The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-11
RIGHTS OF THE SMACKS.
THE SENATE COMMITTEES TWO
REPORTS MADE PUBLIC.


negotiated and Also Upon the
3 Nature Of It's Provisions - A Neat
| Point Raised by the Minority.
s. WASHINGTON, May 10.--The Senate has
( d ~.noved the injunction Of secrecy from the
.snort Of the Committee on Foreign Rela-
.idns upon the fisheries treaty. The ma
# soritv states that lit has had said proposed
.raatv under careful ana deliberate con-
siiaration, and that it returns herewith the
-osolution in ordinary form for its ratihca-
tion with an expression of its opinion that
,aid resolution ought not to be adopted"
The report quotes the retaliation act of
March, 1887, and says:
Co far as is known by the committee, no step
xhotayer was taken by the President to put
mis- law into execution. but negotiations were
;Sitiated and continued, TO the apparent end OF
accomplishing what Congress had thought it
unfit to undertake in such way, an adjustment
If these difficulties by the diplomatic course of
securing part of the American rights at the
rense of Welding other and most fundamental
parts of them.
APPOINTMENT OF THE COMMISSION.
These negotiations eliminated in the ap-
nontment by the President, during the recess
II the senate on the 22nd of November only
len days before the meeting of Congress, of
three ''plenipotentiares" to consider with
ike 'penipotentiares' appointed by her
maiesty the whole subject, with view of com
inr to a solution thereof These ''plenipotenti
aries" thus created, began their real
work at Washington, while both Houses
of Congress were sitting, and without any com
muncatiOu by the President In his annual mes
sage on the meeting Of Congress, or otherwise,
Of the fact that such important and extraord-
nary operations were in progress, or that very
grave interests of the United States had been
placed in custody of gentlemen whose names
had not even been communicated to 1t.
STILL NOT NOTIFIED.
These "plenipotentiaries" came to the con-
clusion of their labors on Feb. IS, 1888, and the
office Of the Observation-Disclosures" terminated
and the result was reached without the advice
and consent Sf the Senate having been asked or
taken concerning the selection of these public
ministers, and without any communication to
either house Of Congress concerning this most
important subject. 1t is not difficult to see
that, in evil times when the President of the
United States may be under the influence of
foreign and adverse interests, such a course of
procedure might result in great disaster
to the interests and even safety of
our government and people The
that contrary as it believes) to the universal
pSetice Of the Executive in connection with the
consideration of treaties, when the Senate has
asked for all the papers and information in
detail concerning the progress of negotiations,
the Executive has not thought it for the pub
lie interest," in this instance to com
mncate all such papers and such
the Senate requested it; and it was stated in
the reply to the resolution of request that the
deliberations of the 'plenipotentiaries' were in
confidence, and that only the results should be
announced and such matters as the joint pro-
tocolists should sign under direction Of the
'plenipotentiaries.
LONG DISCUSSION.
The committee devotes over twenty
pages to a detailed discussion of the pro
visions of the treaty, and formulates fifteen
suggestions adverse to the wisdom of rati-
flying this treaty, and says others might
readily be made, but the committee thinks
it unnecessary to go into them.
The committee cannot but hope, that if these
lLadvised negotiations, which, as is known to
al the world, cannot properly commit the
United States in any degree until they
shall have received the constitutional as
sent of the Senate, shall fail to meet
the approval of this body her maiesty's gov
ernment will take measures to secure justice
and fair treatment in her North American
dominionS to American vessels, and American
citizens in all respects and under all circum-
Stances and that that government will see the
justice and pTopriety of according to American
vessels engaged in the business of fishing all
the commercial rights and facilities to her
North American ports that are so freely and
cheertully accorded to her own in the ports of
the United States, and that this friendly and
good feeling, which ought to exist between
heghbonng nations, may be finally established
and secured.
WHAT THE MINORITY SAY.
Theminority says:
Two objections to this treaty we're stated in
the committees ~ That it had been negotiated
anu signed by persons who were not duly en-
4 powered, under the constitution and laws of the
United states, to conduct and conclude treaty;
:. tlat the treaty on its merits should not DO
a ratified by the Senate To meet the first OBJ
4 lecuon the members of the minority of the com
mttee introduced the following resolution:
I6eS'ned; That the treaty signed by Thomas
baIard William L. Putnam, and James b.
angel as plenipotentdries Of the United states,
u conjunction with the British plenipotentares,
on on Fe6 10, 1885, and sent to the Senate by the
resident as treaty duly negotiated for the
eonslueratlon and action of the Senate, is
4 properly authenticated as a treaty made by the
PRESIDENT of the United States, acting within
MS MS constitutional powers and is lawful and
'aIiu as ne collation."
OBJECT OF THE RESOLUTION.
Inc purpose of this resolution was to bring
oeloIe the Senate, in distinct FORM the recon-
!lehuatlon OF the committee as to the merits of
f snG ireaty, apart from any collateral matter
i9i@tlng II nan 70 the negotiation of the instrument
~ committee. This resolution was laid upon
,ne table, and thereby any recommendation as
% a. toe question it presents, in answer to the
y yra' Correction to the treaty, as above stated,
~ ~ avoided The minority of the COM
fFl,tee held that it is entirely competent
~ tle aJority in the Senate to declare that
| .-c treaty has been negotiated and signed in a
ar ppro%pgr % manner, and by persons duly qualified
~ =. DOhei wise 10 return 1t TO the President as a
paPer mat does not call into exercise the power
s "sG jurisdiction of the Senate upon the question
~ W us ratification by them, and if the majority
. ~ Va. senate shall declare that the treaty Is
t tlV % the Senate by the President, and is duly
Ssneu Ss and authenticated, or if no objection to
re,. oon mat ground is made, then the subject
c' ,11''e OF the treaty is IN order and should be
considered by the Senate.
POWERS OF THE SENATE
~ IS not disputed, or, SO far as the under
tto tt1Hel e are informed, doubted by any one, that
~ oenate may accept and ratify, on the part
dortH United states, any treaty that the Presi-
be bsu, goi naa made with foreign government that
Sends 10 the Senate for consideration, and
tiot3 iit3 "alve any informalty attending its nego-
sornotn IN accepting the paper sent to the
ferleo f-aeo oy the President a treaty, and by re-
has ls s vle same To its committee the Senate
a1y NItuelly waived any informality if there is
S,ryy, So, III uhe negotiation and signing of the in
tbe mngtuI' and the undersigned conceive that
sii huOie DUTY of the committee was to con
Tn tn una report upon the merits of the treaty.
co.., Undersigned believe that it is better for our
t5o,n.. that the treaty should be ratified, and
~ are equally convinced that the entire class
NogT people who are actively engaged in our
by s Atlantic fishing industry will be benefited
HISTORICAL AND ARGUMENTATIvE.
a.. me minority then enters upon historical
Gu -l argumentative consideration OF the fish
o;;y. question from the treaty of 1918, and
pgnaTn1 % rfa - -ft, tf,,r,