The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-01-20
ANOTHER CONCESSION.
American Captains Will No Longer
Be Robbed.

New York, Jan. ia Tribune spec
ial from Washington says: The Span
iSh government has decided to accede
to another demand from this country.
The demand was that excessive charges
against American vessels which had
visited Cuban ports should be returned
and more justice should be shown to
such ships in the future. This is the
third important concession adopted by
Spain within the last three months in
reply to somewhat vigorous protests
from the state department. She has
granted a civil trial to Sanguilly, who
had been condemned 10 death by a
military tribunal. She next accorded to
the Competitors crew rehearing be-
fore a similar court.
The protest made in behalf of Amer
lean vessels trading with Cuban ports
was sent to Madrid about two months
ago. 1t pointed out that at Havana
particularly, ships plying between that
place and ports of this country had
been unjustly Disseminated against in
many instances. In some cases fines
We're imposed against the vessels for
alleged infractions of harbor regula-
lions. In others the manifests were
inaccurately registered. Secretary Oh
ney, addressing Minister Taylor, urged
that prompt representation be made to
Spain that the treatment of the ships
of this country in Cuban waters ap-
reared from authentic reports to be
such as to warrant the demand that in
instances which he specifically pointed
out there should be a restitution of
certain sums of money to ship owners.
Reports which reached the state de-
partment before the protest was sent
to Mr.. Taylor showed that on rather
frequent occasions American captains
had to pay fines imposed by officials at
Havana which were excessive as well
as unjust on other grounds. The cap
tains, for time, paid these, but as
the assessments grew in amount and
frequency they finally appealed to Con-
sui General Lee who, in due course,
laid their cases before the state de-
partment.
1t appears that the American cap
tainS learned that commanders of other
foreign ships touching at Havana were
not required to pay such heavy fines
or penalties for the same kind of of
lenses alleged in their cases They as
serted that the Havana officials had
heretofore disseminated against them.
Consul General Lee examined a num-
Der of complaints of this character and
decided that they were we'll founded.
Minister Taylor has informed the
state department that, pursuant to his
instructions, he laid the matter before
the Spanish foreign office. He repre-
scented the case to be one calling for
prompt and favorable action.
He also called the attention of the
foreign minister to the Importance of
issuing directions to the Havana Of
ficials that American vessels touching
at that port should not be discrim-
mated against.
A few days ago the duke of Tetuan
took action favorable to the claims of
the American captains and to those
who have just cause for complaint the
difference between the sums they paid
and that which they ought to have
paid, will be refunded. Proper instruc-
lions will be sent to the Havana offic-
ials as to their future course with
American ships.