The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-11-04


Sorxhwc1s Interstate Expoaztioa he'd ae
Tacoma. WAsa-, cost the goverumtnt
81, sSGes and gave employment 20 = Gus
toms s.zR Of IL men The duties actually
collected upon the sale sf toreign exhib-
its during the fair amounted 10 80. A.
Tnis appears from the report Of Waiter
A Don&ldson- treasury agent IN charge.
which makes is appearance in print
after long delay. ana viii eventually ind
Is way into the report o. Secretary Car
EsIs TO congress this winter. Mr.. Don
zldson makes some trsnchant cbserva-
tons upon the relations which exist be-
tween The United States and Canada.
which have received considerable atfen-
ton At thu department here. and viii
more than likely be brought specifically
20 tie notice OF congrsss during the cosa-
Ing session by Representative Doolirtla-
The proximity OF the Port Townsend
cutorns station to the frontier" says Ar.
Donaldson, continually brings up this iEa-
tsresttng point OF developing International
relations ~ recaproeaify adjusting ne
regulations In such q manner as to faciit-
tate commercial intercourse. The diSpo-
sition exists IN the higher administrative
circles OF Canada. so far a. have been
able TO learn, OF extending privileged Ia
c3iiiies 20 our people. This is continually
apparent in the district 81 Puget sound.
. district peculiarly situated. being con-
, ,,saoss TO BFi,asa a, Columbia. WHICH; al
ada. a sovereignty almost autonomous.
is nevertheless the military stronghold
and commercial outpost on this coast OK
Great BrttaiE-our chief rival in aequir-
Ing priEaacy IN the Pacific IL may be
observed that the geographical and po-
utical conditions OF the two nations are
such that they ind themselves face to
face IN the Northwest and that they are
now la direct competition for supremacy
III the trade Of the Pacific and the Orient.
Ia the view OF tho radically altered corr
oition In Eastern Asia, consequent upon
recent events. II would appear TO be crit
icaiiy opportune to make special efforts.
without any loss OF time, TO not only
maintain, but to enlarge our snare OF
commerce ia this quarter Of the globe.
Unless the district Of Puget sound be
provided with complete facilities for ex-
peditiously transacting the customs husi-
ness with as few vcxatioos hindrances IN
that are not now Of essential Importance,
to say nothing Of some that may become
chiefly obstructive. the transcontfnental
trade Will continue to seek the channel
The district OF Puget sound would appear
TO demand the most ample establishment,
apart from the mere question of collect
ing certain amount OF duty: the stafis-
teal element for the percentage Of cost In
collecting the same Is comparatively I'M
material. and IL sinks into insignihcanca
when the question OF maintaining and In
ereasing our commercial status 70 the
greatest possible extent Is considered
Mere statistical comparisons with other
districts may be interesting, but they do
not cover the subject nor meet the issues
at struck me that 1t is quite feas-
ible for some form OF customs union In
the matter OF reciprocaily beneficial GUS
west and British Columbia. The inter-
ests OF the two sections being so intt-
mately related. ii would serve as bassS
for the future continental customs union
that a n ha i1ayff HE raftacf-
Ing minds. 1t would be unfortunate II
inherited statutory or administrative OBJ
stacles be interposed In the way OF de-
Victoria and Port Townsend, any more
than between Port Townsend and the
town of Blaine. which Is at the extreme
nortnwssf pos Of the rni LED s sh,. no on
being so much farther north sa4an Vic
toria. We are neighbors, carrying on
business in contiguous territoriaiitiss' and
monize administrative relations that
trade between the two may be stimulated
and developed az fully as possible
Another Interesting question treated OK
in Mr.. Donaldson's report Is OF interest to
in Washington state. pro-
fexsional and amateur, since the ruling
IL likely to remain the same until con-
gress shall change the tariff act. A pho
fozrapher wished to carry Photographic
plates Of American manufacture TO Brit
ish Columbia for the purpose OF taking
views, il being his intention to bring
them back for development in his studio
In this country. This was refused. since
under the decision OF the treasury de-
partmenf. If impressions were taken upon
these plates they would be considered to
have advanced In value and would be
assessed with duty precisely as IL they
were of foreign origin
A sinstlar case to this was brought up
under the act or October i. 1890, In which
sensitived photoxra phie plates were taken
to Japan. exposed In camera and re-
turned TO the United States to be devel-
oped Ii was held that the impressions
received in japan were Of vital impor-
lance, consequently duty was assessed.
Under the Wilson tariff law the same re-
striction as TO advance ia value or Inn
rrovement ia condition prevails. Photog-
RAJ piers who desire TO bring home from
British Columbia plates for development
will find IL 10 their advantage at present
to purchase their plates In that country.
This is one os the many features In
which existing tariff laws might be
changed to benefit the American manu.
facturer. A. 3. s.