The Portland daily press., 1897-10-27
NAVIGATION LAWS VIOLATED.
Aliens Getting the Coast Trade by Sub
,1G B terfuge.
To the Editor of the Press:


By what silent assent are vessels owned
by foreigners allowed to engage in the
violation Of our laws which are amply
expressive to cover this point?
Section 4347 of the Navigation Laws
provides that no merchandise shall be
transported, under penalty Of forfeiture
thereof, from one port of the United
States to another port of the United
States, in vessel belonging wholly or in
part.t subject of any foreign prince or
power
This section is of some benefit to our
decreasing fleet of large square rugged
vessels as 1t reserves to them the trade
Observation-Disclosures ports and San Francisco
via Cape Horn; but it is very beneficial
to the United States coasting schooners
and barges as 1t gives them exclusive
right to the coast trade Of the Atlantic
States, which would otherwise be shared
by English vessels that are constantly
bringing cargoes of Canadian lumber
piling, etc., to our ports. The shipown
ers of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
have little love or respect for this law as
AZ PIOAAO1Uo uAolI VcGDcle, GlUCI khuQluR
their DinRley taxed cargoes at New York
and Philadelphia. from carrying cargoes
principally coaD to New England ports
as Is customary with American vessels
and which increases the profits of the
voyage.
But few years ago the citizens of New
Brunswick discovered way to evade
this obnoxious law by violating several
others, and their illegal operations have
been quite extensive. This is their
modus operandi.
They purchase an American vessel,
usually worn out one which they oan
buy cheap, take her to an English port
for repairs, then she comes forth as an
American vessel STILL flying tho stars and
stripes the emblems of courage and honor,
differed and manned by foreigners whose
purpose is to defraud the citizens of The
United States and defy their laws. This
vessels charters are made, crews shipped,
accounts kept, and she is provisioned at St.
John by British subjects, and when re.
pairs are necessary care is taken to en-
ploy the cheaper labor of the provinces,
but she is represented at the custom
house, if she halls from New York or
Boston, by an American with an elastic
conscience who swears falsely about the
ownership of the vessel and the Citizen
ship of her officers.
This bogus owner Is probably ship
broker who becomes the tool of ST. John
lumber merchants for the per cent
commission which he receives for pro-
curing charter to carry merchandise
between two American ports for vessel
owned by residents of the New Brun-
swick.
Another method of obtaining
papers for these whitewashed vessels is
to hail them from unfrequented ports
such as Calais, Eastport or Lubec, then
as they never enter their home districts
the bogus master only has to give oath
that there has been no change In owner
ship since the last enrolment was issued.
then he gets what are called temporary
papers. A temporary enrolment or
license must, within ten days after the
arrival of the vessel within her home dis
trict, be delivered to the collector of the
district and be cancelled or the master is
subject to fine of 500. 1t is obvious
district for her papers would be cancelled
and new ones would be understandable be-
cause the vessel has no owner in the dis
triot.
g Another law which is often violated is
section 4i31 which declares that officers
of vessels of the United States shall in all
cases be citizens of the United States.
This law in particular has been repeatedly
violated and the government officials
should endeavor to bring the guilty par.
ties to Justice. The laws are amply nro-
teotive and if enforced would lead to the
confiscation of several vessels and the
punishment Of number of foreign cam
tains who are illegally sailing under the
American flag.
81. L. COLBETH.