New-York tribune., 1896-12-05
THE tax on GERMAN SHIPPING.

1t is to be supposed that in ordering the rem-
position of tonnage dues upon German shipping
in American ports the President and his official
advisers are sure of their ground. Mr.. Cleve
land Is not given TO preelp!tous action in such
matters This case. moreover. is one OF which
he should have especially complete knowledge.
by virtue both Of his own past experience and
of his present means of securing information.
The last preceding controversy with Germany
on this subjec; arose during his former Admin
is,ration. and brOugh. to a close by Mr..
Cleveland himself in proclamation granting
the contention Of the German Government He
now takes up the case at the point where he laid
II down. and by a new proclamation fevokes
that former proclamation. When II Is further
borne in mind that the present American Am
bassador at Berlin is Mr.. Ihl formerly one Of
Mr Clevcands AssStan. Secretaries OF State.
and that NJ Chamberlain. the United States
Commissioners Of Navigation. has personally
spent much time in Germany this year nves'i-
eating this very subject. assurance Is confirmed
that the President has ample information for
his guidance in the action he has taken.
n il bc true that tonnage dues have been re-
imposed upon American shipping in German
ports there is 10 justification Of II in the plea
that such action has been taken by individual
cities States. and not liy the Empire. This
Government docs not deal with the local aI-
thOrlies Of cities or States. but with the Gen
eral Government Of the Empire. Moreover. the
Presidents proclamation Of January % 1883
relieved German shipping Of such charges on
the specific ground that none were imposed upon
American shipping either by tho Imperial Gov
'ernment or hy the Governments Of the German
maritime States. thus implying that n rem-
position Of them by any Of the latter we'll
by the former would he cause for similar rem
position by this country. Neither does this plea
seem valid that tho tax objected TO by this Gov
crnmcnt is imposed upon vessels Of other na-
tionalltles as well as American. and that 10 dis
crlTinate in favor of American ships by rcscind-
ing II in their case would involve Germany in
diffiCrtics with the other nations. This Gov
ernrent is rot concerned with Germanys ar
rangemeris with other nations. II agreed to
relieve German shipping from port charges on
condition that Germany would do the same for
American shipping. But if Germany has as Mr.
Cleveland is convinced. rempOsed such charges
upon American shipping. the compact is broken
and this Government is free to cXac; dues from
German shipping
No reason is YET apparent for investing the
incident with any wider significance than that
which is to be seen on The face Of 1t. There are
some hints that the German Government has
been ill-disposed toward this country ever since
tho Wilson tariff put n differcn.ial duty on the
subsidized beet-suCar Of Germany: that the
German Government has retaated by excluding
American cattle and hog products on frivolous
pretexts. and by imposing prohibitivc duties
upon other American articles and that the Pres
denr's proclamation is only another move in
that game. II would no. be pleasant to believe
this t:ue for it would convict the President of
nsincerity in the phrasing of his proclamation.
The reason he gives for his action is. If true.
sufficient If II were not true none Of these
| other hinted reasons would justify his action.
| Whatever other grievances may exis, between
| the two countries should be dealt with accord
| ing TO their own merits. and without involving
issues 10 which they have 10 relation. Nor
Should there be aay danger Of anything Ike a
| tariff war between the two countries: nor. in
deed, any feeling Of animosity over this order
Of the Presidents. German-American relations
| have generally been most cordial ard the one