The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-18
kiO CONGRESS CUSTOMS PLAN.
AIMS TO SIMPLIFY PORT LAWS
or AMERICAN REPUBLICS.

Provides for special Bureau 10 Collect IN.
formation on which Next Pan-AmeTi-
can Conference viii Act -UnlfOrmity
in statistical Reports Also sought.
RIO On JANEIRo, Aug. 1.-THE PAN
American Conference yesterday adopted
q measure in the form Of a resolution pre-
sented by the committee on commerce.
providing principally for the establishment
on a bureau or division Of the Bureau OF
American Republics under the supervision
Of an expert whose duty it shall be to make
. special study Of customs legislation
cons,lar regulations and statistics OF the
American republics. This plan IA for the
purpose OF bringing about the greatest
possible dissemination Of statistical and
commercial information and for the simpli-
Hcation and coordination of the customs
and consular laws of the various countries
referring especially to the entry and clear
ance Of ships and merchandise.
When the committee on took
up the questions concerning dissemina-
ton Of information and simplifcation OF
port laws il quickly found that il had no
working basis and accordingly could not
frame any treaty, convention protocoI
or other agreement. There were no de-
LAllB OF the laws Ol lut NditOho
how they varied, where they were right
or wrong or inefficient. After considerable
consideration it was determined that II
would be far better TO allow the questions
20 10 over until the next conference, IN
the meantime providing for the collection
OF information.
There have been recommendations by
previous conferences covering these mat
ters, but there has never been a practical
wny of taking action on these recommended
tons.
One Of the things on which nearly all OF
the delegates seem to he in accord il that
The statistics Of every country should ne
published on a uniform basis so that the
annual reports on various subjects In all
countries shall be easily comparable with
regard 20 the classification Of goods, the
method OF calculating their values, measure
OF ships tonnage, forms Of consular and
custom despatch, &c. II will probably not
be difficult to establish his uniform basis
a Just what is desired is clearly stated.
Continuing, the report of the committee
10 the conference says;
In order to simplify and unity the con-
sular and customs laws referring to the
entrance and despatch OF ships and goods,
Il IL necessary first to undertake a study OF
the details and of the whole customs legisla-
tion Of all American countries and OF the
consular regulations Of the said countries,
such study TO be undertaken by a person
skilled in these matters and to be put into
the form of a well founded report, determin-
ing the measures TO he adopted to attain
such a benehcent result. This work
should be intrusted, by preference, to a
single person, and not to a with
impersonal responsibility"
The committee TO attain the desired ends
adopted the following resolution, which
was later approved by the conference:
ARTICLE /. The governing board Of the
Bureau OF American Republics shall create
a special department dependent upon it,,
which shall be known "a the Department Of
Commerce, Customs and Statistics and
shall appoint as its director a specialist in
these matters.
Article ii. This department shall have
as its chief object a special study of customs
legislation, consular regulations and sta
tistics Of the republics Of America and
shall impart with the shortest delay and
at least n year before the meeting OF the
all information as to the measures TO be
adopted to the end Of obtaining:
"tai The simplifcation and uniication,
"a flr az POSSIBLE. OF the consular and
customs laws referring to the entrance and
despatch Of ships and goods.
@(bI The uniformity OF the basis that
shall regulate the Official statistics OF all
the American countries.
~(cD The greatest possible diffusion OF
statistical and commercial data and the
greatest development and amplification Of
commercial relations between American
republics.
I'D That the customs houses of Ameri-
can countries shall indicate the duties To
be paid on articles Of importation when
samplea Of such are sent to them.
Article III IT committee to be appoint
ed in each ountr in conformity with the
resolution approved by the third Pan
American Conference at its session on the
18th Of August shall be charged with the
DUTY Of collecting the data desired by the
department Of commerce., customs and
statistics Of the Bureau OF American Re-
publics.
Article Iv.-The governing board az Roof
as the information shall have q pre-
eented to it shall Immediately forward
copies to the Governments Of the American
REPUBLICS, 70 that IL may be duly studied
and NAV Aerve aS a basis for the Instructions
to be given to the delegates to the Fourth
conference"
The establishment Of the committees
in various countries 10 which reference is
made in the third article Of the resolution
was provided for in the Bureau Of American
Republics project. There Is to be a com
mittee appointed by, Governments in
every country whose duty it shall be to
forward to the Bureau OF American Re-
pubiics any information which may be OF