The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-09-19

on extending the time in order TO procure this cession
Oh the property and OF the jurisdiction to the United
Slaes, where these public works should be made have
traced these extensions far 1902, under Mr. Jefer-
son, when hnd that act passed appropriating
$4,000 Tor The improvement OF The Delaware river by
piers and other works, on the condition contained in this
pTosiso;
Provided. That the jurisdiction Of the site where any
ia piers may be erected shall be first ceded 10 the United
yidsd." y ~
In the early history Of this policy of river and habor
improvements, II the universal and invariable condi-
ton that The site should be surrendered by the States to
the United States. ia order that Congress might exercise
jurisdiction over The work and the land appended to it,
unnecessary for me to remind the Senate that we have
become more lax on the subject until we go making
appropriations for Tor PIERS and for barbos
and for all similar works, without cession of jurisdiction
by the States 10 The federal government refer to this TO
show that have been departing from the doctrine OF
fathers by emitting all the precautions that they adopted
without ever establishing any system based upon any
principle that should be satisfactory and uniform, and
cadns Qiher experiments inconsistent with such sys-
tenn While these river and harbor appropriations have
been made by Congress from time to time, being very
small during the fret quarter of century Of the govern
men perhaps 100000 or $4,000 year. and within the
last hall century running up al period to 81 900 900
81 900 900 annually and then abandoned entirely Tor
the last twelve years-whe this practice has been
going favore places, which have been vgiant, and
persevered in applications, have been able to obtain the
special privilege OF levying tonnage duties will call
your attention to some OF these acts, To show how par
lia and unfair and unequal. this legislation has been
with reference 10 the different portions of the Union. In
1890 passed declaring the assent Of Congress
to certain acts in The States OF Maryland, Georgia. and
| Rhode Island and the Providence Plantations.
| will read one OF these acts:
BE IL enacted by the Senate and House of Rpresenafivcs
of the Ustted States of dnertca Coagress assembled
That the consent Of Congress be- and Is hereby declared
the operation OF the acts OF the several States herein
after mentioned far the relate to the levying
duty tonnage OF ships aud vessels for The purposes
hefen mentioned until the l0,h day of January next-hai
is TO say OF the general assembly of the State Of
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, their session
held in January 1870, enuded An acto incorporate
hvI Iba oi CmD
in OF Proydence and for other purposes therein
men.ioaed and also an acs Of The genss assembly za. OF
tied An appointing wardens for the port Of Baltimore
town. in baltimore ooaay as also another act Of the gen,
Novembe, 1888 entitled "A supplement- 10 the act entitled
an appointing waden for the port OF Baltimore, in Bal
pore county and also OF the State of Georgia, Tor
levyng and appropratng duty on tonnage Tor the pnr
pose OF clearing the river Savannah and removing the
wrecks and other distinctions therein"
This act was passed the 11h of August 1870. only
the second year OF the government under the present
constitution conferred upon three States OF the Union
the right of evylng tonnage duties for the improvement
of and ve for II so happened that In the acts
OF the three States referred to- there two harbos pro-
yided for specially, and two rivers also provided for
The act last only for one year, showing that Con-
gess had at that time determined fully any system
to be adopted. They adopted II as temporary expe
dent uitil some regular system should be devised.
La lT90 act OF Congress was passed 10 renew the
existence of this last act or one year, and until the end
OF the session of Congress next thereafter. In l79l,
again Congress declared its assent 10 a single TO the
State oil Maryland, which another act Tor the benefit
of The port of Baltimore allowing that city to levy ton
mage duties for the improvement OF the harbor.
Mr.. BUTLER. The city of Baltimore or the State Of
Mr.. DOUGLAS The city Of Baltimore The State
had conferred authority the city; and Congress gave
their assent ac OF Maryland authorizing the city
levy tonnage duties for the benefit OF the port OF Bat
more In 1892 Congress passed act again newing
this consent that Maryland, and Rhode Island, and Geo
ga should levy tonnage duties for the improvement oil
harbors and rivers specified within the limits OF those
States. This act was 10 continue Tor period OF three
years In i7g4 again an act was passed conseaing that
Maryland might levy tonnage duties for The purpose OF
defying the expenses OF the health officers OF the port
OF Baltimore. and perhaps one or two other ports in that
State.
Ii will be seen that the votes OF Congress consen,ng
that the States may levy these tonnage duties begin with
harbo and rivers, and then improving channels and then
for health officers for port-al connected with nayga
lon, and strictly within the spirit and language OF the
debates of the convention forming the constitution which
have read showing that the object OF the mage du
Ties was to give means TO protect navigation.
In 1925 act passed 10 continue in force for
limited time the acts therein mentioned !" and by il the
OF the Stale Of Maryland continued for lin
tied period In 1895 act passed TO continue ton
mage duties for the port OF Baltimore In 1896 it was
again extended for Maryland, Georgia, and Rhode Island
for evyng tonnage duties for The Improvement OF rivers
and harbors In 1898 another act passed extend
the tonnage duties of Maryland for the health officers at
her ports In l79S another act passed giving the
sen; OF Congress TO act OF the legislature OF the Com
wealth OF Massachusetts, entitled /" TO incorpo
rate Tobias Lord, Oliver Keang Thatcher Goddard and
others for the purpose OF keeping in repair pier at the
mouth OF kennebunk river" In 1900 another act was
passed in relation TO Maryland and Georgia and in 1901
in regard 10 Maryland. In 1904 passed de-
cang the assent OF Congress the act Of the general
assembly Of Virginia, entitled an act for improving the
navigation OF James river"
BY this time you will that the consent OF Congress
for tonnage duties had become pretty frequent and gen
eral throughout the seaboafd States In 1905 consent
also gwen 10 extend the tonnage duties OF the port
Of Baltimore. In lSU6 the consent OF Congress was
granted TO declare in operation the act OF the legislature
OF passed in April OF that year. TO empower
the board of wardens for the port Of Philadelphia TO col
eci duties tonnage for the purposes therein
toned so far to enable the State of Pennsylvania
to collect duty oil four cents ton all vessels which
shall clear from the port OF Philadelphia for any for
piers 10 and otherwise improving the navigation OF the
liver Delaware Here il will be remarked that the ION
nage dsties in this act confined 10 foreign
merce In acts the duty is 10 be gen.
orally, in others upon foreign commerce but all for the
Improvement Of rivers and harbors.
In 1900 the consent of Congress given TO the opera
ton Of act OF the general assembly OF South Carolina
10 authorize the city council OF Charleston with the con-
sent OF Congress- to impose aud levy duty not exceed
ing SIX cents per ton, all ships and vessels Tor pur
poses therein mentioned /" which for the improve.
ment OF the harbor OF Charleston In 1s0S an act
passed 10 revive and continue force The previous
mage duties In 1909 act was passed to extend the
consent to South Carolina for tonnage duties for the bar
Dor OF Charleston.
SO on they have been continued down to the present
time. do mol intend To go through them all will
only state that you will find consent given for tonnage
duties for rivers and harbors Maryland, Pennsylvania
Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Ala.
Since have been in Congress several acts OF this kind
have passed One in ISd3 ecolleci, for the port of