Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1888-05-18
THE FISHERIES TREATY,
REPORTS OF THE COMMITTEE ON
FOREIGN RELATIONS.
The Majority Present strong and Able
Arguments why the Treaty Is not for
the Best Interests of the Country
Report of the Minority.

WASHINGTON, May 10-The Senate has
remoN ed the injunction of secrecy from
the report of the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations upon the fishery treaty. The ma
jority report reviews the history of the
fishery question from colonial times
to the passage of the act of March
3, 1887, authorizing president in GER
tain cases to defend tho rights
of American fishing vessels, etc. This act
is quoted in full and the report continues !:
80 far as known to the committee no
step whatever has been taken by the
president to put the law into execution,
but negotiations were being continued
with the apparent end of accomplishing
what Congress thought unfit to under
take in such away, and looking toward
an adjustment of the difficulties by di-
plomatlc course, securing America rights
at the expense of welding another and
theamost fundamental and important of
them.
The report complains that the president
gave no iutimation to Congress of the
meeting of the plenipotentlaries and says
it is not difficult to see that in evil times
when the president may be under the in
tluence of d foreign ana adverse interest,
such course might result in
great disaster to the interest and
safety OF our government and
be SO neglected, misunderstood, aban-
doned or sold 10y the presidents plenipo-
tentiaries as to greatly embarrass, If not
defeat, their ultimate reasseriion in bet
ter times under q better administration.
TIE majority report further objects to
the treaty in that by 1t the United States
renounces all right in great and valuable
bays on the coast named in the treaty. in
which the fishing may become profitable
in the future. That the right of United
States vessels to visit and trade in every
part of the public seas ought not TO be
surrendered ON any consideration; that
the new area of dellmttation greatly in
creases the danger Of American fishermen
unntentionally invading prohibited wa
tiers that 1t completely surIenders rights
existing under the treaties and acts of
1888, 1878, 1880, and 1871 that it
binds the United States to be content with
it's provisions forever, until greater free
dom can be gained by further concessions
by us. Further, because the much
limited rights obtained hy article IS are
obtained only at the price OF exempting all
Canadian fishery products from our Gus
toms duties The report concludes with
the hope that If the Senate rejects the
treaty the British government will pro
vide that American vessels shall get the
same rights in Canadian waters that Can
| adian vessels get in United States waters.
The minority report expresses the be
| lief that the treaty would benefit orr fish
ermen and urges the necessity of allayin9
bitter feelings ana cultivating friendly re
| iatlOns with Canada 1t says the only al
| tentative is Il relation which would result
in war that the 1918 treaty is the supreme
law until superseded; that the treaty is
| framed in spirit of confol nifty to the
progressive interests of our country that
| the further increase of commercial
| privileges will naturally follow from
| the policy of both countries; that
nothing of any value is surrendered; that
the treaty is just and fair settlement
that no fault can he found in the manner
of It's negotiation, and the president ha-
| not exceeded his constitutional powers OF
withheld any courtesy due to the Senate.