The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-11-02
The spanish Tonnage Controversy.

The spanish Tonnage Controversy.
lit seems that there are two sides to the tom
mage controversy with Spain. A gentleman
who represents that his firm has done business
d New York journal presenting the American merle N
side pretty forcib.y. Hs says that American
vessels going to Cuba pay there 81 ss per regis.
ter ton, beside war taxes and eonsuFs fees"
He further states that the american vessels
trading with Spain pay tonnage tax OF 50
thera, and 40 cents gold for every ton brought
away" This is in addition to special dues in
certain ports and to consuls charges in New
Yorkfsfn the case OF over vessel clearing OF So
for the first fifty tons, and 10 cents Tor every
additional ton carried to Spain. The same gen.
tleman says that the government expenses on
q vessel of $50 to 500 tons in old Spain may be
averaged at $1,000 gold for full cargo in and out.
IL these statements are true, it Is pretty clear
cials have little reason. for establishment and
Indignation ut the levying of q 50-cent ton
mage duty on Spanish vessels
How They DO 1t In New York.
Mr.. Fitch. Registrar in Bankruptcy for New
York-an abstract of whose re. ort we gave
yesterday-thus speaks of the nefarious practice
OF insolvent merchants Of that city,
Fl has become almost The universal practice in
this city for merchants. knowing themselves to
be insolvent and bankrupt to purchase mer-
chandise to u large amount. make fictitious
debts to friends, and then execuye n general
assignment to some personal friend, who lakes
possession Of the effects and Continues the bust
y ness the assignor remains in the store or place
of business as usual. and contin nes to live in
style upon the proceeds. At the expiration OF
six months their friends unite and put them
into involuntary bankruptcy. from which they
are discharged. and tnelr general creditors do
not receive any dividend whatever. The assig-
nee,under the State law has one year before any
creditor can commence a suit against him. Such
suit must be brought in the county court by
petition. Issue is formed, refer 90 appointed
and n regular trial had, with a bill of costs OF
$500 or more upon each trial or proceeding
SIS Such state of affairs so discourages
creditors that they give UP their claims. and let
the State assignee keep the property and pay
out what scant plttance he may see fit.
Louisiana and the sandwich Islands.
A few months ago when the reciprocity treaty
between the United States and the Sandwich
Islands was passed. or rather confirmed, by
4 Congress. there was, an immense amount OF
speculation INDUCED in as to the probable re-
suits Of the same. Many expressed tn eonvie-
the fs e. Mo Of this State mas
much as it admitted free Of duty the article OF
sugar from those, islands, where the cane is
sions struck us at the time as being utterly fan
ciful and groundless, for We know that If every
acre OF ground in the State OF Louisiana could
De planted IN cane the demand for consump-
ton in the West alone would give us markets
f1r oa every Ri pound a., OF sugar we could pro-
would be imported solely to supply the
demand in California and the Pacific Coast. to
which we in Louisiana do not contribute a
these imported sugars across the Continent to
St Louis and other cities of the valley to enable
them, NOTWITHSTANDING the free duty, to COM
Hete in price with our sugars. Owing TO their
Great distance from our Pacific Coast and other
causes which ii is unnecessary to mention now
our trade with those islands is comparatively
insignificant We see by a recent Statement
that this has been during the present year
somewhat augmented the increase being attri-
buted largely to the reciprocity treaty Accord
ing to this authority the imports from the
United States into those islands for the yeaI
ending September 9, 1877, We're in value 81, 545.
1856. against s771 4o7 during the same. period OF
1876 and S9i7 26O in 1875 This certain ly is not
very formidable showing
The Silk Trade.
IN. Y Tribune, Oct. al
The manufacturers of silk have suffered Sc
verely from the general depression OF trade
and also from speculative movements. DlSaS-
trous failures at Lyons and other places have re.
suited, Referring to this subject, member of
large importing firm on Lispenard street said
to a Tribune reporter: The failures among the
silk manufacturers of Lyons have been heavy
and will doubtless aggregate millions of dol
lars. They have been brought about chiefly bI
speculative spirit on the part of the manufac
turers, who bought largely OF raw silk, which
afterwards suffered decline OF about 90 pei
cent. When the speculation began. goods were
forced up on a supposed short crop and an ex
tensiye American demand. The prices were
advanced 50 rapidly. and manufae
tured goods were held at SO higf
figure. that CONSUMPTION fell off and alm0s
entirely ceased. Meanwhile the stock accumu-
lated and under the pressure 10 sell there was
asari0us decline. The Russian war broke ouI