St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-12-25
Talk Of Abolishing a Valuable
Privilege Of Canadian
Roads.
Consular Seal System Gives
Them Superiority Over
American Lines.
Too Much Traffic Now to Per-
form the Service Salts
factorily.
This Action Aimed Almost
Entirely at the Canadian
Pacific.

WASHINGTON, Dec. a. The Dresi-
dent has called upon the executive de-
partments for ali information in their
possession relative to freight coming
into the United States over the Cana
dian Pacific. Attention was directed to
this subject by the president in his an
nual message to congress, and since
then the subject has been live and in
tereSting one in the treasury depart
ment. The unjust discrimination against
United States railroads made by law, or
rather by its construction, i'll favor of
the Canadian Pacific railway by means
of the consular seal system; has long
been Source of complaint at the treas
ury department. This law was passed
i'll 1864, and its substance is Incorporated
in section 31O2, Revised Statutes. I'm
der this law, treights are shipped from
Canada to interior points in the United
States under the consular seal system.
The United States consul certiiies that
the, manifest is correct; that he has
sealed and closed the car, and that Ger
tification carries the freight through
without inspection at the border, thus
saving from one to two days delay and
the cost of rehaEdling the freight, etc.
when the Law was Passed
the traffic was small. 1t is also con-
tended at the treasury department that
the freights entitled to the privileges of
consular seal were originally confined
to the products of Canada. and the traf-
fic between 1S65 and 1870 being thus lin
tied. the United States consuls could
and did give personal attention to i'll
speeding the shipment of freight, max
ing out the manifests and sealing the
cars, as the law specifically directs they
should do. But gradually the business
has grown, and the law has been per
verted, and now more goods having
their origin in China and Japan are
shipped over the Canadian Pacific for
the United Stats than goods or prod
ucts of Canada. Nearly all the raw
silks and Chinese and japanese goods
that come into this country are brought
in under the consular seal system. Iney
cali come through Ill bulk quicker and
III better condition than over American
routes by the very reason of the con-
Sular seal system, which law does
not apply to American roads. Enjoying
this superiority over American rail-
roads. the Canadian Pacific caused to be
put into the Canadian tariff
A Discriminating Eeuty
of 10 per cent on all coffee and tea i'm
ported into Canada from the United
States. From all other countries except
the United States coffee and tea can
come into Canada free. The effect Of
this has been to divert this traffic from
American ports and have coffee and tea
come over the Canadian Pacific from
Vancouver, b. G. These evidences Of
unfrlendliness are regarded at the treas
ury department as justifying some dras-
lie measures. 1t Is pointed out that rs
the traffic over the Canadian Pacific
has become so great that it is impossible
for United States consuIS to personally
perform the duties required OF them
under the provisions Of the consular
seal law, due regard for the revenue
would warrant the suspension OF sec
ton 3l02 until such a time as congress
makes provisions for its perfect enforce
ment. Should this be done it would, In
the opinion of treasury department OH
cials, put a stop to discrimination
against American railroads, and also be
a retaliatory measure against Canada
for her unfrendlinesS of conduct to-
ward us.