The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-12-04
President Retaliates On Ac-
count Of Discrimination.
DUTY OF 8 TO 80 CENTS A TON.
The Annual Charge Was Suspend-
ed sn 1855, ON Condition That No
Equivalent Tax BE Made ON
American Vessels Entering Ger
man Porfs-Suspensiou Revoked
Because Germany Vow Taxes

washington. Dec. 3.-The president has
issued q proclamation suspending after
January the operations OF the act which
relives German vessels entering United
States ports from the payment of tonnage
dues and other shipping charges. This
action was taken upon proof that Amer
ican vessels are denied corresponding
privileges at German ports Shipping
charges under our law are based on
sliding scale. The presidents action will
doubtless arouse widespread interest IN
shipping circles.
The presidents proclamation Will go into
effect on the morning of January |, after
which vessels from Germany entering our
ports must pay shipping charges ranging
on sliding scale from cents 10 - cents
a ton per annum. The president men
tsous the fact that his proclamation OF
January Is. 1855. suspended the collection
or the whole Of the duty of 6 cents per ton,
or not 10 exceed % cents per ton. upon
German vessels entering the ports Of the
United States. according TO section III. act
of congress approved June Is, lSss- This
suspension WAS proclaimed upon proof.
appearing satisfactory, that 10 tonnage
or lighthouse dues or any equivalent tax
or taxes whatever were imposed upon
American vessels entering German ports.
and that American vessels and their car
goes were not required IN German ports
TO pay any fee or import duty higher. or
other than was payable by German veS-
sells or their cargoes. In the United states.
as announced In the proclamation OF isss.
The suspension was 10 continue only so
long as the reciprocal exemption OF Amer
lean vessels continued IN German ports.
Continuing. the presifent says II now
appears upon satisfactory proof that such
dues or an equivalent thereto are I'M
posed upon American vessels and their
cargoes. and other than those imposed
upon German vessels or their carSoes en-
tered in ports OF the United States. There
fore the president revckes his former sus-
tension of the collection Of the whole OF
the duty OF cents per ton and not 10
exceed 90 cents per ton per annun on Ger
man vessels entering the ports OF the
United States.
The effect Of the presidents proeiama-
ton is TO reAmpose upon the vessels enter
ing from Germany che same tonnage dues
that are imposed on vessels entering the
United States from Great Britain. France.
Italy. Sysain AMI other maritime nations
IN Europe and Asia. German vessels were
exempted la IsSs from the payment OF
these dues under the shipping reciprocity
act OF aSS6
DursnF the Fast year. al the request OF
the sresyary Department. the state derart-
ranrt has made fun investigation into
the charges imposed upon American YES
re.s IN German ports. and the fact has
developed that while the imperial govern
nent does NOT impose taxes on shipping.
yes the governments Of The German mari
time states for years have imposed ship
ping taxes, so that there was no real reel
procity.
As business proposition the arrange
rrent has been considered a detriment 70
the United States. Since fSSS the tonnage
on foreign vessels coming to the United
States has amounted 30 over Il .eD0e 90 tons.
while the tonnage of Amsrican vessels err
ter.nsr has amounted 10 barely 32 o0A. The
enu,lal loss Of revenue 20 the United States
under this arrangement faas been approx
ffuately ssA.ea while the exemptions
which Ame rlcan vessels would have gain
s-d "a German ports would have amounted
20 barely saeo year. As matter Of fact.
those taxes have been levied upon Amerf-
can vessels IN German ports and e 81 un-
serstoo~i the United States viii make a
claim FOR the recovery % the amount so
e3t0Tted.
Beyond this fact. tho exemption OF Ger
man vessels from tonnage taxes IN ports
% thc United States has been in fact. a
sftecrf rrlnatlon on the part of the United
States against its own transatlantic line.
The terminus OF The American lire steam-
srs Is at Southampton and the 81. louis
St Paul. etc entering into the United
States frgrrt that port have been required
o nav tonnage dsleS whereas the North
German lloyd steamers. clearing at
Bremen and touching ~ Southampton for
man and rasscnEerS fn competition wish
our steamers have entered the Tinted
Stass entirely free from tonnage dues.