The Portland daily press., 1885-01-23
The Bath Board of Trade and the Span
ish Treaty.
(Rath Timaa,


A special meeting of the Bath Board OF
Trade called to order at 3 D. M, Monday, but
adjourned until Wednesday. The secretary
being absent, W. Fl. Bull was made secretary
pro tenn. The meeting was called to give their
expression on the Spanish Treaty. All those
present spoke against the treaty. Capt. Whit
more offered the following resolution:
That a committee be appointed to draw up
paper to be circulated among the merchants
OF this city for their signature.
The president appointed P. M. Whitmors.
L. W. Houghton and John Mcdonald as
committee to draft set of resolutions for sach
purpose, and having attended to that duty
they submitted the following report:
To the president and members of the Bath
Board of Trade:
Your Committee appointed to draw mp pa
per citing their views on the Spanish Treaty
DOW before ConRI ess, present the following
OF The reciprocity treaty, negotiated by the
State Department between this country and
Spain regarding trade with Cuba.
To the Honorable Senate and House Of Repre-.
SentatiUes Of the United States in Congress
assembled:
fully protest against the ratification Of the So
called Spanish American reciprocity treaty
for the following reasons:
First-Because the alleged benefit to our
shipping is illusory, having no foundation in
fact, as English steamers can at once be
placed under the Spanish flag to any extsnt
required, driving American sailing vessels out
of our trade with Cuba and Porto Rico. Fur
thermore, as the production of sugar In these
islands increases (which, under the stimulus
of two cent per pound bounty, it would to
the extent of 100 per cent. in very few years),
American shipping would gradually lose It's
present large East India business.
Second The treaty provides that We relin-
quish to these islands, the first year, duty to
the extent Of from twenty-five (25) to thirty
(30) millions OF dollars, which would annually
increase in proportion to their larger product
ion. but retain heavy duty on the -four and Co.
reals they would take from us. In fact, they
offer us nothing adequate 10 return, as their
total consumption is and must be small; and
what they do censame they will receive most
ly from other countries than our own. Where
is the reciprocity?
Third-As at present stated, the treaty
gives Spain the right TO tax these islands to
the full extent OF the benefit they may derive
from 1t, and who can doubt that in she present
lmpecunious condition of the mother country,
such course will be followed as soon as decen-
cy allows. In other words, we take from the
taxpayers of our own country twenty-five (25)
TO thirty (30) millions Of dollars, during the
next year, aud give it to Spain. Gould folly
rise to higher point?
FourTh-fhere can be no arguments ad-
vanced in favor Of this treaty that will stand
the test OF intelligent discussion, and the re-
suit is summed up In the statement that it is
an attempt on the part OF Spain to increase
her revenue at the expense of the United
States.
(Signed.) PARKER M. WHITMoRE,
LEVI w. HoUGHroN,
JOHN MCDONALD.
The report was unanimously adopted and
the Board then adjourned.