Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-11

OF the Senate Committee on Foreign Rela.
tio1s, in reporting adversely the resolution
for the ratification of the fisheries treaty,
refer 70 the passage of the retaliator7" Act
and The failure of the President to put it in
operation, instead of which negotiations
were initiated and conducted "to the ap-
parent end of accomplishing what Con-
gress had thought it unfit to undertake in
such way" These plenipoten haries came
to the conclusion of their labcTson the 10Th
of February, 1888, and their offices term
mated, and the result was reached without
the advice and consent of the Senate having
been asked or taken concerning the selec.
ton of these pubic Minister'S and without
any communication to either houses of
Congress concerning this most important
subject.
1t is not difficult to sse that. IN evil
times, when the Presidents of the United
States may be under the Influence of for
eign and adver9e interests, such cause of
procedure might result in great disaster to
the interests-and even the safety-of our
Government and people.
The majority cTiticise the President for
withholding information on the question
from the Senate, and summar zes its find
lngs and opinions as follows:
First-That the United State5 recognizes
as British territory and renounces forever
all claims and independent rightin all the
great bays along the British North Amer
lean coast named in The treaty, and admit
that all such bays form part OF and are
within the British territorial sovereignty
and jurisdiction.
Seaop6-Of tho ,xroo4 n
to be visited by American fishermen. the
larger part are undersso sood to be vaIueless,
and some are subject toffeSh fishers rights
older than our own.
Third-If bay fishing is not profitable
now, it may be in the fature.
Fourth-Whether profitable or not, the
United States ought not to give up, upon
any consideration whatever, The rigks ofits
vessels of every characterize visit and carry
on business in any part of the public seas.
Fifth-The treaty surrsnders the claims
and rights of the United States-which
have been acted upon and exercised for
more than century-of its vessels engaged
in fishing or other occupations, to visit and
carry on their business in these great bays.
ana the principle of which claim and right
has once been solemnly decided against
Great Britain by tribunal organized under
treaty with that Government.
Sixth-The new area of delimitation de-
scribed in the treaty greatly increases the
danger of our fishermen unintentionally
invading prohibited waters and thereby ex-
posing them to seizures and penalties.
Seventh-The treaty, by its fifth article,
renounces any right of the United States
in any bay, ETC., however large, that can
not be reached fom sea without passing
within the three marine miles mentioned
in A rtiola 1f
Guiding vessels of the United States from
all waters, however extensive, and the dis
tance between whose headlands is however
great, the sailing channel TO which NAV
happen to be within three miles of the
shores.
Eighth-The treaty is a complete surren-
der of any claim of right now existing
either under the treaty of 1918, the Acts of
Congress and the British orders in the
Council of 1880, or the twenty-ninth arti-
Gle of the treaty of 1S71-for vessels of the
United States engaged in fishing anywhere
on the high seas and having commercial
chacter, also, to enter any port Of British
North America for any commercial pur-
pose whatever, and puts in place Of these
clear rights which, IN respect 20 British
fishing vessels, exist in the United States
to the fullest extent, greatly restricted and
conditional rights arising. solely from the
present grant of Great Britain
Ninth-It binds the United States to be
content with whatever 10 given by this
treaty as the full measure of its rights, and
to be content with it forever, or until
greater hospitality and freedom of inter
course can be obtained by further conces-
sions or considerations on our part.
OTHER REASON FoE1ITs ACTON.
The majority go on enumerating various
other reasons adverse to the wisdom of
ratifying the treaty, among them one ex-
pressing the opinion that It's ratification
will only increase the sources Of irritation
The report concludes with the hope that
her Majesty's Government will secure
justice to American fishermen, and that the
friendship which ought to exist between
neighboring nations may be established.
THE MINORITY sAz,
In substance, that in accepting the papers
sent to the Senate by the President as q
treaty, and referring the same to the commit
tee, the Senate had waived any infornality.
The minority believe it better for the coun-
try that the treaty should oe ratified, and
are equally convinced that the. entire class
of people actively engaged in the North
Atlantic fishing industry would be bene-
flied by its ratification. They believe the
er-protection of the treaty of 1873, which
has led to its reformation in the treaty now
before the Senate, is far IN advance of any,
thing that any American diplomat has off,
cially demanded of the British Govern
ment, and will lead to S full and amicable
adjustment of all troubles of the sort that
have heretofore arisen, and will open the
way for liberal and neighborly agreement
as to such differences as may hereafter
arise, both On the Atlantic. and Pacific
coast.
The minority does not belisvethe United
States yields anything that is OF value to
our fishermen, and fBds that the President
has not in. any way exceeded his constitu-
tional powers in the matter of conducting
the negotiations.
TILE FISHERIES TREATY, DEBATES.
ICopyight. 1888. byaS,catto AssOaated I1cssl
WASHINGTON, May 1osh.-In executive
session to-day, after a protracted debate
the Senate adopted resolution Offered by
Teller that stsnographers should be ad
mitted TO maks,a complete report of the de
bate on the fsheries Teaty, and that after
the debate closes, if the majority of the
Senate so elects, its sesret proceedings shal
be made public.