The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-08-26
HOLDING ALL SHIPS.
Collector Saunders View Of
Customs Regulations.
TO BRING MONEY TO TOWNSEND
shipping Men pensasee tho Treatment
Of the British reomsn-saundsrs
Explains His Aets

The ruling of Collector Saunders by
which the British ship Britain feoman
vas detained At Port Townsend on Thurs
day was the cause of good many inaig-
Bant remarks yesterday among those WHO
have 10 do with shipping
There Was not only surprise over the al
legged reason for OBTAINING the ship. bat
general doubt as 10 whether Collector
saunders was carrying out one of the reg
uiat.ons Of the treasury department or
making new rule. bat all agreed that the
ultimate object was TO keep the vessel IN
port Toxusend on account of the benefit
20 be derived for that town. But lev OF
the foreign vessels bringing cargoes 70 tue
Sound either enter or discharge any cargo
al that town, and custom house brokers,
ssevedores and the people OF the town gem
orally feel that the business has slipped
from their grasp.
George S. Bush, formerly chief deputy
under Collector Bradshaw. now custom
house broker and one of the best posted
men in the city concerning the laws and
regulations Of the department. was asked
for an explanation OF the rule under
which the ship was detained. Mr.. Bush
said he thought Collector Saunders had
been misqnoted. as there was no such rule
% required foreign ship 20 enter at the
port where she dropped anchor" and for
this reason IL could not have been urged
By Mr.. Saunders. Mr.. Bush referred to
the regulations requiring ships to make
entry at the port Of entry of the district.
bot showed by the Revised Statutes OF the
United States and by rulings that Seattle
and many other towns are ports oil entry
In this district, as well as Port Townsend.
s.As matter of fact" said Mr.. Bush.
'thcre is no authority IN law for OBTAINING
Che ship. IL is simply an attempt, like
the one made by Mr.. Bradshaw, 20 compel
vessels to enter at Port Townsend instead
Of at other ports. This was one OF the
seasons why Mr.. Bradshaw lost his scalp"
Alex Thompson, agent of Balfour. Guth-
rie 4 CO., said IL was unjust TO ships to
compel them TO enter at Port Townsend.
II caused extra expense for towage, be-
sides the expense incurred by delay. which
would be from 500 to $50 per day for a
loaded ship. A few days delay might
prove very expensive TO both ship and
consignees.
Harbormaster Jelich said he did not see
the use Of having port of entry here II it
could not be used. aud added in rather
disguised tone: well, il serves them
right The politicians worked for Saun-
ders, and now let them catch IL in the
neck
The following dispatch gives Collector
saunders' account Of ths affair:
PoRr TOWNSEND. Aug. 25.--rSpeciai. f.
In explanation OF his course with regard to
the ship British Yeoman. Collector Saun-
ders said today: Section Of OF the regu-
laftons provides that when q foreign YES
sci voluntarily stops sc port OF entry she
shall, on penalty of forfeiture. enter there
before proceeding TO another port of entry.
and there was absolutely no discretion
with me. followed the regulations as
probation would not have applied other
wise in the case of the Yeoman, for she
had been in poit several hours and her
captain was ashore most Of that time. The
enforcement OF the rule caused no delay
to commerce. rs has been stated, beyond
few minutes. and my rulings viii be just
ms liberal As the regulations will allow.
In the present case, however. there was
but one course open TO me, and followed
it,
The position taken by the collector of
customs in strictly enforcing an obsolete
law in compoll ling vessels, IL they come TO
anchor. TO enter at this port. was the gen.
eral topic IN shipping circles today. The
general opinion exists that If the secretary
of the treasury approves of the collectors
course ID IL only question of time when
sub ports will be abolished. Under the
law the United States health officer is not
required 20 inspect vessels after night, his
Office hours being from a. m. TO D. IN.
The present policy will have the effect of
annulIins the privileges heretofore al
lowed vessels temporarily 20 anchor at
this port for health inspection and then