The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-07-03
CIRCULAR SUPPLEMENTARY
TO COLLECTORS, NAVAL OFFICERS AND SURVEYORS.
Tredsuru Depdrt,nrpt

TO COLLECTORS, NAVAL OFFICERS AND SURVEYORS
Treasury Department.
First Comproller's office, June 22, 1889.
Sir-lnquries having been made of this De-
partment on the part of some of the Collectors
Of those districts to which registered whaling
vessels belong, relative TO the particular duties
and penalties to be imposed on such Of said
vessels and their cargoes as may return to port
without having the requisite papers in force, il
is found expedicnt that you should be inform
ed:
l. That il a whaling vessel came into port,
not having been enrolled and licensed, as by
the recent decision of Mr.. Justice Story. she
cannot be considered vessel entitled TO the
privileges of an American vessel employed in
the fisheries, you have no alternative but to
exact alien duty on the cargo, if it be subject
TO duty, according to the rates in force, and on
the tonnage of the vessel, that is to say, one
dollar per ton, being fifty cents per ton for ton
mage duty, and fifty cents per ton for light
money; the act of March 81, 1904, making the
collection of light money consequent on the
imposition of alien tonnage duty.
! >. That whaling vessel, under like cir
cumstances, is not considered subject to the
hospital tax, inasmuch, as the act of July l6.
/ 1898, imposes the tax only on the crew, Of YES
sells of the u. States, and the recent decision
OF Mr.. Justice Story also determining a regis
tered whaer not TO be such vessel in contem-
plSton of law, she is consequently exempt
! from the tax,
3. That the sixth section Of the act Of sth
February, 1898, in relation TO the enrolling
and licensing of vessels TO be employed in the
coasting trade or fisheries, having especial ref
erence TO the vessels found trading between dis
trict aud district, or between different place. in
the same district, it is the opinion Of this De-
partment, taking into view the proviso in the
fourth section OF the act Of March |, eighteen
hundred and seventeen, that a registered wbaI-
ing vessel does not come within the oper,tiop
OF the first mentioned section as respects the
forfeiture by sailing from one port of the Uni.
ted States TO another port thereof, With the
fruits OF her enterprise, say oil and bone. or
with such cargo as may have been taken in by
her at foreign port, for the purpose Of deliv-
e'ng the several portions OF said cargo accord
ing to its destination, but she will be liable To
tonnage duties and light money at every port of
arrival.
4. That although under these circums,,nee q,
registered vessel may readily avoid incurripe
forfeiture, the exsction Of alien duties. of
tonnage and impost being an inevitable conse-
quence OF the recent decision of Mr.. Justice
Story, Il is conceived tha; no officer of the
Government has right TO undertake the rc-
mission OF said duties, and therefore in such
cases, u roliet be sought, protest should be
hled, and application being made to Congress
to obtain u. the collection Of the duty bond,
will probably be postponed till Congress de-
cides.
D. That whaling vessels duly enrolled and
licensed, aud having permission to touch and