New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-19
SPAIN YIELDS ONCE MORE.
DISCRIMINATION AGAINST AMERICAN
VESSELS TO CEASE.
THE THIRD OF SECRETARY oISEy's DEMANDS
GRANTED ny THE GOVERNMENT AT MADRID
ANNOYING PRACTICES OF HAVANA Off
Gals TO BE DONE AWAY WITH.

Gals TO BE DONE AWAY WITH.
fnY TELEGRAPH TO THE TEIRUNE.1
Washington. Jan. iS-The Spanish GoVerr :
ment has decided - accedc to another d'nahu
from this country. The demand was that excess
sive charges against American vessels winch
had visited Cuban ports should be returned anu
more justice should he shown TO such ships IN
the future. This Is the third important conceS-
sion made by Spain within ;he last three months
I'm reply To somewhat vigorous protests rom the
State Department. She first granted CIVIL tria
To Sanguily. who had been condemned 10 dea'E
by "a military tribunal. She next accorded 10
the Competitors crew rehearng before d SINH
lar court Spain SIN refuses to act favorably on
the urgent claim OF Secretary Olney in inc inter-
est OF the Delgados father aud son. This latter
case is still under discussion.
The protest made in behalf Of American vessels
trading with Cuban ports sent to Madrid
about two months ago 1t pointed out that al
Havana particularly ships plying betw cen that
place and ports Of this country had been unjustly
Disseminated against IN many instances. III
some cases fines were imposed against Inc yes
sells for alleged infractons Il hatpor regr'atlohs
In others the manifests were inaccursteiy regis
tered. Secretary Oney, addressing MINISTER
Taylor urged that prompt representation De
made TO Spain that the treatment OF 'hr sh'ps
Of this country in Cuban waters appeared from
authentic reports to be such as to warrant the
demand that I'm instances which he specifically
pointed out there should be d restitution OF GER
tain sums OF money TO shpovners
He further said that as 1t seemed mat there
had been discrimination IT Havana against
American ships Spain should he called upon 10
give assurances that vessels flying the stars
and Stripes should be subjected only to such
port rules az were enforced against the Vesse's
Of other countries Reports which reached the
State Department before the protest was SENT
TO Mr.. Taylor showed that on rather frequent
occasions American captains had to pay fines
imposed by officials az Havana which were ex-
cessiva as well as unjust on other grounds. The
captains for a time paid these. but az the as
sessments grew in amount and frequency they
finally appealed TO Consu-General Lee, who'
in due course laid their cases before the Stale
Department
II appears that the American captains
learned that commanders Of other foreign shps
touching AZ Havana were not required TO pay
such heavy fines or penalties for the same hnuS
of offences alleged in their cases. Ihey Assert
ed that the lIavana officials had therefore as
eliminated against them. Committeeman Lee
examined q number of complaints OF thus char-
acter and decided that hey were ell founded.
one particular protest made by American cap,
tains was that the Havana officials changed
their manifcsts materially in making entries
Of the same for purposes Of local record
A somewhat exaggerated case OF inns was INA,
of n New-York ship. The vessels manlfes.
showed that she had on board J,oVO bushels Oh
potatoes. The Havana Custom House copy OF
the manifest bore the entry ''Oooo busheis Oh
potatoes" There is some local rule at ia
vana under which the Custom House onlc,a'
receives fees proportionate TO the SIZE OF tie
cargo OF a ship whose papers come under tneir
examination. If ship carried 'VU pushcis
of potatoes The fee under this regulation Wouid
he much less than if the manifest called lor ~
OO0 bushels. American captains said that they
had TO pay a large small port Zee on TINS
score according to the record or the havana
officials. They did not object TO paving tne i Zee
facts their protest to General Lee WAS e"'-
phatc. A., c.. ~
partment that, pursuant to his lnstfuc'iohs nv
laid the matter before the spanish oie'ea rio
fee He represented the case to be one CANINE
for nromDt and favorable action. His note was
before the Duke of Tetuan Tor several GAYS
With il were filed papers going to supstah''ate
the American claim. ana TO SET lor'h III S'ili
detail The various sums Of money when A'ller-
Gan cantaine had been called on 70 pay aboN"
the lust fees Mr. Taylor said that these sums
should he paid back 10 the captains or that
their vessels should have credit for the amounts
ON the hooks Of the Havana Custom House
10 aIeo called the attention Of the Foreign Min
ister 10 the importance Of issuing directions 10
the Havana officials that American Nesseis
touching at that port should not be discrlh'i-
mated against r.. ,oo,, 40
.ion favorable to the American claim. To ire
American captains who have Just cause i"r coih-
,,lajnt of excessive dues the difference between
the sums they paid and that which they onsn'
IN have paid will he refunded. Proper lnstruc-
tions will be sent TO the Havana offciais as 10
their future course with American SHIPS