Weekly graphic. [volume] (Kirksville, Adair Co., Missouri) 1880-1949, 1892-03-18
WASHINGTON LETTER.


Senator Sherman is chairman of
the Senate committee on Foreign
Affairs, which makes his opinion
on the Behring Sea matter enti-
tied to great weight, and his well
known conservatism in matters
relating to the foreign policy of
this government makes it certain
that every word he utters for pub
lication has been carefully thought
over. He said: 81 regard the
treaty now pending with the high
est favor. 1t is honorable to both
nations. 1t is an example of ar
bitration which ought to be adopt.
ed In every controversy between
two countries bound by SO many
ties as Great Britain and the Unit
ed States. A war, or even a con-
tention between them, for cause
so trivial as one years fishing for
seals, would be a crime against
civilization. 1t may be unpleas-
ant and ungrsceful for Great
Britain to resist by her ships and
sailors the reckless acts of few
of her subjects, for whose conduct
Lord Salisbury disclaims all re
sponsibility, but we, are under nc
such restraint and are able to pre-
vent such poaching on rights that
we purchased of Russia, and
which Russia, and the United
States have openly asserted and
enjoyed for one hundred years
The last sentence states the posi-
tion of the administration. Ii
Will stop poaching if it takes ev-
cry vessel in our navy to do it
Great Britain may help if she
wishes or to interfere if she dares
Secretary Blaine continues to
improve slowly, but it is probable
thet he will go south for a while
before resuming his duties.
Senator Hill does not go south
in a very cheerful frame of mind,
AS be 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 thst
personally he favers it, but that,
owing to the almost unanimous
sentimentof his state, he will prob
ably vote against it when it comes
up in the Senate. They say also
that he is wiling to promise not
to veto it should he be elected
President and the bill pass poth
Houses of the next Congress. He
need not worry himself about the
next Congress CT the next Presi-
dency as be will hadlv be an it. .
The commissioner of Patents is
in no way to blame for the circu-
lar letter he has been compelled
to issue notifying those who do
business with his Office that owing
to lack of room for the storage
and arrangement of printed copies
of patents he finds it impossible to
furnish such copies until addition
al room is provided. The situa-
ton, aggrsvating and embarras-
sing al. it is to manufacturers, III
ventors and owners of patents, is
but the logical outcome of the
steadily increasing business of
the patent office. Year after ear
Congress has been asked to pro-
vide for room for this branch of
the government, but has neglected
to do so. One fourth of the ST.
100000 which stands to the credit
of the Patent Office in the Treas.
ury would obviate all trouble for
q generation, and it would but be
allowing that Office to spend part
of what it has earned over aud
above its operating expenses.
Postmaster General Wanamak.
er is more strongly in favor of the
establishment of a postal telegraph
system than ever. and be has had
bills provided therefor introduc-
ed in both House and Senate.
Representative Oates of Alaba-
ma, Las introduced, by request, q
bill which discounts the Alliance
sub-treasury scheme. 1t provides
for tie issuing of Sl,oO0,0OO to
each of the Congressional districts
of the country, for the purpose of
enlarging the National banking
system.
The Presidents proclamation of
retaliation against Colombia.
Hayti, Nicaragua, Honduras and
Venezueia for having neglected or
declined to negotiate reciprocity
agreements with the United States
under the Mckinley law, will pro-
baby be issued tomorrow, in ac-
cordance With tie official warming
given several months ago to those
countries. The proclamation will,
II issued, restore the duty on q
number of articles, including su-
gar and hides, from those coun-
tries, to what it was previous to
the enactment of the Mckinley
law.
A convention composed of the
Posmasters of A of our largest
cities, which was in session here a
few days ago, made some very i'm
portant recommendations for leg
lation, among which may be men
toned, an endorsement of the bill