New-York tribune., 1890-01-04
PRICE THREE CENTS.
WHAT WILL COME OF ITa
COLoMBINs HIGH-HANDED COURSE.
MERCHANTS WHOSE VESSELS HAVE BEEF
SEIZED LAY THEIR CASES BEFORE
THE STATE DEPARTMENT

! coast was the prevailing topic of conversation
| among South and Central American merchants
down town yesterday. With the exception Of
that of the schooner Pearl, which failed to take
out trading license at Colon, all the seizures ap-
pear to be Illegal If there exists any decree of ths
Colombian Government under which the vessels
were seized by the gunboat La POpa, it has
never been sent TO the Colombian Consulate in
| this city nor have the Colombian authorities
in Colon informed any American ship Of its
existence. The Preiect Of Colon issued the usual
trading licenses TO the vessels and authorized
them in the name of the Colombian Government
to trade along the San Bias coast The San Bias
coast is within the jurisdiction of the port OF
Colon, which is free port, and by a decree OF the
Colombian Government 1t was specified that ves-
sells desiring to trade along the coast under iuris-
diction of the port of Colon need only take out
! trading license.
In reply to a letter from l. Schepp, asking
what he should do to prevent his vessels from
being seized, the following letter was received
from the Acting Colombian Consul here yesterday:
In reply 70 your letter OF the oath inst. beg
that all vessels bound for the OF Bias the
intention OF trading there clear this Con sulats
to the port OF Colon. Upon arrival at said port license
| must be solicited from the inspector captain
OF the port OF Colon, granting the vessel permission TO
traffic the According to Decree No. 63s, Of
C0lOm-
ban Executive regulate the traffic and trading opera
tons in the Isthmus Panama all ships bound for the
Atlantic Of the Isthmus should make their entries
the Of Colon and there TO the inspector Of
the port manifest and invoices OF the cargo certified BY
the Colombian Consul the port OF clearance and permits
for trading with the points along the Of the Ishmus
should be asked for and given by said inspector
nance with the third paragraph Of Article OF the above
mentioned Decree so. 635 OF 1883.
BY complying with these regulations vessels engaged
IN the traic the Isthmus will be exempt from seizure
any other trouble. j. GERARDO POLO,
Colombian Vice.Consul.
Senior Polo also issued the following notice,
which sent to the captain of the Whitford
at Colon:
New.York, Dec 81 1889.
To the Representatives, OF the Colombian Government snd
in particular to the Commander OF the Colombian gun.
boat La POpa.
Dear This Is to certify that the schooner George
W. WhoO has been cleared through this Consulate under
my instructions for the OF San Bias via Colon for
trading voyage the captain being instructed to file his
consular certified manifest and invoice OF with the
Inspector OF the port at Colon and there procure trad.
license, called for by Decree No. e3S OF 1888 and
No. j9l Of lsS7, passed by the Colombian Executive TO
regulate the trac and trading operations in the Isthmus
Of Panama. whereby all vessels bound for the Atlantic
the Ishmus make their entries at the port
Of Colon, presenting manifest and invoice OF cargo certt-
fled by Colombian Consul port OF clearance and
permit trading with the points along the coast
or the Istnmus. which Will be given by said inspector in
above mentioned Decree No. 63S Of 1888.
have instructed owner OF this vessel and
clear above and have advised him that By complying
regulations his vessels engaged in the traffic on
I,thmus will be exempt from seizure or any other
trouble hereby call attention to the above deerees
and the fact cleared the above vessel I'm accord
anee with same J. GERARDO POLO. Vce-Consu
Mr.. Schepp has submitted a statement OF TIE
case TO tie State Department, in which he Saysa
You will see by the inclo,ed that have complied with
regulations called for by the Colombian Consul OF this
port have In tbc past, yet we understand our
vessel will be seized. The brig Fredeiika Schepp, now
the coast, have reason to fear has met with tha
same the American schooner Willie II there are
any regulations regards merchant vessels on
have "a right 10 know what they are ana IL
our Government viii protect under the old law, we will
pleased accept and comply with the new law OF tbs
Colombian Government If they any, but we DO object
arbitrary o. their officers or the selling
Of vessels and conl,catlon Of our property.
The importers this city Baltimore and elsewhere have
been engaged ths business thirty more.
has been question brought up until
october ., when the schooner Pearl was seized on the
Bi, coast ami taken TO Cartaeena, where We under
stand measures ar bong aken condscate her. on
December . 1859 the Julien and the schooner Willie Wer'
both s,led cost although both OF the latter had
complied with the regulations and law OF the Colombian
Government called for in the letter Of the Colombian
Consul here.
our brcantine. the George W whitfod, sailed on tbs
os.h December having freight board for
that port. After the d-cl argc OF uat Htlsht VIC haNs
ord, red the captain the san Bias coast as usual
with the lart ,aeo he hoar trading purposes.
lay h., matter before a. In case ths
yo,., should De seized (Which will try 10 avoid we, Of
course VIII b.. Obliged TO oa you FOR protection and
r,paon and therefore wish your guidance and nstruc.
tion ;hc matter.
Kindly give the matter your in mediate attention no,
only in behalf ourselves but all vessels trading under
the American nag. Please advise Us II We arc not pro-
cccdine llorery, cable Instructions TO our
captain. J.. sCHEPP.
Mr.. Schepp said yesterday: "Au l want is
proiecton-ard an Investigation. do not believe
that | shall lose anything, because believe that
the Colombian Government Will be forced to
pay an indemnity for these illegal acts
Mr.. Foster, of Foster * Co.., the firm that has
had their vessels, the Coombs, Willie and Julien
seized. said Yesterday: We have complied with
all the laws required by Colombian officials,
and there can lG no proper reason l9r the SEIZURE
of our ships We have cleared at the Colombian
Consulate here when We were bound for
Colombian port, but not when we were going 10
some other port. This has never been required Of
MS II vessel was bound for Monte Crlsto she
cleared for that port Then, dlscharging her
cargo at that port she cleared for Colon, and took
ont the usual trading license. This has been
going on for thirty years, and now suddenly our
ships are seized and our business brought to a
standstill as regards the san Bias coast We have
a vessel ready to sail now. but shall not send her
until we assured of protection. | have laid
a statement of the matter before the State De-
partment
The American trade Of the San Bias coast is
said 10 amount To many millions yearly, and Is
constantly increasing. The lowest estimate placed
on II Is S5,0OOoOO, and some think IL much more.
Besides the trade with this city, there is n large
trade with Baltimore and New Orleans. Not only
cocoanuts, but ivory nuts and various other
tropical products come from there. All the mcr-
chants engaged in the trade express them elves as
perfectly willing to comply with any
and all regulations Of the Colombian
Government hut object, after comply
inr with such regulations, to having their
vessels seized. The gunboat La Popa is a small
steamer, but is AIMED with TWO IIotchl<is's rapd-
firing guns and carries crew of twenty men.
Mr. Foster said yesterday that the crew of his
schnnncr CnnmLs McIc dot .ined on board tha1