tine has stated. I agree, and I state it now, with the opinion of the honorable delegate. I ask that the article be submitted to a vote with the addition offered by my colleague, the honorable delegate from the Argentine.

Mr. ESTEE. Will you allow me to suggest how I think we can get out of this trouble? I think we should first vote on the proposed amendment offered by the honorable delegate from Colombia and then vote upon the amendment proposed by the honorable delegate from the Argentine.

Mr. QUINTANA. I have no objection to that being done, but then the Argentine delegation will abstain from voting, for it declares it for the third or fourth time. If the addition it offers is rejected, it will vote against the article.

Mr. TRESCOT. Mr. President, I would suggest to my friend from the Argentine Republic that by voting aye or no he is not recommending that. He can vote upon the amendment, and then the resolution upon the whole will be submitted. Then the question comes up as to whether we shall accept the amendment of the honorable gentleman from the Argentine. This amendment does not change the difficulties. They can vote for or against it; but when it is passed they can vote as they please upon that, either with or without the adoption.

Mr. QUINTANA. What I desire, Mr. President, is to curtail this discussion, for we can not continue in this strain.

The attitude of the Argentine delegation can not be clearer, and I beg the honorable delegate will understand it. The Argentine delegation is against the

article, as worded by Mr. Hurtado, or otherwise, if the addition it proposed is not accepted; but if it be accepted, it will vote for the plan and each of its articles.

The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. It appears that what is offered by the delegate of the Argentine Republic comes fully under the thirteenth rule, and can, in consequence, be voted on first.

Mr. SAENZ PEÑA. The proper proceeding, to my mind, is to first put the question, if an exception is to be made in favor of the amendment proposed by the delegation of the Argentine Republic.

Mr. ESTEE. Mr. President, I would ask to have the original of the article read, and then the article as amended.

(The article was read as requested.)

Mr. VARAS. Will the honorable President allow me to ask that the amendment offered by the honorable delegate from Salvador, and which has been accepted by the committee, may also be considered?

The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. When the vote is taken on this article?

Mr. VARAS. In case the honorable President thinks such a course will simplify the matter; if not, I leave it entirely to his judgment, as I believe every question of order and voting should be left to him.

Mr. HURTADO. I concur in the remarks made by the honorable delegate from Chili. I think it is in order to first vote the amendments, all the more since, in the present case, as I have been able to glean, the motion made by the honorable delegate from Chili at the suggestion of Mr. Castellanos, is generally accepted.

The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. If the question were merely to resolve the point between the honorable delegates speaking the Spanish, the Chair would have no difficulty in acceding to the request; but our colleagues from the United States have not been apprised of the amendment offered by the honorable delegate from Chili.

The vote will be taken on the addition presented by the honorable delegate from the Argentine Republic.

(The secretaries read the said addition.)

Mr. TRESCOT. Mr. President, the first clause is before this Conference. Three amendments have been submitted, and it is in your power to submit one of them.

The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. The Chair submits the amendment of the honorable delegate from the Argentine first.

Mr. TRESCOT. Mr. President, I do not intend to add anything to this question. I do not understand this question of tonnage very well. But as I understand this amendment I can not vote for it. This is a project to make all port dues uniform under the title of tonnage. Now the amendment goes on to add an exception which may apply to light-house dues, may apply to pilot dues, and to half a dozen other dues. It seems to me a contradiction. Then again, I think the Argentine, as every other Republic here, has a right to say that it can not carry out the project at present. Now, as I understand this question of private contract which is before us it is this: Suppose a ship of any tonnage pays $200 in the United States ports, and pays $200 in the Argentine ports. Now

the United States and the Argentine agree that they would like to reduce that tonnage to $100 because it would improve commerce with more freights and ships. Freely the United States say, we will strike out all other duties and charge $100 on that ship. The Argentine says, we can not do that, because other duties go to make up tonnage, which are under contract, and we can not and ought not to force those people to give up their contracts. Certainly, but the Argentine Republic can undertake to credit itself with what the contractors receive and put itself on the same footing with the United States.

When the United States is willing to reduce the tonnage $100 for the benefit of commerce, all the Argentine has to do is, while the $200 is collected, to say that it will be responsible for the $100 to the contractors. Now, it has a perfect right to say that they can not accept this article, but to ask us to put in that insertion is, to my opinion, to contradict the whole object of the report.

Mr. QUINTANA. Mr. President, I should state that I have not asked anything from any one.

The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. The amendment of the honorable delegate from the Argentine Republic will be voted.

The vote being taken, resulted as follows:

Mr. HURTADO. The secretaries will be good enough to inform me if this vote included the motion made by the reporting member of the committee?

The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. No, Mr. Delegate, we shall vote upon that amendment after the amendment offered by the Hon. Mr. Castellanos shall have been translated.

Mr. Secretary WHITEHOUSE. A further amendment has been added by Mr. Varas to the amendment offered by the Chilian delegation:

Except also pilotage and other dues for services rendered by private enterprises, and for wharfage and dues on docks, if not designed for public service without compensation.

The FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT. Are the honorable members of the United States delegation sufficiently posted on the amendment to vote on it?

Mr. ESTEE. Permit me to say, Mr. President, speaking for myself, I hope the whole article will be voted down. Of course if that article as proposed to be amended is adopted it would be nonsense for us to attempt to regulate port dues. The exceptions would be more numerous than the rule; I think it would be a great mistake for us to attempt to remedy the evils which now exist by adding new evils.

Mr. VARAS. I think that with a slight explanation I shall make to the Hon. Mr. Estee the impression he has voiced before the Conference will entirely disappear.

The idea conveyed in this addition is not new; it is expressed by the committee in its report and is recorded in the body thereof. It reads as follows:

The payment of these dues would of course not cover