The daily morning Alaskan., 1900-03-24
On the Question of Dropping
 This as a Sub Port.
CANADIAN SIDE OF IT
Both Mir. Busby and Mr. Andrews Give Their Views on the Reoent
 Treasury Rulings, and Leading
 Merchants Give Thoir Opinions.

The Port Townsend report appearing in the st.lnteligeneer that probably tho treasury department would be called upon to abolish Skagway as a support, so as tC completely shut out Canadian goods from going through here to the Klondlke, has been the subject of some discussion in the eitv.
 The report of such a movement for the abolition of Skagway as a subpoit orig mated with the order by the treasury de- partment that 1t would not permit British steamers to land American goods for Nome without the payment of duties. the object being to prevent foreign bottoms engaging in American eoastwiSe trade, either by eva sion or directly.
 Collector Andrews, of the port of Skag> way, says there will likely be no applIea- tion on the part of the ruling to this port, and that he has no idea theie is anything Tn it to portend a thlnge in affairs so far as the port of Skagway is concerned,
 However, there remains the report from below that the Canadians protest against the Nome exclusion, and threaten retali- aton by bringing pressure to bear hpon the American government. They want this pressure exerted to prohibit American vessels carving goods shipped through the United Stat>s in bond en route to Daw> son.
 The protesting Canadians claim that the American vessels should have no right to carry Canadian goods destined foI Canadi- an ports. From Port Townsend, the head quarters of the Puget sound customs dis trlct, comes the story that 1t is hInted in Washington that should the Brltishers hold out for the Canadian bonded goods for Canadian vessels, the treasury depart- ment of Uncle Sam will be called upon 10 abolish the support of Skagway.
 This port does not exist as treaty port. but has been opened to the convenience of the Britlshers through the extension of privileges upon the part of the American treasury department. A treasury ruling was Issued few days ago announcing the opening of this port for the shipment of British goods through to the KIondike in bond.
 E. $. Busby, supervising officer of Ca nadian customs at Skagway, says the Americans in enforcing the regulations spoken of are simply following the eus- tomarv rule of keeping foreign vessels from eoastlng between American ports or the shipping of goods originating from America for America by British vessels. He says further
 "All thls talk of retaliation is mere talk. The Americans will do nothing so radical as to exclude British traffic from the port of Skagway. The Americans now enjoy the privilege of passing through the wat' CTS of British Columbia in costing be> tween Skagway and Seattle and call at Canadian Sound ports. and that without even having to carry a Canadian customs officer. The British vessels running to Skagwav from British Columbia do moi have such freedom. Just as soon as a Ca nadlan steamer reaches Ketehikan she has to take aboard an American customs officer and carry him until she goes out of these waters.
 "What Americans and Canadians want is better feeling. There is already q eloee bond of kinship. Some say the sal vatlon of Skagwav will be a free port They do not know of what they are talk ing. A free port would mean the free ent' " of foreign goods to Skagwav and Amer ican territory alone. What they are think ing of Is a free zone to include the whole of the vast north In the possession of tn; British and the Americans. That would be we'll enough, That would be the sal vatlon of Skagway unless she should bC found to be in British territory.
 "As 1t stands the Canadians and Amer jeans are dealing more largely with each other than in the past and as the alien atI in the British Colun bIa legislature Is like ly to be much modified, and as many Americans have large interests both m thai district and in Dawson, als) many friends living there, cannot see but thIt both th' kindly feeling and business relations wll