The Portland daily press., 1875-04-02

others-Committee to go TO Washington,
There was a full meeting Of the Board of
Trade yesterday morning, which was called
for the purpose oe considering the resolutions
of the Merchants Exchange relative to the
new treasury regulations for sealed cars, which
is attracting so much attention and are SO
great a cause of alarm to our shippers. The
resolutions of the Merchants Exchange were
read, which formally request the Board OF
Trade to send Committee to Washington and
with the aid of whatever members of Congress
may be present, use every effort to secure the
resembling of the recent regulations respecting
sealed cars.
Hon. C. HI. Haskell remarked that ex-Con-
gressmen Lynch was familiar with the history
of this whole subject, and moved that he be
appcinted chairman of any committee sent to
Washington.
Hon. John Lynch thought there was no
doubt but that the matter could be satisfactorily
arranged Secretary Bristow, he knew to be
the last one who would embarrass trade when
the case was laid before him. The change was
brought about by the customs officers of Island
Pond acting upon Vermont Congressman.
There had been an effort for years to secure
the present regulations, but every Secretary
had refused to sanction them when the whole
case was put forth.
John Rand, ESQ.,, stated the embarrassments
which the Grand Trunk suffered from these
new regulations and that the officials were
considering the matter of requesting the Brit
20 hnl
grievances to the United States authorities.
Cyrus S. Clark, Esq, being called upon, stated
briefly the embarrassments of the new regula-
tions. Not only were lumber laden cars de-
tanned, but the cars were so forwarded that the
entry fees were more than four times as much
as under the old system.
T. c. Hersey, Esq, moved that message be
sent to Collector Washburn, inviting him to at
tend the meeting and explain the whole matter
The motion was unanimously carried Suisse
ouently Gov. Washburn came in, and in a
clear and elaborate manner set forth the whole
history of the regulations for sealed cars and
the attempts from time to time to bring about
the present system. He said he could only
give the history of the matter and the positions
taken by the revenue officers without any at
tempt to controvert them. He began by say
ing that before the war there was little trouble
with the laws regulating the export and transit
of goods from Canada TO The United States;
but the high duty during the war made more
stringent laws and regulations necessary. Rail
roads were required to unload cars and take
minnie account of contents If this is done at
Island Pond the delay must be very embar-
rassing as it requires two days to unload and
reload car. Sometimes 100 cars arrive at
Island Pond in. one day. Such an operation
would ruin business, and was, in fact, impos-
sible Consequently officers could only certify
that such an examination had been made. BY
this means frauds were perpetrated. The sys-
TEN Of sealing was devised, the seals being
made by our consular agents in Canada, with
an invoice of the contents of each car. Thus
sealed. the cars intended either for consump-
ton within the States or for expectation, were
allowed to go to their port of destination. The
numbers, marks and contents of cars were
taken at Island Pond, and such manifests sent
to this city and compared with the originals,
and no frauds. upon the revenue had been dis
covered or complained of. 1t was perfect
system and the same as is carried on in all the
rivers of the seaboad where ships having dutia-
BILE goods are allowed to pass by the first port
of entry to the one further up the river to
which the vessels are destined. This railroad
transit was safer than that by water.
Nevertheless the revenue officials at Island
Pond has thought it better to insist that en-
tries should be made there, and for years have
labored to briug about that system. Once they
succeeded, but it stood but nine days: Last
fall the attempt was renewed.
Gov. Washburn then proceeded to explain
the constant annoyance of the new regulations.
Now articles for. consumption can only come
through without detention at Island Pond. He
said that parties interested in Canadian bust
ness, the steamship lines, railroads, ETC., COM
planned that the recent regulations discriminate
against their business, which they claim is pro-
tected by the Treaty of Washington. as fol-
lows:
SIT is agreed that for the term of years men
toned in article xxxili Of this treaty, goods,
wares and merchandise arriving at the ports OF
New York. Boston and Portland, and any 9th
er ports in the United States which have been
or may. from time to time, be specially deslg-
mated by the President of the United States,
North Anoericd, may be entered at the proper
custom house and conveyed IN transit, without
the payment of duties, through the territory OF
the United States, under such rules regulations
and conditions for the protection OF the revenue
as the government of the United States, may
from time to time prescribe; and under like
rules, regulations and conditions, goods, wares
and merchandise may be conveyed IN transit,
without the payment of duties, from such DOS
sessions through the territory of the United
&C., 4 - &nn
United States.
Gov. W. observed that in the first instance
the goods must pass through the territory of
the U. s. after entry, while in the second case
they must pass through this country before en-
try and be entered for export at one of said
ports, viz, New York, Boston or Portland,
sfor export" The rules and regulations 10 the
second case relate not to an entry at Island Pond
for no entry is to be made there but to transit
through the territory of the U. S. to zone OF
said ports and to the export Chat is to say
gentry for export'') which the treaty says shall
there be made. The Canada people say that
no words can more distinctly express the intent
of the treaty, viz, to preserve the rights they
enjoyed ander the regulations existing at the
time the treaty was made-1o7l.
Portland merchants, too, complained thai
the regulations would interfere with them be-
cause it frequently happened that they wanted
to sell a part of a car load or invoice here and
export the balance. They could not tell wher
the merchandise was shipped what part would
he disposed of in either way, If they paid du
ties on the whole, they lost their money, and
it was entered for export it could not be other
wise disposed of. In short all parties suffered
He appreciated all the embarrassmcnts ant
dangers. and wished the board to understant
hat he would do all to relieve them that was
compatible with his duty to the government.
After further remarks, Hon. G. ii. Haskell
offered preamble setting forth the grievance
of the various parties interested, followed will
the subjoined resolutions, which were unani
mously adopted:
! ReSolved, First, That this Board readily re