Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-07-24
CANADA'S SELFISH POLICY.
Determination Against American ves-
sells, RailrOads. and Ports.
REPORT or ACTING SECRETARY THOMSON IN ANSWER
TO REPRESENTATIVE DINGLEY's RESOLUTION.

TO REPRESENTATIVE DINGLEYS s RESOLUTION.
Acting Secretary OF the Treasury Thompson has
made a reply to the resolution passed by the
House at the instance OF Representative Dingley,
OF Maine, calling for Information In regard 10
Canadian discrimination against American vessels
passing through Canadian canals bound for
American ports. He says that 1t appears that an
order has been issued by the authorities OF
the Dominion and is now "a force, by which YES
sells from ports in the United States laden with
wheat and other merchandise, for export or other
through e the % Welland Canal when they M p pnrsas
their voyage by way OF the ST. Lawrence River
and Montreal, than when they pursue their yoy-
age by way OF Lake ontario and other American
ports. The Canadian regulation
OPERATES AS A DISSEMINATION
against American ports and American railways
and canals and American vessels.
The matter was brought TO the attention Of Con-
gress in previous reports by the commissioner OF
State has been invited TO the subject The Acting
Secretary says that further legisa ion Will be
necessary II tolls are TO be imposed by the Secre
the Sault ste Marie and ST. Clair canals, and bound
for Canadian ports east OF the Welland Canal.
IN A LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF NAvIGA-
TION,
transmitted with the Acting Secretary's report,
that oficer says 1t appears that upon payment
OF 20 cents per ton toll in the welland Canal q
free passage is given through the ST. Lawrence
River canals, and that a refund OF 1S cents per
ton is allowed from the tolls paid on the Welland
Canal II the proper papers are produced at the
department. at Ottowa. The commissioner
recites the terms OF the treaty OF Washington, by
which the British government undertakes to urge
upon the Dominion government the use OF the
Weland and other Canadian canals by American
citizens upon terms OF equality with the Inhabitants
Of the Dominion, and by which the United States
engages TO grant to British subjects equal privi-
leges with those granted its own citizens In the
use of the ST. Clair Flats Canal
ADDITIONAL LEGISLATION NECESSARY.
He also expresses the opinion that additional
legislation win be necessary to enable the Secre.
tary of the Treasury to impose tolls upon vessels
passing through that canal and bound for Cana
dian ports and says it would seem proper for Con-
gress to authorize the collection OF tolls
on such vessels TO Offset the dtscrimina-
ton pracri.ed by Canada, and he has no doubt
OF It's power to legslate accordingly. He suggests
that the collection OF the tolls be placed iI the
hands OF the Secretary OF War, who is already
charged with certain Jurisdiction over the prop
erty. In conclusion he says that II the British
government has carried out its agreement to urge
upon the government OF Canada the allowance Of
equal privileges TO the citizens OF the United
States Il would seem that its efforts have met
with small success. AS the matter now STANDS
there is q very material discrimination AGAINST
American ports railroads and vessels