Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-12-29
News by Telegraph
FROM ALL QUARTERS.
SPAIN ON HER MHTRLE.
Refusing To Return Heavy
Fines On The Josefa.
BANQUET OF FREE TRADERS.
President CIeveIand's Letter
Of Regret.
LATEST CABINET GOSSIP.
Possible Clue To The Phil
adelphia Mystery.
LATEST CABINET GOSSIP.
SEIZURE OF THE JosEFA.

The Fine of $4,000 Was Imposed
Nearly Eighteen Months Ago and
Spain Refuses to Change Hsr Ground
Secretary Bayard Will Not Push
the Case.
WASHINGTON, Dec. est is learned at the
department of State that the case of the brig
Josefa against the Spanish government for
indignities, etc., alleged to have been i'm
posed by the custom officers at Porto Rico
has been under investigation since July, 1887.
The investigation disclosed the following
facts: In July, 1887, the American brig
Josefa of Portland Me-, entered Port Arroyo,
Porto Rico, having cleared from New York
in the previous month. When her manifest
and bill of lading were examined by custom
officers, twenty boxes of corn-starch, valued
at $36, were found to be on the manifest and
not in the cargo. For this shortage fue of
5000 per box, or $4,000 altogether, was i'm
posed by the custom authorities.
EXPLANATIONS WE'RE UNAvAnING.
Captain Snow protested and stated that
when he was taking on his cargo in New
York another vessel, a bark of a name very
similar to his, was in port and near the
VI
the same shipping agent as the Josefa, that
the receipts were signed by his first mate, a
man named Nelson, and that when the man
ifest was handed him Snow he signed it
hurriedly ana without paying much atten-
ton. That the receipt for the boxes of corn
starch were signed by G. Olsen, while the
rest of the cargo was signed for by Nelson.
Captain Snow presented his case to the
United States consul, who presented it to the
government at Porto Rico and urged the re-
mission or at least the reduction of the fine
on the explanation thus offered. This was
refused. The department of State wrote to
the Treasury department and learned that
the bark Josephus had sailed from New York
for San Francisco on June 10, 1887, but the
starch was not found on board when she ar
rived nor was there anyone named Olsen on
board
EXCESSIVE SPANISH FINES.
The case is striking from the fact that the
short shipment of $50 worth Of starch nets q
fine of Sd, 900, but it is explained at the de-
partment that the operation of the Spanish
laws is marked by such excessive fines. The
United States as we'll as England and Sweden
have endeavored to have this corrected, but
so far without success. It is stated at the
department that the Spanish ordinances are
framed on the theory that missing package
not satisfactorily accounted for covers suo-
cessful smuggling operation. The Spanish
authorities reason that the twenty missing
boxes said to contain merchandise of little
value may have contained opium or some
other valuable article and that they may have
been successfully struggled ashore. There
fore the authorities adhere to their maximum
fine of 5000 for each missing package. No
matter what the alleged contents may be, by
the statute law of the United States the nm
explained package is punishable with $500
fine.
In view of these facts it is intimated that
Secretary Bsyard does not feel justified in
pressing q demand for a remission in this
particular case and that he will defer bring
ing the case to the attention of the Spanish
government until more satisfactory evidences
is produced as to the actual disposition of the
akareh