(Mr. Barrett reports that President Amador in replying to Mr. Barrett’s
presentation address protested against the tendency to contradict the
spirit as well as the letter of the canal treaty, referring to the
imposition of the Dingley tariff and the establishment of customs ports
of entry at Ancon and Crystobal in conformity with the President’s order
of June 24, 1904. (Printed below.))
Office of the Isthmian Canal Commission,
Washington, D. C., June 25, 1904.
The following order of the Secretary of War is published for the
information and guidance of all concerned:
War Department,
Washington, June 24, 1904.
To the Chairman of the Isthmian
Canal Commission:
By direction of the President it is ordered:
Section 1. The territory of the canal zone
of the Isthmus of Panama is hereby declared open to the commerce of
all friendly nations. All articles, goods, and wares, not included
in the prohibited list, entering at the established customs ports,
will be admitted upon payment of such customs duties and other
charges as are in force at the time and place of their
importation.
Sec. 2. For the purposes of customs
administration in said canal zone, there are hereby established two
collection districts, as follows:
First. The district of Ancon, comprising the southern half of said
canal zone, more particularly described as follows:
The port of entry in said district shall be Ancon.
Second. The district of Crystobal, comprising the northern half of
said canal zone, more particularly described as follows:
The port of entry in said district shall be Crystobal.
Sec. 3. There is hereby created and shall
be maintained in the government of the canal zone a subdivision of
the executive branch to be known as the customs service; the general
duties, powers, and jurisdiction of the customs service shall be to
administer the customs laws and tariff regulations in force in said
zone. The governor of the canal zone shall be the head of the
customs service. There shall be a collector of customs for each
collection district, who shall receive an annual salary of $2,500 in
gold, payable in monthly installments. It shall be the duty of the
collector to collect all revenues derived from the enforcement of
the customs laws and tariff regulations in the district subject to
his jurisdiction and to perform such other service in the
administration of such laws as is ordinarily performed by a
collector of customs or as he may be required to perform by the
governor of the canal zone. The collector of customs shall be
appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the
Isthmian Commission. The governor of the canal zone is hereby
authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of deputy collectors,
surveyors of customs, and such other subordinates and employees as
may be necessary for the efficient administration of the customs
laws and service.
Sec. 4. The governor of the canal zone is
hereby authorized and empowered to prescribe and enforce rules and
regulations for the administration of the customs laws and service
of said zone, and report the same to the chairman of the Commission,
and said rules and regulations shall have the force and effect of
law until annulled or modified by legislative act of the Isthmian
Canal Commission or other competent authority.
Sec. 5. Until otherwise provided by
competent authority duties on importations into the canal zone are
to be levied in conformity with such duties as Congress has imposed
upon foreign merchandise imported into other ports of the United
States.
[Page 587]
Sec. 6. Goods or merchandise entering the
canal zone from ports of the United States or insular possessions of
the United States shall be admitted on the same terms as at the
ports of the States of this Union.
Sec. 7. All goods or merchandise, whether
free or dutiable, entering the canal zone by water, by rail, or
otherwise, for transportation across said zone must be entered at
the custom-house of the collection district wherein the point of
entrance is situated. Violation of this requirement shall subject
the goods to seizure and forfeiture by the customs officials.
Sec. 8. The governor of the canal zone is
authorized to enter and carry out an agreement with the President of
the Republic of Panama for cooperation between the customs service
of the canal zone and that of the Republic of Panama to protect the
customs revenues of both Governments and to prevent frauds and
smuggling.
Sec. 9. The governor of the canal zone is
hereby authorized to enter upon negotiations and make a tentative
agreement with the President of the Republic of Panama respecting
reciprocal trade relations between the territory and inhabitants of
the canal zone and appurtenant territory and the Republic of Panama;
also a readjustment of customs duties and tariff regulations so as
to secure uniformity of rates and privileges and avoid the
disadvantages resulting from different schedules, duties, and
administrative measures in limited territory subject to the same
conditions and not separated by natural obstacles. The governor
shall report as to such negotiations and proposed agreement to the
chairman of the Isthmian Canal Commission for submission and
consideration by the Commission and such action by competent
authority as may be necessary to render said agreement effective in
the canal zone.
This order will be proclaimed and enforced in the canal zone at
Panama.
(Signed) Wm. H. Taft,
Secretary of War.
This order will be duly published and enforced.
(Signed)
J. G.
Walker,
Chairman Isthmian
Canal Commission.
