REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF FISH AND FISHERIES. . 61 



GENERAL ADMINISTRATION. 



In the coiiduct of the routine of the olTice and matters of administra- 

 tion the Cojnmission has continued to receive the etticient aid of tlie chief 

 clerk, Mr. J. J. O'Connor, and the disbursing agent, Mr. Herbert A. 

 Gill. . 



INVESTKiATIOX HY UNITED STATES SENATE. 



During the latter part of the iiscal year 1890 there appeared in the 

 l^ublic press a number of articles adversely criticising the administra- 

 tion of the Commission, and making charges of inefticiency, extrava- 

 gance, and dishonesty on tlie i)art of its i)ersonnel. These charges were 

 given such a wide circulation that the Commissioner deemed it proper 

 to call them to the attention of Congress, and. at his request the follow- 

 ing resolution was introduced in the Senate by Senator Edmunds on 

 June 3, 1890 : 



Resolved, That tlie Committeoon Fish and Fisheries T)o, and it is hereby, instructed 

 to make an early in([niry into the administration of the affairs of the United States 

 P^ish Commissioners's olitice, and especially in respect to tlic changes in the force, 

 compensation paid to employes, and any alleged favoriti-m, or other undue admin- 

 istration, and report to the Senate thereon. 



Resolved, That the said cojumittee have i)o\ver to send for ))crsons aud papers. 



On June 5, 1890, the resolution was agreed to, and the investigation 

 was placed in the charge of a sitbcommittee consisting of Senators 

 Stockbridge, Squire, and Blodgett. The iirst session of tlie committee 

 was held on June l-'), 1890, and was continued at intervals until Sep- 

 tember 15, 1890. The testimony (Mis. Doc. No. 77, U. S. Senate, Fifty- 

 first Congress, second session) embraced 0(36 octavo pages of printed 

 matter, and the report of the committee (Report No. L'oOl, U. S. Senate, 

 Fifty-first Congress, second session), with a synopsis of the testimony, 

 80 pages additional. The report is as follows: 



Tlie Couimittec on Fish and Fisheries of the Senate, to whom Avas referred the 

 resolution of June 3, 1800, as follows: 



Resolved, That the Committee on I'isli and Fisheries he, and it is hereby, 

 instructed to make an early inciuiry into the administration of the affairs of 

 the United States Fish Commissioner's office, and especially in respectof the 

 changes in the force, corapensatiou paid to employes, and any alleged 

 favoritism, or other undue administration, aud report to the Senate thereon. 



Resolved, That the saiil committeii have power to send for persons and 

 papers. 



Beg leave to make the following reptu't: 



Tlie i)assagi', of the foregoing resolution was owing to the publication of certain 

 charges of a rather seiisaiional character wliich ap[>eared in the press of the country, 

 seriously retlecting, not only upon the administration of the affairs of (lu^. Fish Com- 

 mis-;ion, but also upon the character and integrity of some of the officials connected 

 therewith. 



