The Portland daily press., 1891-04-13
MIGHT PUTA Big SEAL ON COMMERCE.
Frank Jones on the Abolition Of the
Bonding Privilege.
Bryce Allan Thinks Portland Might
Not Be a Winter Port.
Secretary Foster Says He Is Not Hos
tile to Canadian Lines.

Boston. April 1.-THE Boston Advertiser
today in its Washington correspondence
printed an interview with Secretary Foster
regarding the proposed abolition of the
bonding privileges now enjoyed by Canadian
roads by means Of consular seals. Mr.. Fos-
ter said at the outset: 81 wish to say posi-
lively and emphatically that in making the
change the department will be animated by
no feeling Of hostility towards the Canadian
roads. The department. in point of fact,
fully realizes the Importance of the Cana
dian roads as great thoroughfares between
the Northwest and New England. and the de-
partment has no intention Of inf1icting any
wanton injury on those roads,"
4 aContlnuing the Secretary said: "As soon
as the necessary pre- iiminaries are completed
the department will Issue an order announc-
ing the repeal of the bonding privileges, and
will require that all goods coming into the
country from some point of shipment outside
of the United States must be examined by
the customs officers before they are allowed
to enter the country"
what will be the effect Of such an action
in delaying shipments over the Canadian
lines"
'As to that l cannot speak positively until
the system has been put In actual operation.
do not know that it will be necessary to
unload all the cars which cross the bounda-
ry; all those details may be settled when the
enough to show the possibility of frauds un.
der this or that method of inspection. As
sistant Secretary Spaulding is now at work
on the details of the new plan and his judg-
ment in such matters is so fully and general
ly recognized that it may be taken for grant
ed that he will protect the interests Of the
government. At the same time means will
be taken to avoid any unnecessary restric-
tioHs which would operate harshly on the
transportation business of the Cana
dian lines. The department intends to pro-
tect thoroughly the interests Of the govern
ment, but so long as that is done it will do
nothing to interfere with this traffic. Every
shipment into this country must be examined
IN such way that no customs frauds can be
perpetrated. That much isabsolutely neces-
sary, as all must admit, and the representa-
tives of the Canadian railroads themselves
realize the Importance Of protecting the gov
ernmentS interests. II in the attempt to do
this the department should work some hard
ship to the Canadian lines, that is the fault
OF the condition of affairs which was created
by the abuse of the bonding privileges"
with the shipments arising in American
territory" continued the secretary, ''the de-
partment will, OF course, have nothing to do,
as such goods are not dutiaDle. Such traffic
Will be carried on as heretofore, without any
interference from the department"
Advertiser reporters brought the subject
of the above despatch to the attention Of a
number of gentlemen interested in the Ques-
tion. President Frank Jones of the Boston
q Maine railroad, was found In close conver-
satlon with President Arthur Sewell Of the
Maine Central railroad. Mr.. Jones thought
that the prOsp0sed decision would tend to
clog commerce and interfere with the busi-
ness OF the railroads. 1t would necessitate
the examining by customs officer, at the
frontier, OF the contents of every carload Of
goods bound through the United States ter
ritory for shipment in the British steamers,
TO see whether 1t agreed with the manifest
Ii would involve the sidetracking of the
trains and delay. Goods would not reach the
steamers In which they were intended for
transport and shippers would be greatly in
convenienced. Mr.. Sewell agreed with him
and said that anything which obstructed
commerce hurt the interests Of the country
They believe that the announcement from
treasury department. and was not likely to
be put into execution.
Bryce Allan, agent of the Allan line, said:
have not heard anything about such de-
ctsion yet 1t would be very Injurious to the
business Of our company. When navigation
on the St. Lawrence ceases by reason of the
river freezing up, our steamers are forced to
maze winter port on the Atlantic coast,
ana the system OF consular bonding of goods
IN transit over United States territory facii-
tates business to considerable extent. OF
course L cannot say whether the issuance of
an order resembling that privilege would
compel US to withdraw our ships from Bos-
ton and Portland and land at Halifax. That
would have to be decided by the company"
Would the transfer of your business to
Halifax private the difficulty" asked the Ad-
Vertlser representative. Would you not
have to send your merchandise across
the State of Maine, via the Canadian
Pacific line. and would 1t not be subject to
inspection at the frontier just the same?"
mo" answered Mr.. Allan, "fOr we should
use the Intercolonial road, which runs
through the northern part of New Bruns-
wick. We find that is just about as short
AS matter of fact, we ship a considerable
amount Of freight by that route, and send
great deal of our finer goods to Halifax"