The record-union., 1897-08-31

WASHINGTON, Aug. 30.-Involved
in the question of Interpretation in sec
tion - Of the new tariff with regard
to the 10 per cent. discriminating duty
on foreign goods coming into the United
States from Canda and Mexico which
is now before the Attorney General for
decision, is another question of equal,
if not greater, magnitude.
This other question has almost en-
tirely escaped public notice, but it is
giving the Treasury great concern. 1t
was referred to the Attorney General
by Secretary Gage for Interpretation
along with the other features of section
-, which are in controversy. 1t in
wolves the question of whether this
discriminating duty of 10 per cent.
does not apply to all goods imported
in foreign vessels landing at United
States ports, Which are not exempt
from discriminating tonnage taxes by
express treaty stipulation.
The question arises from another
slight deviation from the language Of
previous provisions in section %,
which, if made international, would
seem to indicate that it was designed
to discriminate against three-fourths
Pacific steamship lines, as we'll as
many of the South American lines. In
all previous laws the section CORE
spending to section % of the new law,
after providing for the 10 per cent
discriminating duty on goods imported
in vessels not flying the United States
flag, provides that this discriminating
duty shall not apply to goods, wares
ed in vessels not of the United States
entitled at the time of such importa-
ton by treaty or Act of Congress to be
entered in ports of the United States
or the payment of the same duties as
shall then be payable on goods, etc,
imported in vessels of the United
States"
The new law omits 'Act Of Con-
gress,' and substitutes convention"
so as to make it read not exempt by
treaty or convention"
1t is in pursuance of an "Act of
Congress, section 1929, that Presidents
in the past have by proclamation ex-
empted vessels of many countries from
this discriminating duty. The ques-
ton now before the Attorney General
is whether the omission of the words
Act of Congress- does not repeal Sec
ton 42oS. If it does it will strike a
tremendous blow at all foreign lines
now exempt by Presidential proclama~
tion, and confine the exemption strict
ly to the vessels of countries with
which we have treaties granting such
exemptions.
The vessels of countries which could
not be affected by an adverse decision,
that is, countries with which we have
treaties covering the specific subject,
are Sweden, Germany, Austria, Bra
zil, Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Greece,
Chile, Argentina, Hayti, Hawaii, Hol-
land, Russia and Turkey, Several of
these countries have no merchant ma
rine sailing TO American ports. The
countries now enjoying exemption from
discriminating duties, either wholly or
in part under proclamations issued in
pursuance of section 1888 of the Re-
vised Statutes, are Great Britain,
Spain, Portugal, Japan, Nicaragua and
Mexico. OF course the largest class
of vessels which might be affected are
the English lines, which come to the
United States not only from British
ports, but from the Oriental countries,
India, South America, and in fact
from every country on the globe. If
British vessels should be thrown back
upon their treaty exemptions, which
are contained in the treaty of Wash
ington, the goods of all British vessels
sailing from other ports except the
territorial possessions in Europe would
have to pay the additional 10 per cent.
tax. More than that. all goods shipped
in British vessels, not the product or
manufacture of Great Britains Euro
pean possessions even though shipped
from English, Scotch or Irish ports,
would be subject to the discriminating
duty. An adverse decision would, there
fore, affect the Cunard, Anchor, Arrow,
Trans Atlantic and other trans-Atlan-
tic lines to that extent, the French line,
the Phelps line, running to Mediterra-
mean ports. the two Portuguese freight
lines Except products of PortugaD,
several of the South American lines,
including what are known as the Green
line of steamers, the Japanese, the
Canadian Pacific and the Oriental and
Occidental steamers on the Pacific. be-
sides hundreds of tramp steamers.