The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-08-31
IT IS TROUBLESOME
Section rseaty.two MAJ Be u m
Reaching Character. m
Mr.. GAGE HAS ASKED LEGAL ADVICE.
Discriminating Duty May Apply to
Vessels Of All Countries
R. GAGE HAS ASKED LEGAL ADVICE.
ExcrrTMnEN TREATIES EXIST
ihts VIII Inciudc rhrcc-fourtha 0s
All TransHtiantic. Trunspnciac
ana south American Lines.

Washington, August S0.--lnvoIyed In
tho question OF the Interpretation OF scc-
ton - Of the new tariff law With regard
to the ~ per cent discriminating duty on
foreign goods coming into the United
States from Canada or Mexico. which n
now before the attorney general, Is anoth-
or 1uestion OF equal II not greater mag
nihtde. Tho other question has almost
entirely escaped public notice but II liz
niving the treasury department great con-
corn. It was referred to the attorney gen~
oral by Secretary 1age for Interpretation.
along with the other features OF section 2a
which are In controversy.
II involves tho question OF whether this
discriminating duty OF lc per cent does
not apply to all goods imported In foreign
vessels larding a, United States ports
which are moi exempt from discriminating
tonnage taxes by express treaty stipula-
tlons. The question arises from another
slight deviation from tho language OF pre-
vious provisions In section ~, witch. X
made Intentionally. would eerin to indicate
that Il was designed TO discriminate
against three-fourths OF all the big Trans
atlantic and Transpacifc steamships as
we'll MS many Of the South American lines.
In all previous laws the section corrc-
ter providing for the 10 per cont discrlm-
mating duty on goods imported IN vessels
not flying the United States nag provides
that this discriminating duty shall not
apply to goode. wares or merchandise
which shall not be imported 10 vessels not
OF the United States entitled at the Same
time TO such importation by trenty or act
OF congress TO be entered In ports Of the
United States on the payment OF the same
duties as shall then BIO payable on goods.
etc. imported In ,cspols Of the United
Statee.'
I The new law omin "acts Df ccngreAs''
and substitutes convention 20 AZ 10
make ~ read not exempt by treaty or
Anyantion.' II IL IN p.ira,las u of nm III
OF congress tscctton 4gas) that prosidenta
In tho past have by proclamation exempted
the vessels Of many countries from thia
discriminating duty. The question now
before the attorney general is whether tho
omission OF tho words "nct OF congress-
does not repeal section s22s. II II does 1t
viii strike q tremendous blow at all for
cig0 lines now exempt by presidential
proclamation and contne tho exemptions
strictly TO yeasols OF countries which wo
have treaties granting such exemption
with. The countries now cnjoyipg excmp-
ton from discriminating duties either
wholly or In part, under proclamatlons Us
tFnA ....p -. tl.x.. ..s 49,.
revised statutes ARE Great Britain. France,
spain. Portugal. japan, Nicaragua and
Mexico.
or course, the largest class Of vessels
which might be affected are the English
lines which como to the United States, not
only from British ports. but from Oriental
countries. India, South America and In
fact from every country Of tho globe, II
British vessels should be thrown back
upon their treaty exemptions which are
contained In the treaty OF Washington, tho
goods Of all British vessels sailing from
other ports except tho territorial possess
sion in Europe would have TO pay the adj
ditional 10 per cent tax. More than that,
all goods shipped III British vessels not the
proiuct or manufacture Of Great britain
aud European possessions 10 be shipped To
English, Scotch or I,1sh points would DO
subject 10 the discriminating duty. An
adverse decision would therefore affect tho
Cunard. the Anchoria. Transatlantic and
other Transatlantic lines TO that extent;
the French line, the Phelps limo 10 Medi-
tcrranoan polnts,the two Portuguese frcight
Ines Except products OF portugnlb. sew
erHl OF the South American lines. includ.
Ing what are known as tho Green line Of
steamers. the japanese. tho Canadian Pa
cifc and the Oriental ana Occidental
steamers on tho Pacific besides hundreds
OF tramp CLEANERS.
rtirloliR question would artSe tina