Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1845-12-11

ca, is diihis day. bat the promulga,ion Of policy
which no European power should cherish the dis
position TO resist. Existing rights Of every Eu-
roopean nation should be respected but il is due
ailRe 10 our safety and odSnterests, that the eff
cient protection Of our laws should be extended
over our whole territorial limits, and that it
should be distinctly ANNOUNCED TO the world as
our settled policy, that no future European colony
or dominion shall, with our consent, be planted
or established on any part Of the North American
continent.
question has recently arisen under the tenth
artcle OF the subsisting treaty between the Uni
ted States and Prussia. by this article, the con-
suis OF the two countries, have the right to sit as
JUDGES and arbfirators"In such differences as may
arse between the captains and crews Of the YES.
sells belonging 10 the nation whose interests are
committed their charge, without the interference
oil The local authorities, unless the conduct of tho
crews or of the captains should disturb the order
or tranquility of the country or the sand consuls
should require their assistance to cause their de-
cisions to be carried into effect or supported. -
The Prussian consul at New Bedford, in June.
1914, applied to Mr.. Justice Story to carry into
effect a decision made by him between the cap.
tain and crew Of the Prussian ship Borussia; but
the request was refused. on the grouud that,
without previous legislation by Congress, the iuA
dietary did not possess the power to give effect to
this article OF the treaty. The Prussan Govern
ment, through their Minister here, have COM
planned of this violation of the treaty, and have
asked the Government of the United States to
adopt the necessary measures to prevent similar
violations hereafter. Good faith TO Prussia, as
well as to other nations with whom we have sim
liar Treaty stpulations, requires that these should
De faithfully observed. have deemed it proper,
therefore, 10 lay the subject before Congress- and
to Recommend such Legislation as may DO neces-
saIy to give effect 10 these treaty obligations.
by virtue Of an arrangement made between the
1 pt-oel,, a. Al IL.
States, in December, 1881, American vessels,
since the twenty-ninth Of April, 1882, have been
admitted to entry in the ports of Spain, including
those OF the Balearc and Canary islands, on payl
ment OF the same tonnage duty Of FIVE cents per
ton, as though they had been Spanish vessels,
and this, whether our vessels arrive in Spain d.
recty from the United States, or indirectly from
any other country. When Congress, by The act
OF The thirteenth of July, 1892 gave effect to this
arrangement between the two governments, they
confined the reduction of tonnage duty merely 10
Spanish vessels looming from port in Spain,"
leaving the former discriminating duty to remain
against such vessels coming from port in any
other country. 1t is manfestly unjust that,
whist American vessels, arriving in the ports Of
spain from other countries, pay no more duty
Than Spanish vessels, Spanish vessels arriving
In the ports Of the United States from other coun-
tries should be subjected to heavy discriminating
tonnage duties. This is neither equality nor re-.
ciprocity, and is in violation o. the arrangement
concluded in December, 1881, between the two
countries. The Spanish government have made
repeated and earnest remonstrances against this
inequality, and the favorable attention of Con-
gress has been several times invoked to the sub
Ject by my predecessors. recommend, as an
act OF Justice to Spain, that this inequality be
removed by Congress-, and that the discrimina.
un9 dulles which have been levied under the act
OF the thirteenth of July, 1882, on Spanish yes.
seis coming to the United States from any other
foreign country, be refunded. This recommen-
aation does not embrace Spanish vessels arriving
In me United States from Cuba aud Porto Rico,
which Will still remain subject to the provisions
Oh The act OF June thrtieth, 1884, concerning tom
nage-duty on such vessels.
by the act of the fourteenth of July, 1882, cot.
Ice was exempted from duty altogether. This
exemption was universal, without reference to
me country where it was produced, or the nation.
al character OF the vessel in which it was inn
ported. by the tariff act of the thirtieth of Au-
gust, 1912, this exemption from duty was re.
stricted to coffee imported in American vessels
from The place of its production; whilst coffee
imported under all other circumstances was SUBJ
Iected to duty of twenty per cent. ad yalorem.
Under this act and our existing treaty with the
king Of Netherlands, Java coffee imported from
'ne European ports Of that kingdom into the u
ni;ed States, whether in Dutch or American ves-
sells, now pays this rate OF duty. The govern
ment OF The Netherlands complains that such
discriminating duty should have been imposed
on coffee, the production of one of its colonies.
and which is chiefly brought from Java TO the
ports OF that kingdom, and exported from thence
10 foreign countries. Our trade with the Meth
erlands Is highly beneficial to both countries.
and our relations with them have ever been Of
the most friendly character. Under all the cir-
cumstances OF the case, i recommend that this
discrimination should be abolished, and that the
coffee oil Java imported from the Netherlands be
placed upon the same footing with that imported
directly from Brazil and other countries where it
is produced.
Under the eighth section Of the tariff act of the
thlftieth OF August, 1912, duty of fifteen cents
per gallon was imposed on Port wine in casks:
while, on the red wines Of several other coun.
tries, when imported in casks, duty Of only six
cents per gallon was imposed. This discrimina-
lion, SO Ear as regarded the Port wine of PortuI
gal, was deemed violation Of our treaty. with
that Power, which provides, that "No higher or
other duties shall be imposed on the Importation
into the United States Of America of any article
the growth, produce, or manufacture of the king.
dom and possessions of Portugal. than such as
are or shall be payable on the like article being
the growth, produce, or manufacture of any other
foreign country" Accordingly, to give effect to
the treaty, as well as to the intention of Congress-.
expressed in proviso to the tariff act ITSELF that
nothing therein contained should be so construed
as to Interfere with subsstiDg treaties with for
eign nations, treasury circular was issued on
the sixteenth Of July, 1914, which, among other
things, declared the duty on the Port wine of
Portugal, in casks, under the existing laws and
treaty, to be six cents per gallon, and directed
that The excess Of duties which had been coll
lected on such wine should be refunded. By
virtue Oh another clause in the same section Of
the act, 1t is provided that all limitations of Port.
or any other wines. 'shall be subject to the duty
provided for the genuine article" limitations Of
m Inn fnn,