Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1897 — TONNAGE DUTIES OFF. [ARTICLE]

TONNAGE DUTIES OFF.

EXEMPTION GRANTED TO MEXICAN SHIPPERS. - President McKinley Reciprocates a Courtesy Already Extended to Us by Mexico—Dun’s Review Secs Improv? 5 ment of Business Coming. Makes It Mutual. President McKinley has issued a proclamation; the pith of which may be found in the following: “Whereas, satisfactory proof has been given me that vessels of the United States in ballast which proceed to Mexico with the object of devoting themselves to pearl fishery and fishing on the Mexican coasts or for the purpose of receiving and carrying passengers and mail or of loading cattle, wood or any other Mexican product and which shall go directly to ports open to general commerce, so that thence they may be dispatched to their destination, and steam vessels of the United States are exempted from tonnage duties in Mexican ports. Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States qf America, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby declare and proclaim that from and after the date of this, my proclamation, Mexican vessels in ballast which proceed to the United States with the object of fishing on the coast thereof or for the purpose of receiving and carrying passengers and mail or of loading cattle, wood or any other product of the United States and which shall go directly to ports open to general commerce, so that thence they may be dispatched to their destination, and Mexican steam vessels shall be exempted from the payment of the tonnage duties imposed by section 4219 of the Revised Statutes of the United States, This proclamation shall remain in force and effect until otherwise ordered by the President of the United States?’.

Signs of Better Trade. R. G. Dun & Co.’s Weekly Review of Trade says: “Colder and more stormy weather, so long needed to accelerate the distribution of winter goods, has materially helped in some quarters, o<nd the resulting improvement in retail trade is mentioned in nearly every Northern dispatch this week, so that orders to fill stocks have been encouraging, and in some branches the multitude of demands for immediate delivery show that the distribution to consumers has already gone much beyond the expectation of dealers. Failures for the week have been 291 in the United States, against 276 last year, and 24 in Canada, against 46 last year.” Sovereign Steps Out. James R. Sovereign, who has been general master workman of the Knights of Labor for several years, has been relieved of his office by the general assembly, in sesssion at Louisville, Ky. Henry A. Hicks of New York, district 253, New York City, was chosen to fill Mr. Sovereign’s place, and I. D. Chamberlain of Pueblo, Colo., was selected as general worthy foreman. Sarsfield Fitzpatrick of Montreal and Henry Bostock of assembly 300, glassworkers, were chosen as the two members of the executive hoard, the third member being Andrew 1). Best.