Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-10-17
DISCRIMINATING DUTIES.
In Senate Of the United States, .AprI Is, 1926.
(MN Smiths speech concluded

ment, opening the trade Of their colonies IN A
merica and their West India Islands, to the Y
States on terms more liberal than any hereto
fore offered, yet reserving material advantages.
In anticipation Of that act, Congress passed
law on the 9th May, 1892, that, on the Presl-
dents receiving satisfactory evidence that the
ports in the Islands or Colonies of Great Bri
tain have been opened to the vessels OF the u
nited States. the President may declare the
norris of the u. States opened to British vessels
trading 10 and from the colonies, subject to such
reciprocal rules and restrictions, as he may
make and publish; any thing in other acts to the
contrary" sc. &c. The President issued his
proclamation accordingly, dated cath August,
1922, as consequence OF the act OF Parliament
referred to; by which the ports OF the United
States were opened to British vessels trading
between those colonies and the United States,
and circular unfortunately issued from the
Treasury, dated oath September, following, di-
recting that the alien duties on tonnage, and
light money Of ga cents, and the ten per cent.
additional to the duties imposed by law, should
be levied on British vessels arriving from the
colonies aforesaid. The British Government
retaliated, and charged in their colonies ton
mage duty of ga cents, and 20 per cent in addi-
ton to the duties: charges never made before.
Both our and their alien duties operate solely
as revenue; under which We pay ten where they
paw one The proclamation did not direct the
alien duties to be charged; and the collector of
Eastport did not charge them, (being advised
by counsel that he could nol) until he received
the Treasury circular. The Treasury charged
his account Herewith; and Congress relieved
him al the last session.
On the lst March, 1928, Congress passed an
act, reciprocating the act of Parliament, son
the condition that no higher or greater duties
ofimposts or tonnage Were imposed on vessels
Of the United States, than on vessels of their
own or other cargoes; and no other charges OF
any kind on the one, than on The other; giving
full authority to the President to issue procla-
nation conformably thereto" No proclama-
ton, however, has been issued; nor any step ia
ken, except in circular from the Treasury 10
the collectors, dated 25th. of August, 1928,
which simply confirms the payment of the alien
duties on British vessels entering from any Of
: the colonies aforesaid ! An open trade has con-
tinued ever since; and British vessels from these
colonies are admitted into the ports OF the Uni
ted States under the proclamation Of August,
1922, notwithstanding that the vessels of the
United States are subjected to higher duties Of
imposts and tonnage, than are payable by Brit
ish vessels.
Permit me to take view of the act of Par
lament, to see whether its operation is such as
to, ensure 10 British ships an undue proportion
of the carrying trade between the United States
and the colonies alluded to in the act.
That act opens to the vessels of the United
States certain ports in which certain specified
duties are charged on articles of the United
States, "whether the same be imported direc:
from the United States in British or American
vessels; or circuiiousiy in British vessels, from
the European possessions of Great Britain"
But no duty whatever is imposed on similar
articles, the produce, SC. &C. of Great Britain
or Ireland, or OF the North American colonies.
Thus he -four of Canada, Great Britain, and
ireland ,'and the lumber OF the colonies may be
imported free of duty.-The duty on barrel of
flour in Jamaica, is is o5, whic is equaIlo the
freight and insurance from any port IN the y.
States. 1t is probable, however, that the,
freight from Montreal and Quebec may cost
more In addition to this difference, our yes
sells nav the alien tonnage duty of ga cents;
charge of about 10 cents per barrel, which,
with the len per cent additional duty, makes
charge Of Isl cents per barrel on flour, when
imported in an American vessel, more than
would be payable, If imported in British YES
sci from the United States. Ii we had not
charged the alien duties, they would not have
imposed their retaliation; and the only thing
we could have complained OF, as to that article,
would have been, that the -four of Great Bri-
tain and oil Canada, is admitted duty free,
whilst ours paid S o5 per barrel. Great Bri-
tain, it is known, exports little of her own flour
to the West Indies, but actually supplies them
with our flour, which is imported into Liver
pool, and warehoused for expectation. The
Canadas can only export during six months in
the year; they actually export none to jamaica
The Islands are generally supplied from the
United States, either direct, or with our -four
from Nova Scotia or Great Britain, all paying
the same duties. If, then, we were relieved from
the alien duties Of impost and tonnage, there
eau be little doubt that our flour would go d.
rect; and that 2-3ds at least, perhaps 4ths
thereof would be carried in American vessels
Even under all these disadvantages, II is certain
that more than ten barrels Of flour are exported
TO the colonies, in American vessels, Tor one IN
British.
Lumber is charged with duties when from