Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1892-08-24
HARRISON ON CANAL TOLLS.
Retaliation for Canadian Determination
| Against Our Vessels,

President this afternoon issued the fol-
lowing proclamation, suspending the
right of free passage through the st.
Mary's Canal to Canadian vessels in re-
taIlatlon for the unjust discrimination
in tolls of the Welland Canal against
the commerce of the United States:
WHEREAS, BY an act of Congress APPROX
eel July 26. 1892, entitled: An act to enforce
reciprocal commercial relations between
/; the United States anG CanaG a and for other
purposes, it is provided that, with a view
OF securing reciprocal advantages for the
citizens, ports and vessels of the United
States on and after the LIST day of August,
1892, whenever and SO often as the PreSi-
dent shall be satisfied that the passage
through any lock connected with the naVi-
CATION OF canals along the st. Law
renee River, the great lakes, or
the waterways connecting the same,
of any vessels of the United States, or of
cargoes or passengers in transit to any
port Of the United States is prohibited, or
Is made difficult or burdens0me by the i'm
position of tolls or otherwise, which, IN
view Of the free passage through the st.
Mary'S Falls Canal now permitted to YES
sells of all nations, he shall deem to be re-
clprocally unjust and unreasonable, he
shall have the power and it shall be his
duty to suspend, by proclamation to
to such extent Including alb
solute prohibition as he shall
deem right the right of free passage
through the st. Mary'S Falls Canal so far
as it relates to the vessels owned by the
subjects of the government which discrim-
mates against the citizens, ports or vessels
OF the United States or TO any cargOeS, por-
tons OF cargOeS, or passengers In tranSltto
the ports of the government making such
discrimination, whether carried IN vessels
of the United States or Of other nations.
In such case and during such suspension
tolls shall be levied, collected and paid as
follows, to wit:
Upon freight of whatever Lind or de-
Scription, not to exceed 81 per ton; upon
passengers not to exceed SIS each, as shall
be from time to time determined by the
President.
provided, That no tolls shall be charged
or collected upon freight or passengers
carried to and landed at Ogdensburg or
any port west of Ogdensburg, and south
of a line drawn from the northern bound
airy of the state of New \ rk through
the st. Lawrence River, the great lakes
and their connecting channels to the
northern boundary of the state OF Mime
sofa.
''Sec. 2. All tolls so charged shall be
collected under such regulations as shall
be prescribed by the secretary Of the treas
ury, who may require the master Of each
vessel to furnish sworn statement Of the
amount and kind of cargoes, of the num-
Der of passengers carried, and the deStlna-
ton Of the same and such proof OF the act
ual delivery of such cargo or passengers at
some port or place within the limits above
named as he shall deem satisfactory, and
until such proof is furnished such freight
and passengers may be considered to have
been landed at some port or place outside
of those limits, and the amount of tolls
which would have accrued if they had been
n no GOV CT 1Inr1 Xxyl11 oh
may be enforced against the vessel in de-
fault, wherever and whenever found in
the waters of the United States" and
WHEREAS, The government of the DOmin
ion of Canada imposes toll amounting to
about ~ cents per ton on all freight pass
ing through the Welland Canal in transit
to a port of the United States, and also
further toll on all vessels Of the United
States and on all passengers in transit to
port of the United States, all of which
to lis are without rebate, and
WHEREAS, The government Of the Do
miniOn of Canada, IN accordance with an
order in council of April 4, 1892, refunds
Is cents per ton of the 20 cents toll at the
WeHand Canal on wheat Indian corn,
peas, barley, rye, oats, HaXSeed and buck
wheat, upon condition that they are orig
inaIly shipped for and carried to Montreal
or some point east of Montreal for export
and that, if tranS-shipped at intermediate
points, such tranS-Shipment is made within
the Dominion of Canada, but allows no
such nor any other rebate on said products
when shipped to port of the United
States, or when carried to Montreal for eX.
port ii tranS-ShIpped within The United
States. and
WHEREAS, The government of the Do
miniOn Of Canada, by said system Of re-
bate and otherwise discriminating against
the citizens of the United States in the use
of said Welland Canal, in violation of the
provisions of article u OF the treaty OF
Washington, concluded May s, 1871, and
WHEREAS, Said Welland Canal is con-
nected with the navigation OF the great
lakes, and am satisfied that the passage
through it Of cargoeS in transit TO ports of
tho United States is made difficult and bur-
densome by said discriminating system OF
rebuteS and otherwise, and is reciprocally
unjust and unreasonable, now, therefore,
!, Benjamin Harrison, President OF the
United States Of America, by virtue of
the power conferred upon me by said
act OF Congress approved July rs,
1892, do hereby direct that from
and after September l, 1892. until further
notice, toll of 20 cents per ton be levied,
collected and paid on all freight Of what
ever kind or description passing through
the ST. Mary's Falls Canal in transit to
any port OF the Dominion of Canada,
whether carried ip vessels Of the United
States or other nations; and to that extent
/ do hereby suspend from and after said
date the right OF tree passage through oC.
Mary'S Falls Canal of any and all cargoes
or portions of cargoes in transit to Cana
dian ports. In testimony whereof, etc.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
By the President, JOHN W. FOSTER,
Secretary Of State.
Since the passage of the act of Con-
gress referred to in the Presidents mes
age, efforts have been made by the
State Department to induce the Cana
dian government to abolish the discrim
mating tolls, without any result save the
unofficial announcement that something
might be done in the matter at the
close of the present season Of
navigation. Hence the above &C
ton by President Harrison. 1t is
understood that the tolls provided
for will be at once abolished as soon as
the President shall have been officially
notified that the determinations against
our vessels have been abated.
Union Prices for Union Music.