Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-16
THE CHINESE
CUSTOMS DUTIES
interesting Report on Them by
German Central Bureau,
WI CONFERS WITH SEC. HAY
Former Much Concerned over Delay
in Bringing About a Final Adj
Justment of Matters.

Washington, April 1G.--Regarding the
proposed arrangement Of the Chinese
customs duties which will play prom-
nent part In the present peace negotia.
tions between the powers and China,
the central bureau Of the German EN-
pire for the preparation of CONNER
cial treaties has made an interesting
report which L. S. Consul Sawyer, at
Glauchau, has transmitted to the de-
partment Of state The report in part
says:
THE so-called sea duties. those which
are levied on the goods entering Chinese
ports, are determined by treaties and
are In part specific and in part ad val
orem duties. All goods not particularly
named are subject to an ad valorem du-
ty Of per cent, the same being based
on the market value thereof, AS re-
CARDS determining such market value
the trsaty says that If the merchant
cannot agree with the Chinese officials
on the question at issue each party
shall call In two or three manufacturers
to examine the goods The highest price
at which one of such manufacturers
will be willing 70 buy the goods shall be
accepted as the value thereof In addi-
ton TO the import tariff there Is an eX-
port tariff. The articles not enumerat-
ed IN the import tariff which are speci-
fed from the export tariff must, when
imported pay the same duties as those
imposed upon them In the export tarll.
The s0-called sea duties however, as
Is well known are not the sole tax I'M
posed, a supplementary charge being
levied In the form of the Intermediate
duties known as liken,' Anent the rate
of such intermediate duties the treaties
merely state that they are to be levied
according TO the principles ruling al the
time when treaties are made, ana that
they cannot be raised subsequently,
This condition has proved to be per
fectly impracticabe The intermediate
duties have degraded into purely ar
bitrary charge In which the local CHI
nese officials seek and find their prn-
cipal source of income. There Is but
one single means Of remedying this ever
increasing evil, namely, to DO away
with this intermediate duty under the
present negotiations as a part of the
terms Of peace. To do this II VIII be
necessary to assent to an increase OF
sea duties. and secure TO the central
Chinese government the income neces-
sary TO deal with the question of COM
pensation consequent upon such an ad-
minisration charge"
WI CoNFERs WITH HAY.
Washington, April l5.-The Chinese
minister was at the state department
today In conference with secy. Hay
ON the status of the negotiations at
Pekln. The minister is somewhat con-
eerned over the delay In bringing about
a final adjustment and also on the cur
rent reports that the indemnitles reach
a very large figure, which, he fears,
will be beyond the ability Of emma 10
meet. When seen at the legation dur-
ing the day Minister WI said in re-
sponse to inquiries on these SUBJECTS
"We have been accustomed to near
that China Is very slow. But In TINS
case many weeks and months are go-
ing by without any delay attributable
10 China so far as ! have heard ana
vet without definite prospects OF bring
ing the negotiations to close. THIS
unsettled condition is very injurious 10
China. but II also is an injury which
Affects the whole world Take, for IN
stance the cotton industry Of the
south, The shipments TO China are
very large, but they have been falling
off owing 10 the unsettled condition OF
affairs and the trade is seriously me-
naced The same may be said OF many
Of tgan
the commerce Of all commercial ma
tons of Europe as well as America II
injuriously affected by the uncertainty
Of conditions in China. what we heeu
and what the commercial world needs
Is stability and some definite under
standing Of what conditions are.
"As to the question OF indemnlues l
receive little direct information But
7 have regretted to see from some OF
the published reports, that the total IN
IDENTITIES Is reaching a very large sum
II should be borne I'm mind that Chlna
herself has suffered losses through the
recent disturbances which VIII amount
10 many millions, and for which she
cannot hope TO recover indemnity 80
that II the claims of the powers ag-
eregate s3l4,0 900, as | see stated, II
probably would be an underestimate
10 saw that China's own losses VIII
reach twice that amount, say SoVV'VoV'
600 In the aggregate, china VIII be
shoudering a burden Of colossal pro-
nortlons. and this will come after the
country has passed through most
trying experience,
~ note that number OF suggestions
are made that indemnity should be
along the lines Of commercial adNan-
tages and improvements rather than
in money. How far this is feasible ]
cannot say. but the principle Involved
seems to me a good one. II has The
merit OF being unseltlsh. As un-
derstand Il, the indemnties thus far
asked are based entirely on the inter
ests OF the various powers. But The
interests Of China are worth consider
inc IN this matter, for after al, the
interests of China win have much 10
do In the end with the interest of all
those nations having relations with
her and which are carrying on extern
sive trade with the east
"There is splendid opportunity Just
now for such an object lesson TO the
chinese people as would obliierate all
anti.foreign sentiment and would show
them that the interest taken by for
eign powers In China has something TO
do with the development and progress
Of China as well as the personal inter-
est OF foreign nations our people
might be shown the benefits coming
from considerable foreign treatment
and they would be grateful to see
China restored 20 a condition OF pros
perity. AS 20 details. II is not for me
TO suggest what the powers could do
for china and for other mutual inter-
ests. but 7 am quite confident that "
they once put their heads together
very much could be accomplished in
the interests OF all concerned"
Movements of Army Transports.
San Francisco. April 15.-The trans
port Thomas. which arrived last
night, brought back from The Philip
pines the headquarters ard the first
and third battallons Of the Thirty
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