The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-12-29
FINING OF THE JOSEFA.
THE $4,000 NOT YET RENTED
BY THE SPANIARDS.

The Actual Disposition of the Starch
Suill in Doubt-Secretary Bayard Not
Inclined TO Lay the Case before the
Spanish Government until the Mys-
terry Is Cleared up.
WASHINGTON, Dec. est is learned at
the department of state that the case of the
brig Josefa against the Spanish govern
ment for indignities. etc., alleged to have
been imposed upon them by customs officers
at Porto Rico, has been under in
vestigation since July, 1887. The investi-
CATION disclosed the following facts: In
June. 1887, the American brig Josefa, of
Portland, Me-, j. s. Winston & Co., own
ers; E. r. Snow, master, entered the port
of Aroya, Porto Rico, having cleared from
New York in the previous month. When
her manifest and bill Of lading were exam
ined by the customs officials, twenty boxes
of corn starch, of the value of $36. were
found to be on the manifest and not in the
cargo.
FINED 81, 600.
For this shortage fine of $500 per box
or 1900 altogether, was imposed by the
customs authorities. Capt. Snow protested,
and stated that when he was taking on his
cargo at New York. another vessel, bark
of very similar name to his was in port
under direction of a shipping agent
as the Josefa; that the receipts were
signed by his first mate, man named Mel
son, and that when the manifest was
handed him Capt. Snow he signed
it hurriedly and without paying
much attention. and that the receipts
for the boxes of corn starch were signed
for by c. Olsen, while all the rest of the
cargo was signed for by Nelson.
LAID BEFORE THE CONSUL.
Capt. Snow presented his case to the
United Suites consul, who presented it to
the government of Porto Rico and urged
the remission, or at least a reduction of the
fine upon the explanation thus offered.
This was refused. The department of St. to
wrote to the treasury department and
learned that the bark Joseph had sailed
from New York for San Francisco on
June Is, 1887, but the starch was not found
on board when she arrived, nor was there
any one named Olsen on board. Her first
mates name was Kelly.
sPAIN's BAD SYSTEM.
The case is striking from the fact that a
short shipment of $50 worth of starch nets
fine of 1900; but it is explained at the
department that the operation of the Span
1871 La a"S 10 AtL Dy 0AC6SSIN6 uubS
The United States as well as Sweden and
England has endeavored to have this cor
rected, but so far without success.
1t is stated at the department. that the
Spanish ordinances are framed ont theory
tat missing package not satisfactorily
accounted for, covers successful smuggling
operation.
REASONING OF THE SPANIARDS.
Judging from the conference the Spanish
authorities reason that twenty boxes said
to contain merchandise of little value ap-
pear to have gone on board the Josefa at
New York, that the captains uccessive x
cuses have been exploded, that there is no
evidence that the twenty boxes contained
corn starch, that they may have contained
opium or some other valuable article, and
that they may have been successfully
smuggled ashore. Therefore the authori-
ties adhere to their maximum fine of 5000
for each missing package, no matter what
the alleged contents may be.
BAYAYD's HESITATION.
By the statute law of the United States,
the unexplained absence Of a m infested
package is punishable with $500 fine. In
view of these facts it is intmated that
Secretary Bayard does not feel justified in
pressing the demand for remission in this
particular case and that he will defer bring
ing the case to the attention of the Spanish
government until more satisfactory evidence
is produced as to the actual disposition of
the starch.