Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-08-13
CAPITAL CITY NOTES.
Opinion on That Discriminating
Tariff Against Canadian Rail.
ways Coming Soon.
TEA IMPORTERS ASK A HEARING

Will Oppose Imposition OF the Duty ON
Goods Coming Over Canadian Roads I'm
Bond. Which l. the Nub Of the Matter
Statistics ON Our Ocean-Carryine Trade
Union Labels Not Prohibited on Cigar
and Cigarette Packages.
Washington, Aug. 13-Attorney Gen.
eral McKenna and Solicitor General
Richards are making a careful study
of the questions involved in the con-
struction of section % of the new tariff
act. and it is expected that an opin-
ION covering the subject will be sent to
Secretary Gage early in the coming
week. The main question at issue Is
whether teas and other goods shipped
from China and Japan by vessel to
vancouver. B. c., and thence by rail
In bond to the United States are sub
Ject to the 10 per cent discriminating
duty imposed by section %. 1t is stated
at the treasury department that very
large proportion of the teas and other
products of China and Japan are SO
shipped to the New England and other
eastern cities at a less rate than is
charged by way of American lines of
railroad from San Francisco. Eastern
exporters of these commodities there
fore are said to be opposed to any con-
structioa Of the act which would impose
the additional 10 per cent. duty. The
Boston and Maine Railroad company
has asked to be heard on the question
pending its final determination and the
attorney general has concluded to give
it hearing tomorrow morning.
Foreigners Set Our Carrying Trssle.
Ar interesting report, albeit it is
mostly figures, is obtained from the
treasury records as to who does our
ocean carrying trade. According to
these records British vessels are car
rying over SIS per cent. of the merchan-
disc OF the United States. both of i'm
ports and of exports. Examination of
figures for the first six months of 1897
show that the total imports in vessels
have been Of the value Of $432, $50 9S1,
and Of domestic exports in vessels $452.-
SOO.4O5. The percentage Of imports car
rfed in American vessels is 1885, and in
foreign vessels S4.65; of imports in YES
sells the British have carried $3.50 per
cent; the Germans. 11.49; French.
5.46; Dutch. 3.3; and all other
foreign vessels s.51; OF domestic
exports only S.19 is carried in
American bottoms. 91.81 being carried
In vessels of other nations British
vessels carry 68.2S per cent. of the
value Of exports by vessels; German.
s.92; French, 2.19; Norwegian, 2.93; and
all other foreign, 9.A.
Values OF Carg0es Compared.
The value of imports carried in Amer
lean vessels for the six months ended
June 80 was $66, ,42S, ,149. and of that car
ried IN foreign vessels 1856 ,261 1872, and
the value of exports for the same period
carried in American vessels, was $37,-
1l3,l6s, and of that carried in foreign
vessels. SALE, ,6S7 ,2S7. The value Of sugar.
which has been largely brought from
the West Indies in American vessels.
carries the percentage Of imports in
American vessels higher than that of
the value Of domestics exports. Since
1870 the bureau of statistics has stated
the value of merchandise imported and
exported in cars and other land vehicles.
During the first half Of the present year
the value Of imports carried was $20,-
O6S,149 and Of exports, $27, 297, ,61S.