Evening star., 1896-12-03
PRESIDENTS
Suspending Operations of an Act to Relieve
German Vessels of Tonnage Dues.
At',e" taken fAroot That American
Vessels Are heaied Corresponding
priv,lexekh German Ports.
GH

suspeHding after January next the opera
tions of the act which relieves German ves-
sells entering UnitedsStates ports from the
payment OF tonnage dues and other ship
ping charges. This action was taken upon
proof that American vessels are denied
corresponding privileges in German ports.
Ihe shipping charges under our laws are
based on a sliding scale The President s
actlon Will doubtless arouse widespread in
te1est IN shipping circles
Inc Following is the text of the proclama-
ton:
whereas, by Proclamation Of the Presi-
cent OF the United States, dated January
~ 1888. Upon proof then appearing salts
Factory that no tonnage or lighthouse dues
or any equivalent tax or taxes whatever
were imposed upon American vessels en-
terlns the ports of the empire of Germany.
either by the imperial government or by
the governments of the German maritime
states. and that vessels belonging to the
Z Cnlted states Of America and their cargoes
@ We're no no. required in German ports to pay
any Zee or due Of any kind or nature, or
any import due higher or other than was
payapie ty German vessels or their cargoes
Ia the United States. the President did
after the date of his said proclamation of
January 26. 1888. the suspension of the col
lection OF the whole of the duty of 6 cents
PEI toil' not to exceed 30 cents per ton per
A1.APSSSu tpCIl NeSS els SHltIeu III ne
ports or the United States from any of the
ports of the empire of Germany by section
II OF the act of Congress approved June 10,
IeeoA entitled An act to abolish certain
ieeS Iof o1nclal services to American ves-
seis and to amend the laws relating to ship
ping commissioners. seamen and owners of
vessels and fer other purposes"
ANA whereas the President did further de-
clare and proclaim in his proclamation of
January 26. 1SSS, that the said suspension
should continue so long as the reciprocal
exemption of vessels belonging to citizens
of the United States and their cargoes
Should be continued in the said ports of the
empire OF Germany and no longer:
ana "heleas 1t now appears upon salts
factory proof that tonnage or lighthouse
dues or a tax or taxes equivalent thereto
are in fact imposed upon American vessels
ana their cargoes entered in German ports
higher and other than those imposed upon
German vessels or their cargoes entered in
ports OF the United States, so that said
proclamation Of January ~, 1888 in it's
operation and effect contravenes the mean
ing and intent of said section IL of the act
or Congress approved June -. 1856.
NOW, therefore, /, Grover Cleveland,
President OF the United States of America,
by virtue of the aforesaid section IL of the
act aforesaid. as well as in pursuance Of
the terms of said proclamation itself. do
hereby revoke my said proclamation of
January ~. lSSS. suspending the collection
of the whole of the duty of cents per ton,
not to exceed 30 cents per ton per annum
y" 10 AiiPoSSi tSg tHe aforesaid section
or SAID acD upon vessels entered in the
ports OF tie United States from any of the
ports Of the German empire; this revoca-
tlon or said PROCLAMATION to take effect on
ana after the % day of January, 1SJ1
In witness whereof l have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this Sd
day of December. in the year of our Lord
lS.N, and OF the independence Of the United
States the one hundred and twenty-first.
GROVER CLEVELAND.
BY the Presidsrt:, -'[
RICHARD OLANEY, Secretary of State
Effect of the PrOclama ton.
The effect of the procla amation is to re.
impose upon the vessels entering from Ger.
many the same tonnage dues that are i'm
posed on vessels entering the. United States
| from Great Britain, France. Italy, Spain
| and other maritime nations I'M Europe and
| Asia. r--.-.-
During the past year, at fhe request OF
| the Treasury Department the State De
partment has made full investiga ton in
10 the charges imposed upon American yes
sels IN German ports, and the fact has beer
developed. that while the imperial govern.
neht does not impose taxes on shippi,r q
yet the governments of the German, ma ri
time states have for years imposed taxes
equivalent to those from which German
vessels were exempted in this country
mus there has been no reciprocity what.
ever IN the arrangement. which the Presi.
dent accordingly, as provided by law ter
minated today by his proclamation