Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-12-29
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
Bayafd Asain Weak J Yields to a Eorei6n
Power.
And Permits Epain to Perpetrats a
H:xt -Hsnded Outrage Upon An
American Vessel.

Wash ISGroS, Dee-2s.
Il 10 learned at The Department of State
mai the case Of the brig Josefa against the
spanish government fOr inilgnities, etc. al
legged 10 have been imposed by the custom
oftisers at Porto Reo, hA. been under
consideration since July, 1887. The inses-
ugaIion ma. iselo,ei the following facts
Ia July, 1885, the American brig Josefa. of
Portland, Me, cut, red the port Of Arroya,
Porto Rico, having cleared frum New York
IN the previous month, where her manifest
and bill Of ladiBg were examined b. The
cnstom officials Twenty boxes OF corn ard
starch, valued al s56 were found to be in the
manifest and rot in the cargo For this
shortage fine of $500 or s4O00 tJt, was
imposed by the Customs officials. --s
Capt. Snow Protested. he stared that " hs
he vas taxing on cargo at Se~ York, ane b
rr vessel, bark Of name very similar to has,
was in po {. sud near Josefs. We was
loaiins under direction of same shipping
agent as Josefa, that receipts signed BY his
1t mate named Nelson and ~hen manifest
va, n led hun Sno- !; he signed ii hurrie /.
l., without paying ma h attention. The re-
ceipt for the boxes of corn starch were
signed for by G.. Olsoa, whiie the rest of the
cargo was signed for by Nelson.
Capt. Snow presented his case to the U. S.
consul, Who presented il to tie government
Of Porto Rico, and urged remission or at
least reduction of tne. Jn explanation hus
offered this vas refused The department
OF State wrote To the treasury depar meAt
and learned that the bark "Josephus"
sailed from Naw York for San
francisco, June 10. 81, but the starch vas
not fouId in board when she arrived. nor
was there any one ia ned Olsen on board.
Her first mates name was Kelly. The ease
Is striking from the fact that a short ship
ms nj of $50 worth of starch nets line of
$1,000, but it is explained at the department
thai the operation of the Spanish laws is
marked BY such excessive d es. The Uai.
ted States, as well as England AMI Sweden,
has endeavored To have this correc ed, but
so far without success.
Ii is stated at the department that the
Spanish laws are framed on the theory that a
missing package not satisfactorily accou 4 d
for covers a successful smug2li ling operation.
Judging from the corresponds of thu
spanish authorities the reason that twenty
boxes that were said TO contain merchandise
Of little value appears TO have gon on board
the j .sefa at New York, that the capiala's
successive excuses had been exploded, that
there is no evidence that The twenty bo1e.
contained corn starch, that they may have
contained opium or some other valuable
article and may have been successfully
sDuggled ashore. Therefore the authorities
adhere To the maxium and the fines of $500
for each missing package, no matter what
their alleged contents may be. BY the
statute laws of the United States an unex-
planned package is punishable with $500
me. In view of these ia Is it is intimatei
that Secretary Btyard doesn't feel justified
III pressing the demanl for remission in this
particular ca,e, and will defer bringing
the case TO the attention of the Spanish
Government until more satisfactory evidence
is produced as TO the actual disposition of
starch.