Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-11
THAT MATTER OF FISH
TO BE DEBATED IN SECRET AND THE
TALK PRINTED.

Why the Foreign Relations Committee
Doesn't Like the Treaty-Ths Minority
vIsws--A Zig Thing In Arid Lands
| The Crops-Furthsr Tariff OratOry-The
Land Forfeiture Bill Passed Again.
WASHINGTON CITY, May 1.-THE senate
| In executive session yesterday afternoon dis
cussed for two hours the propriety OF consid-
ering the fisheries treaty in open session, or
of admitting an official reporter with a view
TO having the discussion reported and sub
sequently made public in whole or part. Sew
eral resolutions were pending, one by Rid
dleberger providing for open discussion, one
by Hoar providing for a stenographer's re-
port for subsequent publication, and one by
Morgan for IA report for the confidential use
of the senate only. The Hoar resolution,
slightly amended by Teller, was finally
adopted, and 1t Ii probable that the debate
will be published from day to day in Tho
Record. The question of giving publicity to
the reports Of the foreign relations commit
tee adverse 10 and in support of the treaty
was then discussed and the in junction of Sc
crecy was removed from both. The major
ity report, after an extended review of the
objections urged and criticisms of the meth
cd of negotiation, says the treaty Is objec
tionable because the United States recognize
as British territory and renounce forever
all claim Of independent right in all
the great bays along the British North Amer
lean coasts, named in the treaty, and admit
that all such bays form part of and are
within British territorial sovereignty and
jurisdiction, and that In doing SO the United
States surr0nders right that has been exer-
cised for more than century, and been CON
flrmed by n tribunal organized under treaty
with Great Britain. This is the chief objec-
ton, and the others relate to the rights of
American fishing vessels in British ports,
which, the report says are given under condi-
tions that ought not to he accepted, especially
while Canadian vessels have all commercial
rights in United States ports.
The report closes with criticism of tho
president for declining to submit to the senate
the whole of the correspondence as contrary
to the essential nature of the constitutional
relations between the president and senate,
and the expression of the hope that the re1ec
ton of the treaty will move Great Britain to
give the Americans all they ask.
The minority report defends the treaty
and believes it would lead to full and ami
cable adjustment of all the troubles which
have arisen, and is far in advance of any
thing that has heretofore been demanded of
the British government. Measures of retail
hostility arc deprecated, and it is claimed
that in the negotiation of the treaty the pres
ident has only performed a plain duty and
has transferred to the senate the grave re
sponsibility which he has properly dis
charged
The protocol to the treaty, or modus vi
vendi, is defended as an honorable and
friendly overture of the British government,
which should be allowed to develop by actual
experience the influence of the treaty on our
fisheries and commerce. The report reviews
the provisions of the treaty in detail and de-
tends every provision, claiming that nothing
is yielded that is of any value to our fisher
men; that presidents have been carefully
followed that Great Britain has yielded her
headand theory and made other important
concessions ard that the treaty presents the
only practical and expedient solution of the
long pending difficulties.