New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-21

in each case TO taking into consideration the special
situation. conditions and interests OF each country 1
with view 10 promote Their common "ciia'o'
This at least opens the way for reciprocity
treaties between the United States and 'hose
countries in which an extension Of trade IS
thought most desirable without any committai
TO a policy which might conflict seriously Win
the present protective system.
The committees in charge of the thru orahch
of the subject, the improvement OF the means VI
communication between the various countries
brought in four reports The first favors Noi'n
and South railroad through the lsthmus OF ran
anna and down the eastern slope OF the Anus
An international commission OF engiheeIs-'"iee
Ia he apnointed by each Nation-is recommended
to study possible routes determine their True
length, estimate their respective cost ana com
pare their reciprocal advantages The Iesolu-
lions of the committee continue as follows
That I'm case the work OF the commission demon
strats Inc prsctitability advisabty of the raj
whole worK or sections thereof should lie solicited L.
That the construction management ana opeaom, Vi
or Of the persons to whom they spblet ne work or
formsties the consent Of the respective Governments
first being obtained. -, .,,,ct,o,
,,d onerafon Of the railroad Should be exempt from
import duties subject 10 the measures necessary u"
That all personal and real property OF the railroad
used its construction and operation snoulu De ea
That execution OF work OF such magn'' cS
sons OF land or guarantees of minimum OF interest
That The salaries OF the Commission as well as
The eSpcnSes Incident to the preliminary and final
surveys should he assumed by all the nations sc
scporanp 10 Tie latest Official census and in default
of census by agreement between the several Govern
That the railroads should be declared forever neu-
trail for the pPSse OF Of a 6e snrydrs thu Conditions
the Propoa the Rr0t wdrF To Isrsaen for the
c mp vcraIv of the road and the free passage
~ merchandise in transit should be matter ior spcoa
aeTseh s eeom a The Government Of the United
states shall receive notice Of the Acceptance o. , %aI
invite them TO appoint the commission 81 ,na cnsnec av
meet i'm Washington at the earliest possible oa'e
Thorn is Good reason to believe that such %
commission Of engineers will be organized. and
that. II practicable route can be found and un-
less some new obstacles arise railroad backed
bv the various Governments will be started.
The Committee on Communication in the AT
lantic recommended government ald TO steamship
lines between the United States and ports OF Bra
zil and the Rio de la Plata, TO be subsidized IN the
proportion of 60 per cent by the United States
l7l-2 per cent each by Brazil and the Argentine
Republic. and per cent by Uruguay. The Com
mittce on Pacific Communication made similar
recommendation with regard TO steamship lines
according 10 the population of the subscribing
nations 4 third committee had charge OF the
Culf Of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, and the
Conference adopted its report recommending SUD
sides to steamship lines in that part OF the AL
lantic The establishment Of all these lines must
depend on legislation here and in the other coun-
fries-but especially on what Congress is willing
to do in the matter.
SIMPLIFYING THE CUSTOMS SYSTEM
A good deal Of progress was made IN the dlrec-
ton of simplifying the customs system ana
regulations Of the participating nations IL
was decided to recommend the adoption Of com
mon nomenclature TO designate in equivalent
terms, in English Spanish and Portuguese. the
commodities on which import duties are levied
to serve as basis for forms of shipping mani
tests consular invoices, entries, clearance pc
titions and all other customs documents. The
Conference also voted to suggest the preparation
of a uniform classification OF the acts requiring
the intervention of consular agents, and the fix
ing Of the maximum fees for such acts, especially
as relating to commerce and navigation.
At the meeting of the Conference, held March
49, 1890. the following resolution was adopted ;
That the governments here represented shall unite
for the establishment Of American International
Bureau for the collection tabulaton and publication
information the productions and commerce. and
as TO the Customs laws and Regulations OF amer re 1
one of the countries for the common benefit and at
the common expense and to furnish to all the other
countries such commercial statistics and other useful
informauon as may be contributed to IL BY any Of
the American Republics.
In accordance with this resolution the following
recommendations were made:
l. There shall be formed by the countries rep
resented in this conference an association under the
title Of The international Union Of American Re,
pubics for the Prompt Collection and Distribution OF
e The lIcrnstlosal Union shall he represented by
under the supervision Of the Secretary of state Of the
United states and to be charged with care Of all
rcspondcncc pertaining to the International I MON
3. This bureau shall be called The Commercial
be- pusea cat be- entitled bulletin Of he Com
mercsl bureau Of the American Republics" ,.-,
Spanish and Portuguese languages.
5. The contents of The bulletin shall consist OF
(a) The existing customs tariffs OF Tie scverL
countries belonging TO the Union, and all changes O.
tn, same they occur with such explanations as ma,
b) All Official regulations which affect The .cntranc,
expectation Of merchandise in the ports Of The rep
resented COUNT also all circulars Of instruction Z
TO the classification OF merchandise for duty.
lc) Ample quotations from commercial and parcel
post treaties between any Of the American republics
ID Important statistics Of external commerce anC
domestic products and other Information Of specia
interest to merchants and shippers OF the represented
countries
Provision was made for maintaining this Bul
letin from a joint fund to be raised by the vari
Gus governments Many other minor measures
looking toward the revision and ameoraton o.
customs regulations also agreed upon.
FIXING TIE TONNAGE DUES.
On the smplifcation of tonnage dues the Con
ference passed these resolutions:
l. That all port dues be merged in a single one
to be known Tonnage dues.
. That This Charge shall be assessed upoi
the po.s tonnage. or, in other words, upon the tota
carry Ing capacity Of the vessel.
g. That each Government fix for Itself the amount
TO be charged dues, but with due regard
10 the general policy OF the Conference upon Tho
subject. which Is 10 facilitate and favor navigation.
H. That there be excepted from the provisions o
Article the dues charged 70 be charged under
uneA r,rcd contracts WITH private companies
D. mat the following shall be exempt from tonnag
ducs Transports and vessels Of war, and vessels d
less than twenty five tons.
A general advption Of the quarantine and san