The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-07
A SERIOUS MARITIME PROBLEM.
Question of Extension OF Coast Line
Rule to Philippines.


The question whether goods must be
shipped exclusively in American ships be-
tween the United States and the Philip
pines, under recent decisions OF the su-
preme Court in the Philippine tariff cases,
has been brought to she attention Of the
Treasury Department The theory has been
advanced that since the court has ruled
that the Philippines are not foreign ter
ritory, the statute which restricts the
coasting trade to vessels of American reg
ister must be applied The Department
is not ready 70 admit this, and the matter
will not be considered seriously until
definite case is presented
Assistant Secretary Taylor instructed
the collector of customs at San Francisco
yesterday to remit the penalty Imposed
by the collector on the master Of Jap
anese steamship which was supposed by
the port officials to have violated the
coastlrg laws in bringing several cases OF
straw hats from the Philippines. The col
Iector thought a violation existed under
the recent Supreme Court decision. Mr..
Taylor, however, without passing upon
the main question, ruled that the forfeit
ure should be remitted because the fact
| that the merchandise was shipped before
the Supreme Court decision is sufficient
| to dispose Of the question in this par
| tfcuIar case
! It is possible that case involving
the main question Will not arise for some
time and the Treasury Department viii
not attempt to decide it On Z hypothesis.
Any ship from the Orient which car ar
rive on ti.e Pacific coast within the next
| three OF four weeks must have sailed
prior to the Supreme Court decision, and
viii, therefore, not be in violation Of the
coasting law by bringing goods from the
| Philippines.
It is possible that the question may be
pressed for an early settlement, however,
by the intended sailing OF some foreign
vessel from san Francisco with merchan-
disc for the Philippines
In that eySat, the Treasury Department
will proceed 10 wrestle with the ques-
| ton It is expected, however. that Con-
gress viii relieve the present doubtful
| situation by the early enactment OF the
proposed tariff law for the Philippines
The Treasury officials say that it would
be a misfortune. should IL be found nee
{
law applies to the Philippines II would
/ certainly impede the development OF ouI
trade With the Orient, for there are not
American ships enough 70 40 tho busi-
ness.
One Of the officials who did not wish Il
be quoted IN this connection, said today
1t certainly requires a stretch OF tht
Imagination TO suppose that the Philip
pines are a part OF the coast line Of tht
! United States Il was strained pretty
| hard TO apply to the cossting laws o
/ Hawaii. but I think IL would take somt
nerve to look the nations Of the world il
the face and say that only our owl
ships may. carry goods between the Unite,
States and the Philippines. and that thes'
islands are a part Of our coast line al
/ though we have 10 sail half way aroun,
the world 70 reach them.
William Z. Day. when he vas Presiden
Of the American Peace C-ulHfssioB a
Paris. told the Spanish commissioner
that the privileges Of the rrying trad
between the United States and the Phil
ippines was extended not only TO Spain
but to all other nations CT equality GiL
ourselves.