New-York tribune., 1896-02-06
Mr.. CORBIN'S FREE PORT Plan
A HEARING ON 1T BEFORE THE NAf'
AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
THE PROTECTOR ADVOCATES THE PASsAuh Vi
MIR. McoRMICK's BILL. AND TELLS WHAT
is PROPOSED TO BE DONE AT
FORT POND BAY
rRy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBUNE.1


Wavs and Means to-day to advocate the paSS"sc
Of the bill introduced by Mr.. Mccormick OF ->e"
York on January 49, authorizing the es'"oi,S"
rnent of a free port ~ Fort Pond BAY u
where In the waters OF Long Island In 'he o,"''
Of New-York" The bill authorizes the estaDlsn-
ment Of free port upon certain cohui'o'S' ~
which are the following:
The proprietors or corporation must acqurf ld,,i
build suiIicen; piers and ware houses anu ~ ~, md
spe~iacations approved by the Secretary OF the
Treasury; that the port when COMP i al ,isons 10
be- treated ag a part Of the bonded warehouse sys-
TEN; that foreign merchandise may a. ~ ,,ri and
shipped from vessel TO another III satu III ir
upon the piers thereof upon being su.ld"'s
spected. without being entered or specially no're
may be entered Tor immediate auilSS'o r, nx
this country warehOused and bond'-1 an -.
ported entered Tor consumption; ana ~ la5 'o@ rf @
may be maintained within the Wa,,s G ~ .b,rein for
and materials may be brought ana us'u ~ -. a. ~
the manufacture of products for eXi M TTesury
such regulations as the Secretary OF tne 80
may prescribe that all vessels entering anu i'a' -
entrance ana clearance ICES anu H'So -. - Tu, ali
harbOr- mas sters' fees under state laws nut az
houses and FOR an the other facilities for com,
merce by the proprle'ors shah b" reguhl.4 AZ, 49,
controlled by the secretary OF the lreasliF' tna.
the propreioTs shal bear an eNPrns' y. t,,,lIr9
and maintaining said port. including the puliun'S
OF the channels and all other facilities ior com
merce that may be deemed necessary 10y me oe''r-
tary OF the Treasury.
The last section Of the bill provides that The Sec
retary OF the Treasury upon due application and
under similar circumstances and Ike conditions
shall allow the establishment Of additional free ports
in any other suitable places within the jurisdiction
OF the United States"
The biH first appeared I'm Congress TWO years ago.
and on February T. lss5 reported 10 the Senate
from the Committee Commerce by Senator Vest,
with the statement that all Of the members OF the
committee do not consider themselves oblig"i 10
support the bill but majority thought that IL
ought 10 De reported FOR the consideration OF the
sh.rp cfofv alerir ffl. m
ate In May. 1894. Acting Secretary Hamlin. of the
Treasury Department. IN respons" to request from
the Senate the head Of that Department for an
opinion to the practicability Of the measure. said
that he could see no reason why proper regulations
could not he prepared and enforced by the Depart
rncnt II the bll should become law. In the House
Of Representatives the bin was favorably reported
from the Committee on Interstate and Foreign
Commerce on February %. ls1. too late for any
action to be taken.
In the course OF his argument to-day Mr. Corbin
said
The proposition 10 create q free port at Fort POND
Bay Long Island similar TO thos" existing Ia Europe
AT Uamburg Bremen and Copenhagen, - simply a
movement 10 enlarge and extend the bonded war
house system a. II cXis;f under Laws ~ thr ilti
states now upon the statute books. II Is hardly
70 be conceived that there IS any objection OF Gov
crnmcntal policy which can stand IN the way Of
opening such a port. The only obstacle arises out
OF the doubt whether I, will be financially profitable
for any propretors TO prepare. open and maintain
such a port. This IS question which. after per
mission IL given. cntcrprisinr citizens IN the
various harbors OF the country VIII consider ana
the subject untn they are sure Of Governmental
permission
Mr Corbin then submitted synopsis Of the laws
and Treasury regulations IN regard to the war;
housing system showing how 1t had been extended
and broadenol from time - time. after which ne
continued follows
From the foregoing statement II Will be seen that
the policy OF The lawmakers !n recent years has been
TO encourage the manufacture In tits country OF ar
;lces for exjorfatlOn 20 other countries THIS plan
Of manU 4cturlng In bonded Warehouses :or eNporia-
ton articles made either. FIRST, from foreign ma
terals free OF duty. r. second from home materials
free Of internal revenue taxes or. third from both
foreign ana nome materials combined. hd7 o''h
limited 20 articles thus produced wholly for 'Xporh-
ton but NJ reason Is apparent why arlc.eS -
warehouses and entered for consumption ia tins
country upon the payment Of duties upon the IN
ported materials, Or nt"rla' revenue taxes upon ue
domestic materials entering INTO me production.
In bonded warehouses l. desirable IN order mat me
manufacturers may be able any time 10 dispose
stated IN the beginning. the prop stion for free
port Fort Pond Bay IL merely extension Of the
present bonded war house system above te-
scrbed. The free port VIII be exactly Ike manu-
factur"rs' bonded warehouse now located at the
- elngl. hr,LIing b % y-,.r % ia. Lii -. " t,,,.r
from the wate. around a tract Of land Of sufficient
structed inclosng The land. and within the .ncosure
there VIII be warehouses OF various kinds including
be made safe by one bond of the proprietors. and
also according TO tn discretion Of the secretary q
bond for each Of the different warehouses
In closing MI Corbn said.
The doubt as to the financial prontablencss OF
should lead Congress give some special stimulus
TO the first effort in that direction at least the
extent OF granting the desired authority by a special
law Ike that now pending. II the experiment Is
successful additional ports Will be opened under the
general power given by a section OF the bill If II
successful, the loss viii fan upon the proprleiors
and not upon the public. Fort Pond Bay affords
deep-waier harbor al the end Of Long Island.
from which it is reasonably certain there will De
lines OF steamships running TO Milford Haven. Eng
land. to other European ports. shortening the
time OF transit between NewYork and London
that 1t will be five days. instead of six days.
The harbor has been, until the extension 10 It
within the last year Of the Long Island Railroad.
practically unused. with little commerce. and with
the shore line ana the title to the lands adjacent IN
few hands Now II is to be developed exceed
ingly convenient port. not only for the foreign
steamship lines above alluded to. but for American
coastwise commerce. The water line and sufficient
land for free port can be laid out and the port
surrounded and established with its walls wharves
warehouses and factories. under the favorable
prise are willing go forward at their expense
and expend all the money needed for the improve
ment Of the harbor which should Include the con,
structOn OF breakwater at cost OF s1,0COG". and
Will continue to maintain the port at their own cost
provided the Government viii give the special au-
ihority asked for. which can be given as has been
shown strictly in accordance with the settled policy
of our customs and internal revenue laws. Is not
the experiment worth trying. and should 1t not 10
this extent be promoted by Congress?
PILLS INTRODUCED IN THE SENATE
Washington Feb 5-In the Senate to-day Mr.
cullon (Rep I'D introduced bill 10 amend the
acts relative to the judiciary so as to permit a
United States Judge who has retired from the bench
to engage in the practice OF law
Mr. Cullom also introduced bill making 1t un-
lawful for any railroad. express company or Other
common carrier 70 carry or any person 10 ofer 10
such carrier for transportation from any place
within any of the Territories to any place
/ Tpr