Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1893-02-09
AS TO CONSULAR SEALING,
THE PRESIDENTS VIEWS ON THE
QUESTION.
He Thinks the Treaty Of Washing
ton Has Been Abrogated and
That the Law Should Be
Revised to Meet Pres-
emit Conditions.
Should Be Changed.

Washington, Feb. 3.-PreslGent Har-
rison sent to the house to-day his mes
sage dealing with the subject Of the i'm
portation of foreign goods into the Uoited
States across the Canadian border un-
der consular seal. The president dis
cusscs at length the treaty obligations
which affect the subject growing out OF
tie provisions of article 20 of the treaty
tf Washington, and arrives at the follow
ing conclusions:
"First-That article 20 of the treaty
of Washington has been abrogated.
"Second-That even if this article were
in force, there is no law in force to ex-
ecute it.
"Third-That when in force, the treaty
impos ed no obligation upon the United
States to use the concessions as to transit
made by Canada and no limitation upon
the powers of the United States in deal
ing with merchandise imported for tho
use of our citizens through Canadian
potts, or passing from one place in the
United States to another through t;anadh
upon the arrival of such merchandise ut
our border
"Fourth-That, therefore, treaty or no
treaty, the question of sealing cars con-
taifing such merchandise and the treat
ment of such sealed cars when they cross
o'l-, border, is and always has been, one ne
to be settled by our laws according TO
our convenience and our interests us we
may see them.
':Fifth-That the law authorizing the
sealing of cars in Canada, containing
foreign merchandise imported from a
contiguous country does not apply to
merchandise imported by our own people
from countries not contiguous lChlna ana
Japan and carried through Canaua LOT
delivery to such owners.
"Sixlh-That the law did not COM
template the passing of sealed cars to
any place not port, nor the delivery
of such cars to the owner or conslSnee
to be opened by him without the super
vision of revenue officer.
Sevcnth-That such a practice is in
consistent with the SAT ETY. of the reve-
nue.. The statutes relating to the trans
portation of merchandise between the
United States and British possessions
should be the subject of revision. The
treaty regulations have given to these
laws Il construction and Il scope that
do not think was contemplated by con-
grcss. a policy adapted to the new con
ditions growing in part out of the con-
struction of the Canadian Pacific rail
road should be declared, and the bust
ness placed upon a basis more just to
our people and to our transportation COM
panies If we continue the policy of
Supervising rates and requiring that they
shall be equal and reasonable upon the
railroads of the United States, we can
not, in fairness. at the same time give
these unusual facilities for competition
to Canadian roads that are free to pur"-
sue the practices as to cut rates and
favored rates, that we condemn and
punish if practiccd by our own rail-
roads.
Il regret that circumstances prevented
an earlier examination by me of these
questions, but submit now these views
in the hope that they may lead to re-
vision of the laws upon safer and
ulster basis