New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-17

A Waehlngt0n telegram announces CnAt
the Secretary OF tho Treasury has issued
the necessary instructions to collectors Of
customs, under tho reciprocity treaty with
tho Hawaiian government. Whstever the
purport of these regulations may be, they
can be Of but little consequence to the ports
Of the Atlantic coast, they being entirely too
far removed to compete for either inward
or outward trade with the port Of San Fran
cisco, on the Pacific, to whose chief benefit
the treaty will innure.
It is true that the list of articles of the
''growth or manufacture" of the United
States entitled to free entry in the Hawaiian
islands is quite large and can be drawn
from nearly all parts of the United States.
The sugar refneres at San Francisco will
enjoy an exceptional advantage by draw
ing their supplies of raw material from
these islands free from any duty whatever,
while those engaged in the refining busi-
ness on the Atlantic and at St. Louis
will be obliged to draw their supplies from
p'aces not enjoying the benefit of such
muui6cent exemption. For after examining
these treaties We find that even in those
containing the reciprocity CLAUSE, ITO be
put on footing with the most favored ma
tion," the meaning and scope of these i'm
piled advantages but are limited.
The New York Journal of Commerce. in
. recent article, gave . full copy Of the
Hawaiian treaty, and commented at le4gth
on the existing treaties now in force with
the various foreign powers.
It ssys that "Spain," from which our re-
fneries draw the largest supplies of raw
sugars, has no treaty providing for imports
from all Spanish possessions on the footing
of the most favored nation, and, therefore,
all claim to free entry for sugars from Cuba
and the Spanish West Indies are shut out,
no treaty stipulations applying to them.
In like m amer, sugars from the British
West Indies are excluded, for the restric.
ton a. to higher rates of duty than the
"most favored" etc., apply only to "her
British Msiesty's possessions in Europe.''
and especially leaves out the West Indies
and British possessions In North America.
Belgium has treaty which prohibits any
other or higher duties on Belgian products
thsn are laid on similar goods from any
other foreign country. The treaties with
Sweden and Norway aud Russia have SIM
liar provisions. The treaty with France
contains new and special condition. 1t
provides that no favor in respect to COM
meroe and navigation shall be granted to
any other nation which shall not 81 once
become common to that country, whose
people shall erjoy it freely if granted free
ly, or enjoy it by alltw wing the same com.
pensation if the concession was conditional.
Under this treaty, therefore. France must
grant the same reciprocity in reference to
American products mentioned in the Ha-
waiian treaty in order to obtain the con-
cession.
80 much on the subject Of treaties. An
other fAw is supposed to exist in the fact
that by this commercial treaty San Fran
cisco, from Its proximity to the Hawaiian
islands, will be the only port benefited,
whereas by the constitution Of the Uuited
States NO advantage can be given BY any
regulation Of commerce or navigation to
one port over another.
A there are large interests involved in
this question, 1t is quite probable that the
courts will soon be called upon to pronounce
on tho legality of the treaty. The treaty
itself states plainly that tho schedule Of ar-
ticles shall be admitted FREQ into all the
ports of the United States, and the question
will be. viii the courts hold that. inasmuoh
40 the Atlantic ports Of the United States
in consequence of their disadvantageous
situation, geoRrsphically-can not partici-
pate in the advantages to be derived from
tho treaty recently concluded with the
Hawaiian government, the treaty itself Is
violative Of section nine of article ono Of
the constitution Of the United States.
In the meantime the importers here, in
New York, and other Atlantic ports. enter
their cargoes and pay duties under protest
and will, no doubt. continue to do so until
decision 10 reached.
In conclusion, We give here schedule Of
articles entitled to free entry in the United
States:
For and in consideration Of the rights and
privileges granted By bic majesty tho King
of tho Hawaiian Islands in tho next ouo
ceeding article Of this convention, and a