The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-30

Canadian or Mexican ports by foreign yes
sells, and thence by land into the United
States, This part OF the Elkins bill, the
germ Of the legislation which has stimu-
lated so much of public interest and curl
osity, was as follows:
"The additional duty imposed under the provisions
OF this act shall apply, under regulations prescribed
by the Secretary OF the Treasury. to all goods. wares,
and merchandise not Of the growth. production. or
manufacture of countries contiguous to or bordering
upon the territory OF the United states when i'm
ported into the United States by land transportation
or land vehicles or conveyances through or from tho
ports or other places Of countries bordering upon the
United states, II th snme shall have been brought TO
such ports in ships or vessels not OF tho United
States"
1t will be seen ut a glance that the second
provision is a logical and legitimate conse-
quence of the first provision, absolutely
necessary to the main purpose Of the law.
8. A broad provision a~brogating all trea.
ties, or clauses Of treaties. which stand
now in the way Of the collection of a dis.
eliminating duty Of 10 per cent. in favor Of
goods imported in American vessels.
Now, the Senate had just refused to re.
peal that part of existing law which was
embodied in section 10 of the Dingley bill
as 1t came from the House. The discrim-
mating duty of 10 per cent. had been de.
liberately retained for future usefulness.
1t will go into effect whenever the treaties
giving to foreign vessels equal privileges
with our W in this respect shall be abro-
gated. 1t Is right that the 10 per cent.
discriminating duty should remain in the
tariff, for Congress may decide at the very
next aeRaiOn tn ahrnnatn fh0ao traattao ln
the interests Of American shipping. But
without such additional protection as
was proposed in the second provision
OF the Elkins bill, and was actually In
corporated into section % formerly section
16) Of the Tariff bill by the conference
committee, the law providing for the 10
per cent. additional duty would practically
be ineffective. Foreign vessels bringing
goods dutiable under that law could escape
the duty simply by landing at Canadian or
Mexican ports, and allowing the Canadian
or Mexican railways to do the rest. The
net result Of an enactment designed to
benefit our would be to transfer
such part Of the importing business an
might be done In foreign bottoms from New
York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
w. OAsNe'S So anu EDCdJllt
to Halifax, Montreal, Vera Cruz, Victoria,
Vancouver, and Acapulco.
Some member or members Of the confer.
once committee had the wit to perceive
that section % was a one-armed, one
legged. and one-eyed protector of Ameri-
can interests, 80 long as It lacked the sup
Elementary and necessary provision in
regard to land transportation which Mr..
had incorporated into his bill. And
the conference committee thereupon gave
effect to the first part Of section %, and re-
spected the intention of the Senate when
1t refused to repeal the discriminating duty,
by adding these words to the definition of
merchandise which shall pay the addi-
tional 10 per cent?:
"or which. being the production or manufacture
OF any foreign country not contiguous to the United
States. shall come into tho United States from such
contiguous country"
That went back to both the Senate and
the House for approval or rejection. and
those Senators and Representatives who
are now crying out against the judiclous
Interpolation as a trick and a crime nave
only themselves to blame If they did not
read the conference report.
The hue and the cry that Is now raised by
the Canadian Pacific and some of it's New
England friends will serve a good purpose
II 1t fixes the exact responsibility for the
insertion Of the provision as to land trans
portation. THE Sun, too. and a majority
OF our fellow citizens would like to know
the name or names Of the men who per.
ceiVed that without the Elkins supplement-
section % would be meaningless and i'm.
potent. We hope that instead of holding
themselves too modestly In the back.
ground they will come forth to be honored
by an immense majority of their fellow
countrymen.