New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-13
PRICE THREE CENTS
CALLING SPAIN TO ACCOUNT.
REDRESS AGAIN DEMANDED.
WARNED THAT ANNOYANcEs TO AMER
ICAN COs.MERCE MUST CEASE.

SECRETARY oLNEY INsTRuCTs MINISTER TAYL08
TO PRESENT ANOTHER VIGOROUS REMoN-
STRANGE TO THE FOREIGN OFFICE IN
MADRID-A LONG LIST OF GRIEv-
ANCEs OCCUPYING THE AT
TENTIoN OF THE STATE
DEPARTMENT.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUNE1
Washington. Nov. PA new and vigorous %.
mand has been made by this country upon
Spain. Secretary Olne; has informed Minister
Taylor OF the circumstances which have called
forth the demand, and directed him to apply to
the Spanish Foreign Office for prompt redress Of
the grievance The Secretary's instructions
were couched In polite but emphatic language.
the case justifyng decided expression of dis
satisfaction in his judgment. This new demand
upon spain Is the result Of the continued annoy
ances to which American commerce has been
subjected In Cuban ports 1t has become the
rule OF late for the customs officers at Havana TO
hne American vessels visiting that port on the
most trivial grounds, often for no apparent
reason whatever 1t has almost come to pass
indeed. that no ship arriving at Havana flying
the american nag can escape a fine or exaction
or some sort at the hands Of the Spanish oficials
vessels OF other countries are not subjected 10
can captains. and the conclusion is forming IN
the minds Of the officials here that the annr ~
ships which run to Cuba from New-York. Phila.
delphia, New-Orleans and other cities is an ex.
nipitiCn or enmity toward the Stars and Stripes
ms view OF the case seems warranted by facts
which nave come to light. The offensive atti.
'uoe oI the havana customs officers will be the
subject OF another spirited controversy with
spain, and IL the Madrid Government does not
grant redress it promises to become one Of the
most serious Spanish questions yet dealt with by
the Administration. What with the Mora case
the Allianca affair." the Competitor case the Del,
eado incident, the demand for a civil trial OF
oahguiliy. the emphatic contention Of Mr. Olney
that this country's Consu-General at Havana
shaii nave limited diplomatic powers, the yieor-
Gus protests In numerous instances where Amerf
cans IN cuba were unlawfuy arrested confined
ana occasionally expelled, and many other more
or less serious subjects OF diplomatic contro-
versy, the State Department has been nrettv
busly occupied for the last twenty months deal
ing with questions with Spain and her Cuban
agents. with no other foreign country has the
present Administration had cne-tenth the i'm.
portant controversies which have been forced
upon IL through Spains acts of commission or
omission.
UNJUST FINES IMPOSED AT HAVANA
The State Department cs has been said ahov>
Is at present giving especial attention To the
grievances or American captains unjustly fined
IN the port OF Havana. Secretary Olney has in
formed Minister Taylor that recently a number
NJ American vessels arriving at Havana havs
been subjected to excessive harbor fines. IN many
instances for no good reason, and without ,vsr
rant OF custom law. He has instructed ths
Minister firmly to protest against this course.
which he regards as bordering on persecution
His representation Is that on numerous occasions
SHIPS flying the Stars and Stripes having strict.
~ compiled with all the port rules OF Havana.
have been visited by Spanish Custom House on.
GERS ana nned for certain alleged infractions of
SUCH rules, the infractions being purely fancifui
In many cases. as the facts show Vessels OF
other countries are not similarly treated. Enr.
lish ships receive every courtesy from the cus-
toms officials. as do vessels flying the German
and French flags. In fact, some OF the ships OF
these countries have been known to violate the
harbor regulations Of Havana without suffering
fines OF any Sort
This action Of the Custom House officers has
become serious source OF annoyance as we'll m
hardship and expense to American vessels and
many complaints have been lodged with Consul-
General Lee by captains against the officials NJ
Havana 1t was through General Lee that the
Information reached the State Department II
appears that at first American captains paid the
fines imposed upon their vessels without mur-
muir They assumed that these were perquisites
exacted by the officials at Havana which It was
policy to pay.
So long as the exactions were modest and
otherwise not unreasonable. they were met.
though mildly protested against. as the easiest
and quickest means Of avoiding embarrassment.
But in time the fines became more frequent and
heavier Then the American captains objected.
So long as the amounts were trfng. II was
deemed advisable to pay them. to secure speedy
adjustment Of harbor formalities. But when the
injustice assumed considerable proportions, the
captains decided to submit quietly no longer BY
this time they had learned that other ships
touching at Havana not fined as were
theirs. Very naturally their Indignation was
high at this. and they laid their before Con-
sul-General Lee.
ACTION OF CONSUL-GENERAL LEE.
Subsequently. on each occasion when a nns
was imposed. they paid 1t under protest and
after their cargoes were discharged demanded Q
return Of their money Some OF the cases were
left with Consul-General Lee for adjustment
The captains could not wait at Havana until the
proorastnating spaniards acted upon their de-
mands, and they gave authority to Consul-Cien.
eral Lee to get back the amount of the fines they
paid When the Custom House officials learned
that they had to deal with the diplomatic rep
resentative OF the United States. they became
more cautious. In reply to most OF the demands
OF the Consul General. they returned the amount
OF the fines imposed. less a tax for the trouble
Of collecting the same. and further compensa-
tion for the clerical labor Of making and can.
ceiling the entry on official records In other
words, they unjustly fined American vessels.
knowing that their course was unlawful. and
when forced to make restitution they charged
the captains Of ships assessed fee for perform