The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-08-31

WASHINGTON. Aur ~-rrxoives IN
TIE Question Of interpretation ~ section
= ~ fhe nsS tzrtT. Esth Fegansa % sAs %
f~F cent discriminating agty CT foreign
kaSsi4 coming kEto the TnfseS States from
1anzzssa or N@xico. xhseh + roz before
tne attorney general fer sscassoss = ar
eshef question q equal II n0t greater
rasgHsfssde. Tnis other question has al
fn9st entirely escaped psla1sc naries bzfs &
= giving the treasury department grear
concern. Il vas referred 20 the attorney
Eenerat Sy Secretary Gage for intsrpre-
iatfoa along witA rne other features of
section = which are ~ controversy.
X involves the question % whether this
ca@eraFnt0aftrg daty 81 70 pr cent. does
not apply 20 al goods imported ia for
eiEn Vessels landiaE ~ United States
ports which are not exempt from efs-
efffRairaffng tonnage taxes hy express
treaty stipulation. The question arise
from another slight deviation Hrcn the
language os previous provisions IN section
., #nkSh, II made Intentionally. woGlc
seem @ indscase fhat il VAS DESIGNED 20
assf S'rninate against tnreefoWrths Of ali
the big transatlantic and trans-P Pacific
steamsSip llnss a. well as many q the
South American lines. In all previous
laws the section corresponding 70 section
= % the new law. after providing fov the
~ per cent. Discriminating duty on goo3s
Imported Ia vessels not flying the United
States flag. provides that this dISsrgm-
mating dnty shall not apply 70 goods,
wares or merchandise which shall be i'm
ported IN vessels not OF the United States
entitled az the tlsae Of such inapoF f4rion
- treaty or art Of congress 10 De entered
n ports OF the United States on the pay
Rent q the same duties rs shall teen he
pssyahie on goods. etc, imported IN vessels
of tie United States.
,a Esse9 la =
and substitutes convention 50 as 10
make Il read rot exempt by treaty cr
Convention" 1t Is ia pursuance Of an
act Of congress, section 4.-2s. that preSl-
denss in the past have ~ proclamation
exempted vessels of many countries from
this discriminating duty.
The question nov before the attorney
general Is whether ths omission Of the
words act OF congress does not repeal
section sa2S II it does. IL viii strike =
tremendous blow At AL foreign lines noey
exempt by presidential proela al&ti3ts. and
coniine the exemption strictly 20 the yes
sells Of countries with which we have
treaties granting such exemptions.
The vessels Of countries which could not
be affected by an adverse decision, THAI
Is countries sxith which We have treaties
covering this specific subject. are Sweden.
Germany Austria. Erazll. Belgium, Den-
mark italy. Greece. Chile. Argentina.
Hayu Hawaii. Holland. Russia and
Turkey. Several Of these countries have
DO merchant marine sailing 70 American
ports. The countries now enjoying eN-
cmp3fon from discriminating duties. eith-
eF wholly or in part under ptoclamatIons
Issued III pursuance os section as Il the
revised statutes. ara Great Britain. SPAN.
Portugal Japan. Nicaragua and Mexico.
or course. the largest class of vessels
which might be affected are the English
lines. which come TO the United States not
only from British ports bat from the
Oriental countries. India. South America.
and In fact freFn every country on the
globe II British vessels should be thrown
back on their treaty exemptions which
are contained IN the treaty % Washington.
the goods of all British vessels sailing from
other ports. except the territorial possess
siaHs IN Europe. would have 20 pay the ad-
dltieuai 10 per cent. tax.
More ghAf THAI All goods shipped IN Brit
ish vessels, not the product oT nsuafac-
:ure u Great Bsfraln's European posses
sions. even though shipped from English.
Seogch or irish ports, would ~ snAfacf %
the discriminating dcty. Ar adverse de-
c3sicR would therefore aTect the Cunard,
Anchor Arrow and other Transatlantic
/ lines 70 that extent. the French iiua The
| Phelps ltue running 10 Mediterranean
ports. the txo Portuguese freight lines
fexcspt products II Portugal several =
the South American Hues inciua,7g what
are known rs the Green llne % stea naers.
the Janauesa. the Canadian Pacific a-9
TIE Oriental ard Occidental steamers on
the Paelnc. besides hundreds q tramp
steamers