20 



THE HUMMING BIRD. 



[March i, 1891 



SCIENCE AND ART. 

 The McKinley Bill. 



The notice on the McKinley Bill, printed in No. 1 

 of The Humming Bird, has attracted a good deal of 

 attention in America, and many letters about it have 

 been received at the office of the Journal. Among 

 them is one which I consider of great interest to the 

 readers of The Humming Bird. Here it is : — 

 " New Britain, Conn., 



"Jan. 9th, 1 89 1. 

 " Editor of The Humming Bird. 



" Dear Sir, — I have this day received a specimen 

 copy of your bright little paper. I note with regret 

 the article on ' The McKinley Bill.' Your corres- 

 pondent is very evidently misinformed when he states 

 that the United States charge custom duties on ob- 

 jects of science and art. I would call attention to the 

 text of the McKinley Bill : ' Free List ' under the 

 letter ' S.' 



" ' Specimens of natural history, botany and 

 mineralogy when imported for cabinets or *as objects 

 of science, and not for sale.' 



"Again the ' Free List ' : ' Philosophical and 

 scientific apparatus .... statuary, casts .... 

 paintings, drawings and etchings .... for the use 

 of any society or institution .... for scientific or 

 literary purposes, or for the encouragement of the fine 

 arts, and not intended for sale.'' 



" In the list of dutiable objects, ' Miscellaneous 

 Manufactures ' under letter ' F' : 



" ' Paintings in oil or water-colours and statuary not 

 otherwise provided for in this Act, ad valorem 15 per 

 cent.' 



*' Under the old tariff law, the duty was 30 per 

 cent. We see that the McKinley Bill has actually 

 reduced the duty on works of art for mercantile pur- 

 poses, admits them free for truly artistic purposes, and 

 also admits objects of natural history free for collec- 

 tions and other than mercantile purposes. 



" Nearly all the objections raised against the 

 McKinley tariff laws arise from unfamiliarity with the 

 text of the Bill. 



" Trusting you will place this matter in a proper 

 light with your many readers, 



" I remain, yours, 



" E. M. HULBERT, 



" New Britain, Conn., 



" U.S. of N.A." 

 I am very glad to hear from the honourable corres- 

 pondent just cited that objects of natural history and 

 works of art will be admitted free for truly scientific 

 and artistic purposes ; but I maintain that this is not 

 enough. All objects of Natural History and works of 

 art ought to be free everywhere, and these distinctions 

 between objects for cabinets of science and not for 

 sale, will be a source of vexations all along to all 

 parties concerned. How will it be known that the 

 objects sent to America are for scientific cabinets 

 only, or for the trade ? It would be much better that 

 it should be altogether free as in England, France, 

 Germany, &c, 



The Editor. 



The Panama Canal. 



Continued from page 12. 



Supposing that Columbia should act in the way I 

 have suggested in my preceding notice, it would be 

 only just that a' committee composed of eminent 

 Colombians should have a control over the ex- 

 penditure made until the termination of the Canal, 

 and I don't think that a serious and honest company 

 would object to it. 



Help could also come from Europe, principally 

 from Italy and Spain, which countries are preparing 

 to celebrate in a sumptuous manner the four hun- 

 dredth anniversary of the discovery of America by 

 Christopher Columbus, 



What could be more appropriate for the celebra- 

 tion of such a remarkable event in the history of the 

 world, than a general subscription of all the inhabi- 

 tants, rich and poor, of these two countries, to be 

 handed to the company for the termination of the 

 Colombus Canal. 



I have no doubt that if such a general subscription 

 was started by Italy and Spain, all the other countries 

 would unite in the same grand idea, and very likely 

 enough money could be raised for the completion of 

 this wonderful work ; especially if the Press of all 

 countries was willing to help, and there are no 

 reasons to have any doubt about it. 



Then it could be called truly an International 

 Work, and every subscriber could be proud of having 

 contributed to it. 



But if this is to be done, there is no time to lose, 

 and the sooner steps are taken by Italy and Spain the 

 better it will be ; as work must be resumed as soon as 

 possible in the Isthmus, or else the expenses will get 

 beyond the estimates made by the Committee of 

 Engineers sent last year in Panama. 



I will call to the attention of the Special Com- 

 missions appointed in Italy, Spain,. Buenos Ayres, 

 &c, &c, all what precedes, in the hope that they will 

 include in their programme of the celebration of the 

 anniversary of the discovery of America by Christopher 

 Columbus, the subscription mentioned above. 



Some days ago I received from France the follow- 

 ing circular which I consider of interest to the bond- 

 holders. 



It is directed by the President of the Paris Central 

 Committee of the Panama Share and Bondholders to 

 the Presidents of the Departmental Committees of 

 France. Here it is : — 



Comité Central des Actionnaires et Obliga- 

 taires de la Compagnie de Panama, 39, 

 rue Taitbout, 39. 



Paris, le 12 janvier 1891. 

 Monsieur le président, 

 Je vous prie de vouloir bien donner communication 

 à votre comité du projet d'achèvement dont je vous 

 soumets aujourd'hui, d'une façon sommaire, les bases 

 générales, me réservant de compléter, dans le plus 

 bref délai possible, par de nouvelles explications, 

 celles qui vous sont adressées dans cette circulaire. 



