The morning times., 1896-12-04
BRING GERMANY TO time
Public Men Generally Approve
Mr.. Cleveland's Action.
WILL HAVE DESIRED EFFECT
At the German Embassy No Ex-
precision Could Re Obtained. but
n Vigorous Protest Is Expected.
Subject Has Been Before Congress
on Several Occasions.

The proclamation of retaliation against
Germany issued yesterday by the Presi-
| dent, was in the nature OF a surprise to
the members OF Congress in the city.
1t was generally discussed last night, the
prevailing opinion being that it would have
the desired effect in correcting the un-
friendly acts OF Germany in relation to
our commerce.
Representative McCreary of Kentucky,
member and ex-chairnan of the House
Committee on Foreign Affairs, did not
care to discuss the Proclamation, although
| he admitted that the subject has been
| quietly discussed by some members of the
| committee recently.
1t will probably have q salutary ef-
| feet lie said, and should bring an end
| to the evils oT which We complain. This
| incident recalls the trouble we had with
| Canada early in Mr.. Cleveland s admnistra-
ton, growing out of the treatment OF our
| fishermen in the Northeast.
NO attention was paid to remonstI ances
| and a bill was finally introduced, which 1
drew, authorizing the President to sus-
pend the law granting the Canadians the
| right to ship goods, In bond, through the
| United States. The bill was favorably
| reported and passed.
THREAT WAS SUFFICIENT.
I'm this case, however, the mere threat
| was sufficient. Although it became law
| the President never had occasion tn invoke
| il. The moment the Canadian government
| learned that we had given the President
| such authority, IL abaued the evils COM
| planned of and we have not again heard Of
| them.'
| Mr.. Won Reichcnau, the charge IL 'affaires
| of the German embassy, declined to express
| anopinion yesterday afternoon whenspoken
| with regarding the Presidents proclama-
tion. He simply statcdin general way that
| the matter had been the subject OF COR
| respondence for some time, but that he
| could neither anticipate what action the
| imperial government would take with refer
| ence to the proclamation nor did he care to
| express. an opinion regarding it.
1t is not believed that the German gov
| ernment will consent to the imposition of
| a observation-disclosures on German vessels with
( out at least more vigorous protest than
has yet been made.
| GERMANY's CONTENTION.
The German conte ution, 1t il under. TODD.
is that the tax complained Of in the i'resi-
| dents proclamation Is not imposed solely
on American vessels, but upon vessels of all
nationalities. including German vessels.
The revenue arising from the tax are not
covered into the imperial treasury. hut
become the property Of the several States
| within whose jurisdiction the tax is laid
|
their harbors in order to facilitate the
| loading and unloading of vessels.
| 1t is argued that If Germany should re-
| sCind this tax, so far as American vessels
| are concerned. il would at once call forth
a protest not only from English French,
and other European powers, whose ves-
sells would still be subject to taxation, but
from German shippers as well.
A bill dealing with this subject of ton
mage tax and providing for the repeal of
the law exempung from such tax all yes-
sells from foreign countries which extend
a like exemption to our vessels, was in
troduced at the last session of Congress by
Senator Frye.
SUBJECT OF LEGISLATION.
After an exhaustive hea ring. in which
| New York representatives of the German
| steamship lines Were heard, the committee
being unable to agree. January 10 last
| reported the bill back without amrn.imrnt.
1t was subsequently reCommittcl 20 the
| committee.
Senator Frye made an elato report
on.the subject showing that the law ad
| not done what was promised for il at the
time of its passage. Among other things
Senator Frye's report gave the following
information, which, in connection with the
proclamation, are of especial and timely
interest:
The law providing for reciprocity in
abolition of the tonnage tax was passed
in the belief that the nations of the world
would hasten to repeal navigation charges.
This expectation has not been met. Ger
many and the Netherlands alone of ma sitime
powers have accepted the invitation. and
our experience with them has proved a
reciprocity only in name.
BIG SOURCE OF REVENUE.
During the seven years since the procla-
nation eXempting German ships was issued
the total clearance OF American vessels
from the United States for German ports
numbered only 15, Of 81 IL sc net tons, and
the entries from German ports, % vessels.
of 30. 1858 net tons. The levy of tax OF s
cents ton by Germany on this tonna &c
would have produced between 81 200 and
$1,000 during the seven years, or less
than $500 a year,
The tonnage tax levied by the United
States is applied to the maintenance Of the
Marine Hospital Service. The amount col
lected last year was a little over S523, 900.
|