The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-01-26


vessel, entering on the same day, OF the same size aud
cargo. would pay precisely p9s43 rs leaving differ
enee OF ILLS between the TWO amounts which the two
vessels would have TO pay Therefore. when the Span
ish vessel clears from The port OF New York. the collector
there called upon levy and collect from her. before
she leaves ths OF l75, IN addition 10 all other e-
gal charges and this export duty upon the cargo, in adj
dion TO the tonnage duty, is called tonnage duty"
and amounts precisely 10 80 67a per ton upon every
Spanish vessel leaving the ports OF the United States
der similar circumstances. might go further with an
illustration OF every article OF commerce which enters into
The consumption OF that island but take the article of
Hour, because, IN the FIRST place. II Is article OF the
greatest necessity and enters largely into the consump-
ton OF the island and because, IN the second place. the
government of Spain powerless remit the dsermna-
ting duty on flour La Mancha and CASTLE have always
been great producers OF wheat aud IN the days Of Ger
proposition 10 the Spanish Coes to remit the dscmna-
ling duty on flour would meet with just about as much
favor would proposition at Lowell or Boston. TO
mil the duty all manufactures OF cotton
The act OF 1884 introduced. advocated and passed
reiaatoy and coercive measure, the object OF which
was TO bring Spain TO terms with us. goes further than
any OF reciprocity. That act imposed far greater
restrictions upon Spanish tonnage than Spain imposed
upon ours and just far exceed hers its opera
ton is yindctve and not reciprocal The Spanish colo
NAL duties chiefly ad Udf0rem they with the
exception OF the duty upon flour and few other ar
tces. The duty upon foreign merchandise, in Spanish
bottoms, varies from seventeen and quarter to twenty
and quarter per cent and upon the mefchan-
disc in foreign vessels, own included from twenty
four and quarter TO thirty three and quarter per CEN.
The difference is seven and nine per cents giving
discrimination of eight per cent favor of her own pro-
ductons against all the world besides Ii reciprocity
the only feature sought for by the act o 1884 this
discrimination OF eight per cent would be the limit OF
exacons upon the trade OF Cuba but such was not the
case.
Our tariff of ls42 levied discriminating duty upon
foreign merchandise in foreign vessels OF ten per cent
And collected not only this per cent but the eight
per cent, which the discrimination in Cuban against
u.s. Our discrimination, therefore, amounted TO eighteen
per cent? whereas that OF Cuba against US was but eight
per cent Let me give another illustration Our tariff OF
1916 eves duty OF twenty per cent upon Cuba coffee
in Spanish bottoms, while in American vessels is free
In this case our discrimination against Cuba is TWEEN
tyelght per cent? whilst hers against US is but eight per
| cent
| have already noticed the fact that Spanish vessels
clearing from the United States for Spain, give bond
double the value oil the vessel and cargo that por-
ton OF that cargo will be landed in Cuba Porto Rico
Spanish vessels coming into ports take much OF our
cotton. large quantity OF cotton is consumed in
Spain in manufactures there, and from thence returned
to Cuba The average value OF Spanish vessels and
cargoes clearing for Spain from shores may be est
mated at $3.50, 900. Double the value OF the vessel and
would be and s 81 every SIG
amount before she is suffered TO depart from shores
is part OF the business OF factor ships con-
sgnep 70 sign bond Of this chaIacte, ana peril ms Tor
ly undertaken but for commission OF from one to two
and hal per cent Superadded therefore, 10 the din
Guilty of ship~masters getting persons 10 sgn the bond
for him. there is the actual loss Of commission OF from
three thousand dollars upon cargoes which go 10
Old SPAIN The act OF 1884, though vRdictve IN its
character was never designed reach the trade between
the United States and the mother country; but by its
operation here how it embarrasses it, Vessels
bound TO Cuba, having no connexion with that island
whatever, called upon 10 sustain this loss
There still another feature oil the act OF 1884 much
odous in its character than any 10 which have ad
verted, and one WHICH strikes at Spanish PRIDE and
creates more hostility OF feeling against in the island of
Cuba han any legislation which has ever been had by
government Under the act OF 1884, our egacllons
upon Spanish tonnage not fixed and stable They
not made to depend upon the amount oil restrictions mat
Spain places upon US; upon the favor which she extends
10 her own shipping, and creations upon Spanish tom
mage increase inst in proportion Spain rel,cpes il from
restrictions TO illustrate this permit me to put this IL
ustraion Let suppose that American, lld al other
foreign vessels Cuba, pay Two dollars pet ton ton
mage duty, and Spanish vessels pay but one doar The
discrimination between them Is dollar, and this dollar
collected The Spanish tonnage before clears from
the United States But il SPAIN still 10 benefit her
commerce and encourage her shipping interests, shall
think proper oreeve i entirely from duty, she does not
increase our duty, but the DISCRIMINATORY becomes
two dollars instead OF She has not put any ors
duty upon our tonnage, but has relieved her own
Now, under this act OF 1884, we would be called upon
in such case to collec. two dollars instead OF one from
Spanish tonnage because she has relieved her
sells 10 that extent What is this but manifest decar
alton 10 Span: "You have no merchant marine you
seeking build il up but every attempt you make 10
relieve your tonnage of single dollar "il be counter,
acted by putting II before they leave the C...Rd
States" In this light has the action OF the Awercan
government been viewed by Spain. In this light has
every enlightened merchant and official of the island OF
Cubs regarded it. 1t is not regarded-and say il con-
fdently--as commercial regulation but al
tempt deal deah-blow at SPANS effort TO favor her
merchant marine at all will ask the Secretary TO read
from official Spanish paper, OF which ! have made
here liberal translation II is extract from the
port OF the Fiscal" TO the captain-geneal OF Cuba 1884,
part second No 49, pages ATS 10 2s7, and No 81 pages
2s3 TO 29l.
The Secretary accordingly read as follows:
To show the injustice Of the measure (aluding TO the
OF lSs4 let compare the imports OF the 40 coun
tries, CUBA and the United Staes Our vessels coming
from and one.f fourth twentyone and
fourth and those OF the Americans, with the
cargoes from tweniour and opeiounh TO thirty and
fourth per the difference between the two Is tom
seven to nine per cent, giving mean difference OF eight
cent-(p. 2S3
'sThe govern ment Of the Union has the ndisputabe
right to exercise equal discrimination upon our vessels to
theirs and the produc OF their country have all
other but has IL done by the enactment of this
law no May IL please your exceiency, the America
government has said that ia addition the contributions
common TO other vessels those Of Spain engaged in the
trade OF Cuba and Porto Rico shall pay additional duty
equal to the difference imposed in these Islands between ma
tona and American vessesthat is say II foreign yes
sells in United States twenty per more than
American vessels those OF the Islands dheten
al duty Of twenycght per cont, duty which augments
in proportion decrease the burdens imposed on
vessels though do increase OF the Amer
can ysssels.-(psges 2S3 "a
In other words, II please ercellency, II is
equivalent the declaration Of the American government
of his Majesty in vain you thnk tprrotect your
shipping, the oil the public because
much you tighten your burdens upon H. Just so
rights Of nations hardly be conceived the part OF
great and liberal government and still less that IL should
be tolerated by Spain Ibid.
This violation is more fragrant and manifest as 1t re-
spects expectations As 10 inpoftaons, u Is very well 10
levy equal (not deen duties upon cagoes imported into
both nations recprocay, because the productions Of the