Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-02-20
MIfTETEENTa CONGRESS.
SECOND SESSION.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY l3.

Union, MIR. Bartett in the Chair, on the bill "a
exempt Swedish and Norwegian vessels and car
goes from discriminating duties
The bill WAS read by sections.
MI. Forsyth said he should be clad TO know
why any legislation in this case was necessary,
further than to return the duties that had already
oeen paid since the expiration of the treaty. The
act OF 1924 placed Swedish vessels on the sam.
footing with our own, and he could not see wha,
more necessary
Mr.. Iomlinson, Chairman of the Committee
OF Conmerce,) said that the committee had
considered this case as not coming within the ex
press provisions OF the act of 1924, and hence
the necessity for legislation. The treaty with
Sweden had expired in September last, and on its
exp ration, the discriminating duties suspended by
II revived OF cou Sc. They had been abolished by
'he treaty, bnt, when that treaty expired, the Go
vernment of Sweden, through liz Charge des AT
iaifes iiere had Informed this Gov that Swe
ien would CONTINUE TO observe all the provisions OF
The former treaty Till treaty could be formed
Inc act OF 1874 was prospectve, bu, this case
dii nSt tall strictly within its terms. Hence the
subject had been referred by the President OF the
United States to the consideration of Congress
under The belief II Is presumed, that legislation
was necessary. The stipuations OF The ,ieaty ex-
tended to the Colon, of ST. Barlholo,ne vs. and
provided that there should be reciprocity, ami
equ'ity OF duie bet cen vessels owned not omly
by citizens OF the mother county, but also by the
IL was doubted whether The act of 1921 embraced
th's 'ase. In our existing relations with aaother
government, IN respect TO The Colonial trade il
was Important that this point should be Tut be-
yond doub. and that Swedish vessels from he
Island of St. Bars should be admitted into The II
STATES Tree ION discriminating duties, in order TO
secure TO Our vessels like privilege in that Island
AS congress was in session, it was, by the com.
mit'ee, deemed expelient that the suspending Of
The law should he The act OF Congress rather Than
the art o: the Executive.
Mr. For-yth said, he was entirely sat,fied by
me explanation OF the gentleman fsom Connecti-
CUT and he would now offer an amendment, in
the form OF n new section 10 the BILL
" Sec. ). .4ad be IL further enacted. That 50
"iueh o. me act concering navigate and of the
acts imposing duties of tonnage or impost on YES
sells, and articles impor ell in vessels into the L
>. as are contrary 10 The provisions of the treaty
ostween the United Safes and the Kingdom OF
denmark. the ratfcations whereof were ex-
changed on the lOth day of August, 1896, shall
be from and after the dare uf the ratification of
the said Convention, and during The continuance
thereof, deemed and taken TO be of 10 force or
eHec,.''
The President Of he Uuirel States hal sent 10
The House two other Treaties, one With Denmark.
and the other with the Republic of Central A
merlca hese Treaties siipulate for an al; eraiion
IN the Navigation laws o! the U. ). the laws Of
Tonnage and lnposIs. lie did not see that the
Committee c. Commerce represented to The House,
any proposition for an act of legislation on This
sntject, and yet both of these Treaties were now
IN course of execution. The Navigation Law
oil the country was openly disregorded as well az
the laws Imposing discriminating duties Now
according 10 solemn decision by the House OF
Representatives, the power 10 suspend these laws
does not belong TO the President of the u. S. He
cannot alter the commercial laws of the eountry,
imposing duties and imposts, without ;Ls consent
OF this House. This matter had long since been
soIemnly argued, and detinitiyely settled If the
amendment which had now been offered should
pc adopted by The House, he would then offer
another, ter the execution OF the other Treaty
MI Nuits said, that he had examined the treaty
referred to, that It's provisions full and ex-
piic, and If it were duly ratified, there could be
no need of legislation
MIR. Forsyth, in reply, said, that The Treaty
might be ever so explicit, yet he demanded " neither
any Treaty could abolish taxes aud imposts with
out the intervention Of the House OF Representa-
tives? The House had already deliberately and
solemnly decided that, while the Obligation. of !
Treaty were not disputed, where the execution oil
that Treaty involved powers committed to tbi.
HouIe by Inc Constitution, it could NOT be
ed iii HE House exerteJ those powers.
MIR. nrts replied. that if ia B., poin, was &c
be considered as settled, he should have no ob
jeetions TO the amendment Legislation co,,la Il,
no harm; but his own opinion differed a. 10 il.
necessity.
Mr.. Powell .aid, That he should ike 10 know
what was the practical operation oil Tie laws un
der this treaty.
Mr.. Tomiinson said, that he earnestly hcped the
gentlemen from Georgia oUld not press his a
mendn.ent. If legislation were necessary in res
peci 10 the two treaties he had mentioned he
| hoped the gentleman, would introduce the inca.
sure in some o her way. All agreed that hi. bill
was necessary, ard it very desirable that /;
should pass both Houses without long discussion
As to The necessity Of legislation carry treat,
INTO effect, every one knew that IL was di.iuiel
question between the two branches OF CONGRESS-
This question agiiat ed in the year 1SiG Ia re-
iaiion to the convention with Great Britain and a
difference of opinion existed in tie respective
Houses regarding 1t. Subsequent piaeiire had not
CONFIRMED 20 the course then adopted. The treaty
with Sw had been executed thr0uShon Tie
whole period offs Duration itbout any act Of Con.
sress suspending the discriminating dgie.. treat
~, duly ratified, becomes by The COnsti.u ;ion the
supreme law oftbe laad Wherever, iodec an ap-
preparation - necessary 90 carry iato effect uec The
House must act: for no appropriation can be made
without the exercise OF ITS constitutional power
I over the public purse. Bui where uesiy, by It's
terms, expressly peods cedsin laws O: gres-,
as soon as IL - ratified. thOse laws are ipsO faclO
suspended No bill, since 1916, Mr.. T. SAID, had
within his recollection, been reported BY The Com
miiiee Of Foreign Relations, fot any such purpose,
and be hoped the gentleman from Gforgia would
not no% embarfass or endanger The passage Of this
bill, by insisting his amenlmeni, and thereby
feviving question as TO tie extent of the treaty.
making power, which would doubtless occasion
much debate, not only here. but In TIE other branch
OF Congress. a. le had before sised, Immediately
after this treaty expired, The Government Of Swe
den announced that ii would continue TO comply
with It's provisions until new treaty could ts