New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-11
JUSTICE TO SWEDEN AT LAST.
DECISION OF THE COMMISSION OF NAVIGA'
TON.
scANprvAvIAx VESSELS HEREAFTER TO PAY THE
315 CENT TONNAGL Do HS'
,,x rp,uop.pu rO THE TRiBUNE.i

1Br TELEGRAPH 70 THE TRiBUNEl
Washington. April 1o-The Commissioner OF Navi-
CATION issued Yesterday the following order 10 col
lectors Of customs:
In ,,cv ~ the provisions OF Article OF the Treaty
OF is27 with sweden and NORWAY, you are Informed
that hereafter vessels OF sweden ana Nor"y .s
NJ vour mort from those countries VIII bc CHARGED ION
mage dues AT the 315 cent rate instead OF $50 cent
rate heretofore.
This brings 10 a close controversy pending since
1884 between the Government Of sweden and Norway
and that Of the United States, as represented by tne
Office Of the Commissioner Of Navigation Under the
shining Act OF that year Sweden and Norway claimed
that It's vessels should be required 10 pay only the
- rate instead Of the go was maintained by t"o
successive Commissioners they should. The c0nstruc-
tlon Of the act by the representative OF the Sweus"
Government was based upon Article OF tile treaty
Of 1897 That treaty had been interpreted by Henry
Clay when Secretary Of state. within year after
its ratification, In precisely the same manner o' 'e
swedish Government claimed since l7s4 1t should
be construed. The position Of the two Governments
I'm 1905 was reversed I'm 1854. Sweden In 1854 claimed
the lower rate % tonnage dues upon the same erouhu'
which Henry Clay based lis demands nftysM years
earlier There was no reason why the United states
should not conccdc sweden In 1884 what that
country had been Obliged TO conccdc to the United
States I'm l-2J. Tho obstinacy however, ana prdc
# opinion displayed BY undcrstrapper III tho
Treasury Department prevented justice beng
done 10 the Government Of friendly
Na,loa until yesterday. In this respect fhe case
IS almost unique. rheeWerits u tho swedish claim
vcr, Acknowledged by The Pf9Srscut In message to
ne List Congress ard IN another 70 the Lid. The
secretary OF state repeatedly urged favorable action
I'm the matter Two Secretaries Of the Treasury were
known 10 favor a settlement OF the dispute upon the
ba.ls II the swedish contention. bill which would
have Given the rccf sought passed In the Senate 10y
a practically unanimous vote. IN the HOUSE ue OIL
was rayoraiy reported By the Foreign Affairs Com
49, -b ,rc ng slalIY
they were di,honorable. that consideration OF the
measure was prevented.
uy oac II those legislative vagancs which II would
~, difficult, 10 account for except perhaps upon the
ground that many important bills pass WITHOUT thcr
content, beng understood by more than hail Il
dozen of interested men, Congress had declared that
the decisions Of tho Commissioner u Navigation should
io n,al Hacked By a singInrly short sighted clique
q, Congress- Mr. Morton tho lrst Commissioner OF
,;a,icaton md his successor. captain Bates, dehed
iho Secretary Of the Treasury Ignored the op"hS Vi
tho Attorney General. Laughed at the secretary OF
state nd snapped their fingers ~ the icsd'ht IL Is
,,,ti ,,ether thee two Commissioners ever under
stood ,l.c question or cared TO- but as hc"d' oi Vc
uur.nn. they became responsible for the actions Of
,.r suorduate. Tic real offender In this case u
understand g. be- one saunders clcrH, whose DECISIONS
,,,ccd rl, Bureau II tho ridiculous position OF NUM-
wing treaty supulatous and ignoring the PLAIN man
dnir. II common sense, not to say decehoy anu i''
play. -,
Contoin Bates reached the end OF bis rof" not ioE
o,, vhcrl be issued To the public. contrry 10 INC
r,i., Of the 50, rotary who saw the necessity OF "
Wing H. an annual IMPORT rs remarkable Tor "hl J.
Contained as II was cuous for what Is huhor h"'eu
| to state Coupled this plain defiance oil the sec
rci,ry's ordc. was with other and rrpen'0l mani
f.-tatlons OF INSTRUMENTATION, II could lead TO no'h'hE
hut a forced resignation on the part Of the 'omu"5
.,ouer Captain Bates stepped ont and Edward T.
O'Iricn assumed the Office
II demonstrates the wisdom Of the President III
making the selection, aud reflects great cIrH upon
the new Toner, thnt unlike his predecessors
Ia. refused from The very beginning 70 be influenced
by the clique which Sad practically guided the a'on %
Mcs.rs Morton and Bates. Among tho first questions
submitted to Conmi -siOucr O'Brcn Tor oih'al action
v am, swedish claim Instead 81 turning II over, as
h, PREDECESSOR, mad done 10 Mr.. saunders or some othc
>utrnutc fossil stubborn and Opinlunated, he cN
uuiu.d Il for himself. and reached indeed he coulI
NOT helm Going the came conciu'lOH arrived ~ IoNE
l.fprr jy the secretary OF the Treasury, the SECRETARY
of state aud the President IN saying TINS. II IS not
| Intended 10 deiract from the merits of the Commls
,ionrr'e oicinl action. bnt entirely to point ont tlat In
mailing h. decision. which few well meaning but ms
ended person. In COugrc., may feel disposed 10 cr
rI. lie had the support ~ .omc high authorizes In Iced
liz Judgment and Independence Inv" contributed -
make partial amends for nm act OF scnseless Injustice
| offered 10 friendly Nation.