men. The real nursery Ior the merchant
marine is the thousands OF fisherment
and boatmen along our coast.
There used to be many men along our
coast who caught mennauen and tried
them out into oil, earning their own liv-
ing therehv. They have all been ruined
and driven out of business by the steam
SeinerS. -.
70 our fishermen this proposed bill
means the same determination. Our
laws are reasonable and largely for the
henefit Of these fishermen and the gen
eral food supply. They are based on
our experience.
We find that seining,. especially by the
destructive methods OF the steam feet,
which is a monopoly, crushing all oppo-
sition. not only destroys the menhaden,
but other fisheries, cod, hake and had
dock.
These fish follow the lnenhaden and
leave when they do.
Ills entirely false to say that our laws
are in the interest OF sports.
Free fishing was so disastrous an ex-
periment that practically all our citizens
want the law as it now stands.
If this bill passes the fisheries of Maine
are worthless. It is equally false to say,
as I understand Mr.. Maddocks did, that
the fish wardens of Maine are venal
and oppressive set Of men and are grasp
inc at illegal fees. They are as careful,
painstaking and conscientious set of
men as I ever saw.
WHERE THEY WERE BEFORE.
The Democratic Caucus Heard Tiresome
Debate and Did Nothing.
WASHINGTON, February 26. The Dem
ocratic members of the House met to-
night, pursuant to the call issued by
Representative Holman, chairman of the
caucus, for the purpose of considerating
the resolutions circulated by Representa-
tive Harter of Ohio. These have been
revised to read:
ssResolved-We are in favor of the
continued use of both gold and silver as
money. and unalterably opposed to any
legislation which will drive either metal
out of general circulation.
ssResolved-In Justice to the Demo-
cratic party and with due consideration
for the general business, industrial and
financial interests of the nation, we deem
it the duty of the Democratic members
of the Sind Congress to defer any definite
action on the subject of free coinage TN
til the question of its wisdom and jus
tice is distinctly made in the elections of
1892"
After some discussion, it was agreed
the conference should not be regarded as
binding upon any one, and the members
should be free to vote as they chose. Mr..
Bland offered a resolution instructing
the committee on rules to bring in a
special order fixing March 25th as the
dateon which the lverbil should be
taken up, discussed a9hka kept before The
House until acted ON. After long and
tiresome debate, Mr. Oates of Alabama,
free coinage man, moved adjournment.
A split occurred among the free coinage
men over the motion5to adjourn some
favoring the caucus adoption of the re-
solution. 1t was finally decided to ad-
journ so to 55. The result of the caucus
seems to be that the silver question is
left about where it was before the caucus
was held, the silver men evidently being
in the majority and the minority un-
willing to be bound by caucus action.