New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-05
AMERICAN SHIPPING LAWS.
BRITISH AND OTHER VESSELS Ar
FECTED BY THE DISCRIMI-
MATING DUTY.

CONGRESS" FROM SECTION % OF THE
TARIFF ACT MAY REPEAL THE LAW
WHEREBY FOREIGN SHIPS ENJOY
MARITIME RECIPROCITY IN
OUR PORTS.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir; A question Of much greater importance thah
that now before the Attorney-General for MS ne
oision in the contiguous country case arises
under the same Section % of the Tariff act OF JUL!
d 1897 l, involves discriminating duty OF 10 per
cent ad valorem all goods. wares ana iio' .
chandise which shall be imported into the Oh'eu
States in vessels belonging to Great bI't"i'''
France. Spain, Portugal. and three or tou' o'no
countries from ports other than those OF the cou-
tries to which such vessels sevorally belong. Inns
will explain in chronological order. with specHii
reference to British vessels
Article II Of the Convention to Regulate COM
nlerce and Navigation" concluded az Lonuo"' ''''
g. 1916 provides follows:
The same duties shall be paid on me I'M erowth
Tvs territories in Europe whether such EnpoJ ~
shall be ip vessels of the United states OF IN m The
fermentation into the ports of any Of His BItannSh
Matesty's territories in Europe OF an! ,%e I'nted
growth produce or manufacture or the l., u Wr;,
Statcs whether such impora9n ShaH s ps
This Is The latest provision OF treaty as pe'We."
creo. R-itain and the United States In resaru 10
duties upon imports II grants to brush Nesse'e
the right TO bring into the United states eoou' %
growth produce or manufacture OF HIS bi''a''io
Majesty In Europe at the same rates Vi ~ %
w5en brought in American vessels. but IL anoruS
O.. pr,,;sb vessels no such privilege with respect 10
two important classes OF merchanolse' VIZ "a
Goods the production Of any country o'he' '''" ~
British possessions in Europe Whlch are 'io"e"'
into the United States from the ports OF such pos
-. .rd N, Goods of any description brought
into the United States from any ports on the CLONE
other than the ports of the British Empire Ill
Europe. ,,, , ho,o
enioved the privilege Of entering at seaports Vi INC
limited States from any port In Inc "o''u' VIZ"
Goods the growth production or manufacture Vi
any country subject TO no other duties OF 'o',"se
or import than those which apply TO imports III
American vessels in like cases. This privilege has
been accorded to them under the provisions OF the
act of Congress Of May a. 1928, known as section
APIS of the Revised Statutes. That section reads
as follows:
Section 422s Upon satisfactory proof being given vel,
eien nation That no discriminating duties of ton
ne ISe such nation upon vessels wholly belonging to
Citizens of the United States. or upon the ProduCe
9pSm the THe Or siate5 or orsn
the IrSsden'f o may l9
tonnage and mpost within the United sra[ss be
VESSELS Of such foreign nation and the produce
manufactures or merchandise imported mo tr oo
United States from such foreign ha'o"' VI i'''''
any other foreign country.
Almost all the commercial nations Of the GLOBE
except Great Britain. have given satisfactory EVIL
dence' through the usual diplomatic channel Oh
tho acceptance Of the privileges of this act and
tho fact in each case has been announced by
proclamation Of the President Of the United states
Great Britain alone became entitled 10 such PRIV
leges through reciprocal legislative provisions ~!
the act of 70 and lS Victoria Chapter 90 June &c.
1s4e) England tardy follower Of the policy OF free
shining which the United States had inaugurated
in the year 1925 abolished all her old exclusive mari
time laws. The courtesy OF notice 10 the ChItec
States was withheld. but In reply 10 inquiries as
TO what course would be pursued by our Govern
ment toward British vessels after January !, ls10'
the date when the aforementioned act OF Parha-
ment was to take effect. the Secretary OF the
Treasury issued the following order to collectors OF
customs:
'if'O AND OTHER oFFICERs of
THE CUSTOMS
Treasury Department. october l5 1879
In consequence Of questions submitted by mer-
chants and others. asking, in consideration OF me
what footing the commercial relations between
the United States and Great Rritatn will be placed
tbe recent act Of the British Parliament into
Peaon the 5 owns feneH
lions for the Information of the officers Of the
eq First@1n consequence Of the alterations o. the
British navigation laws above referred TO- Brtlsn
Clnder our existing laws after January next be
allowed enter in our ports with cargoes OF me ne
second@such vessels and their cargoes will be
admitted from and after the date before mer-
Toned on the same terms. to duties. imposts
and charges, vessels Of the United sIa,es an;
Secretary Of the Treasury.
II will be seen from this circular that II az
corded to British vessels the benefits of that COM
plete maritime reciprocity in trade with foreig
nations which was offered to all the world by our
act Of MAY a. 1928 above quoted. Thus the right
to enter at ports Of the United States from any
foreign port with goods. wares or merchandise the
production of any nation on the globe. upon the
same terms American vessels has been en-
toyed by British vessels since January l. 1850. un-
der the provisions of this departmental order. and
not by virtue Of the terms Of any treaty The con
tnuance Of the arrangement has, of course. at all
times been subject to the pleasure of Congress
The next statutory provision having an i'm
portant bearing upon the matter here under con-
sideration was enacted on June 80. 1864. In the
Revised Statutes II reads as follows
Section 250e discriminating duty of 10 per
oese1n by al law shall be levied collected and paid
On all goods, and merchandise which shall
but this this discriminating duty shall not apply to
goods. wares and merchandse which shall be be-. I'M
by treaty or any act OF Congress, to he entered
Il the ports Of ns sha sfa bs 1 pad c. Goods
wares and merchandise imported In vessels OF the
United States
BY the words "or any act of Congress- in this
section the discriminating duty of 10 per cent
therein provided did not apply to British vessels
nor to the vessels of any other foreign nation
which. by the terms of the proclamation Of the
President Of the United States. had been granted
the benefits OF that complete maritime reciprocity
provided by the act of May "a, 1898
This section of the of June go 1864 IL repeated
In the Mckinley act of 1890. also in the Wilson &C,
Of 1894. and II appeared verbatim In the Dingley
bill Of 1897 as It passed the House of Representa-
tiyes But In the Senate exceedingly important
change was made. The Senate Committee FL
nance struck out the entire section. In this form
the bill was reported 10 the Senate. But In the