New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-16
TO PROTECT AMERICAN TRADE IN ALASKA.
THE SENATE BILL AMENDING THE NAVIGATION
LAWS PASSED BY TIE HOUSE.

Washington Feb. Is (SpecaD.-After q short de-
bate to-day the House OF Representatives. on mo-
ton OF Mr. Payne. Of New-York, passed without a
division the bill which passed the Senate last week
10 amend the laws relating 10 navigation. An iden-
teal bill was favorably reported yesterday by
Chairman Payne from the Committee on Merchant
Marin. and Fisheries The objects Of the legisia-
ton which is Important in view OF recent discov-
cries and developments In Alaska, are TO protect
tho American coastwiss and river trade in Alaskan
waters and are defined by the Secretary OF the
Treasury in a recent communication to be:
First-To strengthen and render more explicit the
trade dncluding trade between the rest OF the
United States and Alaska shan be reserved e1cu-
Second--To cover more explicitly this situation:
Sss0ng v Of b. Yukdn Se Y Yukon IS @
low in places only four feet deep. transfers
Going vossois TO river vessels drawing little water
are therefore necessary at ST. Mchaers Subsian,
TALLY the SINE is true of the Suckeen River ana
Wrangel. near its mouth.
The scope and effect Of the provisions of the
amendments soon to become a part OF the law.
which will go into effect thirty days after its APP
prosal by the President. set forth as follows by
the Secretary Of the Treasury:
The question has recently been put TO tho Treas
ury whether American goods consigned 10 Alaskan
ports from Seattle can be carried IN american
vessels to Victoria distance OF only seSenty
sells TO be carried TO Dyea a distance OF about
nine hundred miles or TO ST. Michaers. distance
Of about two thousand miles. The Treasury De
parment has ruled that this IS VIC ation OF the
laws reserylng the coasting trade to American
vessels 1t is pal pablo evasion or those Jaws out
IN some quarters doubt is expressed whether the
courts will decide, as they did in the case OF a
Antwerp by a foreign vessel and thence to San
Francisco by another foreign vessel, that the law
had been successfully evaded. not ioaed. That
decision led to the amendment Of Rsyised Shame
LII by the Ss act 25 10 that
however does not. perhaps. fully cover the trans,
action here referred to. The policy OF tho United
States is 10 conilne carrying by water for the
whole voyage between American ports to American
vessels 1t is believed that Section ! explicitly
'h sec PT'y S of the HH al june ~ 1886
poses penalty OF only 81 on foreign vessels carry
Ills small penalty is wholly inadequate TO pre-
serve the coastwise carrying Of passengers TO
American y , on the long a1 me- y9
10 Alaska. up the Yukon. etc. The penalty is In
a.ssd Sv @ Th sw for Is 70 Tx.
specially suggest that the penalty proposed by
this section may be increased 10 that maximum.
Secretary OF the Treasury has the power TO miti-
Section 8 is designed 10 give the Secretary OF the
Treasury full powers 10 regulate the transfer OF
cargoes and passengers from deep-sea vessels TO
Stckeen. Tho conditions under which such trans
fers Will cannot now be fully foreseen. the
the treasury seems the Only way 70 meet me situa-
ton. After one seasons experience IT Will probably
he possible. II desirable. TO offer for consideration
more precise legislation.
See !. section 3los Of TIE Revised Statutes IS
purchase OF Alaska was made in 1851 There is some
doubt therefore, whether Section 800 IL applicable
cable The insertion OF the words transfer her
cargo or passengers 10 another vessel is neces-
sary as seagpins vessels at r 81 Michaels do not
water Accordingly they transfer. The section is
necessary supPemen, TO Section on Of The BIZ
regulations