The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1845-12-19

u
Netherlands be placed upon the
same footing withthat imported di-
rectly from Brazil and other COIN
tric. where it is produced.
Under the Sth section of the Tar
if act of the 30th Of August, 1912,
a duty Of 10 cents per gallon was
imposed on Port wine i'll casks,
while on the red wine of several
other countries, wien imported in
casks, a duty Of only e cents per
gallon was imposed. --ThiS diScrin-
nation. so far as regarded the Port
wines Of Portugal, was deemed d
violation of our treaty with that pow
er, which provides, that mo higher
or other duties Shall be imposed on
the importationS into the United
States of America Of any article the
growth, produce or manufacture OF
the kingdom and possessions Of Por-
tugal, than such as are. or shall be
( payable ON the like article being the
growth, produce or manufacture OF
any other foreign country" Ac-
cordinely, to give effect to the trea-
t., as well as to the intention of Con-
grcss, expressed in proviSo TO the
tariff act itself, that nothing therein
contained should be so construed IS
to interfere with SubsiSting treaties
with foreign nations, treasury cir
cular was issued on the 10th day of
July, 1915, which, among other
things, declared the duty on the Port
wine in Portugal, in casks, under
the existing laws and treaty, to be 6
cents per gallon, and directed that
excess Of duties which had been col
lcctcd on such wine should be rcfun-
ded. By virtue of another clause
in the same section of the act, it is
provided that all limitations of port.
or any other wines, "Shall be sub
ject to the duty provided by the gen
uine article. foundations of Port
wine, the productions Of France, are
imported to some extent into the
United States, and the government
OF that country now claim That, I'M
der correct construction Of the act.
these limitations ought not to pay a
higher duty than that imposed upon
the original Port wine of Portugal.
1t appears TO me to be unequal and
unjust, that French limitations Of
Port wine should be subjected to a
duty of 10 cents, while the more
valuable article from Portugal should
pay a duty of 6 cents per gallon. !
therefore recommend to Congress
such Legislation as may be necessary
to correct the inequality.
The late President in his annual
message of December last recon-
mended an appropriation to satisfy
the claims of the Texan government
against the L. States, which had
been previously adjusted, so far as
the powers of the Executive extern
ded. These claims arose out of the
act Of disarming a body OF Texan
troops under the command of Major
Snively, by an officer in the service
of the United States, acting under
the orders of government; and the
iorclbIe entry into the custom-house
at Bry arly's landing, on Red River,
by certain citizens of the United
States, and taking away therefrom
the goods seized by the collector of
the customs as forfeited under the
laws Of Texas. This was liquida-
ted debt, ascertained TO be due to
Texas when an Independent State.
Her acceptance OF the terms of an
neXation proposed by the United
States does not discharge or invali-
date the claim. recommend that
provision be made for its payment.
The Commissioner appointed to
China during the special session of
the Senate during March last, short
ly afterwards set out on his mission
in the United States ship Columbus.
On arriving at Rio de Janeiro on
his passage, the state of his health
had become so critical, that, by the
advice of his medical attendants, he
returned to the United States early
in the month of October last. Com
modore Biddlc commanding the East
India squadron, proceeded on his
voyage in the Columbus, and was
charged by the Commissioner with
the duty of exchanging with the pro-
per authorities the ratification of the
treaty lately concluded with the EN-
peror Of China. Since the return
of the Commissioner to the United
States, his health has been much i'm
proved and he entertains the conf
dent belief that he will soon be able
to proceed on his mission.
Unfortunately differences contin-
ne to exist among some of the ma
tons Of South America, which fol-
lowing our example, have establish
ed their independence, while in 9TH
ers eternal dissensions prevail. lii s.