The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-27
BOARD OF TRADE.
Resolutions Passed on the Fishery
Question.
Action Taken on an Amendment to
the U. S. Revised Statutes.

A meeting of the Board of Trade was
called yesterday morning at 10 o'clock, in
reference to the fishery question now under
consideration.
President Blabon presided. There were
present Hon. George Walker, Hon. Geo. W.
Woodman, Hon. Chas. Mclaughlin, Hon.
w. G. Davis, W. S. Dana, Dennis W. Clark,
Philip G. Brown, Charles S. Fobes, William
G. Soule, P S. Nickerson.
President Blabon stated the object of the
meeting, and said the fishermen had the SYM
pathy of the merchants and of all citizens.
He hoped the fishery question would not be
discussed with anger, but calmly and dis
passionately, and in such way that the
affair could be speedily adjusted.
Mr.. NJ n. Rich, the Secretary, thought 1t
might be well to give review of the various
treaties, in brief, which he read, and also
the treaty of 1918.
Hon. George Walker said the controversy
now going on was one very delicate in its
operations. We are again afioat and thrown
back we don't know where. There is not
unanimity among the best informed as to
the treaty of 1918 being still in force, neither
is it certain that it is settled question as to
what constitutes the three mile limit of the
law, and as to how it shall be drawn. Then
again, it is an open question as to what our
vessels shall visit Canadian ports for We
cannot accomplish our objects by rage or
ridicule but by firm and decided action. We
should be careful not to surrender any of our
rights, or be guilty of committing any wrong
II ic ctill ;~+o
Canadian ports except for harbor, wood or
water, if they are not responsible. He
offered the following preamble and resolu-
tions
THE RESOLUTIONS.
Whereas, The fishing interest has ever been
regarded by the general government as not only
one of the most valuable and important industries
OF the country, as source of food supply, but
viewed as an invaluable school from which to
draw the sinews of its navy in case of war; and
Whereas, the complications of the present in
ternational laws render it almost impossible for
the class of people engaged in the fisheries to
understand the construction of the laws govern
Ing the fisheries as defined by those administering
the same at the various customs DISTRICTS render
ing 1t so extremely hazardous to American Usher
men to engage in the business in any near prox-
unity to British territory that It has come to be
sonal losses have fallen upon those entirely
bameless Of any nfraction of laws, or intentional
noncompliance with technical customs regula-
RESOLVED, That the members of Congress from
this State be hereby requested to impress upon
the Executive Department of the general govern
ment the great necessity of the earliest possible
action to secure settlement of existing embar-
easements to the fishing interests; and for release
of the vessels and property now detained at
Canadian ports; and in order to maintain and
perpetuate the friendly intercourse and close
alliance that has SO long prevailed between two
great nations [not to risk the possibility of any
rupture of these interests that would be i'm
perilled by resort to retaliatory methods.
Mr.. Charles s. Fobes asked if the last SEN
tence in the resolution was not a reflection
on our members of Congress. Senator Frye's
amendment, if carried out, simply closes our
ports to Canadians to the same extent and
for the same purposes that they have closed
their ports to us. If such was the intent of
the resolution-to cast such refection-he
| most certainly should vote against the reso-
luton.
Mr.. Rich disclaimed any such purpose as a
reflection ON Mr.. Frye, in the resolution. The
idea intended to be conveyed was that any
retaliatory measures adopted by this country
could only afford a temporary relief, and
would not meet the main question.
Mr.. Fobes said he would act calmly in this
matter. He was not lawyer, neither was
he versed in International law. He didn't
see why we didn't GO back to the treaty
made at the end of the Revolution when we
had the right to do just what any citizen of
Great Britain had right to do. In 1918 we
surrendered the very rights which cost us
much blood and treasure, and we had been
beaten by every treaty since then, and he re-
| GREETED to say,we had apparently nothing to
hope for. We want the privilege of buying
bait, and he was in favor of retaliatory meas
ures, if the privilege was not accorded us, in
order to show Great Britain that we could get
along without her as well and as long as she
could get along without u.s. and thus compel
| her to come for terms to us before any new
| treaty was made. He should vote for retail
atory measures for temporary relief.
Mr.. Walker said that Supposing the treaty
of 1918 was valid, didn't it especially emu
merate the four things for which our vessels
could visit the Canadian ports, and wasn't it
true that buying bait was not one of the
four? Then, if their vessels come into our
ports does the treaty affect our acts of pro-
cedure against them and make them retalia-
tory?
Mr.. Fobes moved to amend the resolution
by striking out the last sentence, and the
amendment was carried. The preamble and
resolution as amended, were then unanimous.
| ly adopted.
Mr.. Blabon then read the following amend
ment to section 525S of the United States Re
vised Statutes, which was adopted.
Amend section 525s of the Revised Statutes of
| the United States by inserting after the word
"destinaton' in the seventh line thereof the fol-
| lowing:
ANY person or persons who shall wilfully, by
| any act or by means of any threat or ntimda-
tion impede obstruct, except by legal process,
any such railroad company, or the agents or SER
| wants of such company, in the conveyance of any
| passengers, government supplies or mails from
handling, loading or unloading, or the transport
ing or delivering of any freight or property con-
signed or shipped, or in process of being consgn-
to foreign country, or which has been transport
| United States, or from one State of the United
| Stases to another State, shall, on conviction
| thereof be punished by Imprisonment for not ex-
| ceeding one year, OF by fine, not exceeding five
| hundred dollars, or by both fine and imprison-
ment in the discretion OF the court and the dis
trict courts shall have jurisdiction of all such Of
/ fences.
The Circuit Court of the United States in any
district shall also have equity jurisdiction to re-
strain any threatened violation OF the provisions
| of this section
The resolution on the fishery question and