The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1880-09-04
The Ho Chung,

CHICAGO, AUG. 15-The Inter-Ocean's Wash
ingt6n special says that the only information the
State Department has received Of China's new de-
parture in allowing her subjects TO engage in foreign
commerce was contained in a letter received by the
Secretary of State on Tuesday last, the substance Of
which was Immediately communicated to the Treas
ury Department. The letter of Evarts was as fol-
lows The representatives of the Government of
China at this capital have advised this Department
that the Chinese screw steamer Ho Chung, the first
steamer under the Chinese flag entering an Ameri-
can port. is soon expected to arrive in San Francisco,
and in order to prevent any misunderstanding IN re-
gard to the duties or other charges, l have the honor
to request, at the instances of Chin Ian Pin and
Yung Wing, Chinese Representatives as above, that
proper instructions may be issued to the customs
authorities of the port of San Francisco to extend to
that vessel the privileges which are conceded to yes
sells of other nations having treaty relations with
this government. Your obedient servant,
"W. A. EvARrs."
On the 18th, Secretary Sherman acknowledged
the receipt of the letter, and replied that the Collec-
tor of the port of San Francisco had been directed,
on the arrival of the Ho Chung, to carry out the in
structions contained in the revised regulations Of
the Treasury Department, and exact the alien ton
mage tax, at the rate Of a dollar per ton, in addition
to a tax OF thirty cents per ton. This is all the in
formation the Government possesses in regard to the
new departure. The Department of State has not
received any circular. and further action by the
government will have to be deferred until the arrival
of the Ho Chung at San Francisco. The note of the
Chinese Minister does not state whether the vessel is
from one Of the closed ports Of China or from q port
open to foreigners. In the event The Ho Chung halls
from q port we are not allowed to trade with, she
Will have to pay $3.50 per ton every time she enters
the United States from such port.
Inc payment OF the alien tax will entitle her to en-
try into our ports for twelve months. In any event,
she will have to pay in addition to the tonnage tx
tea per cent. advalorem on the value of her cargo
every time she enters a port of the United States,
will not be as profitable as at first appeared. So far
as Chinese merchantmen may affect the carrying
trade OF the world, the United States has the least TO
lose. The statistics Of our commerce with China
during the last fiscal year show but eleven American
vessels of 1881 tons were engaged in it, while fore
ign bottoms coming to the United States aggregated
ZS'9z3 tons. These figures do not include vessels
plying between Hongkong and the United States.
In order for the China merchants to enjoy the priv
llege OF American merchants in the United States, @
treaty Of commerce, giving them reciprocal rights.
VIII be necessary, and which all other nations would
then exact from China. The only thing of import
anse, so far as the Treasury officials can discover, in
the new departure is, that it allows Cinnamon to
trade with outside nations; but, as far as COMPETE
tion Of an injurious character, that is not, it is said,
to be feared.