Show p BREAKS LAW Navy Department Uses Foreign Ves Vessels Vessels Vessels sels Which Are Barred BaITed to Private Citizens Washington Oct 7 A conference was held at the navy nav department today be between between between tween Secretary Metcalf Commissioner of Navigation Chamberlain Chamber lam and the solicitor solicItor solicItor of the department of commerce and labor regarding the status of the British tramp steamer Netherlee which took a cargo of coal for the navy nay department to the he Bremerton navy yard ard and was held up there for tonnage dues and light taxes Advices received at the department to day were that the vessel Is discharging her cargo A thorough search was made of or the records today toda to ascertain whether any an Immunity front from these charges had been be n promised to the owners or agents of the vessels Secretary Metcalf declaring that so far tar as he was aware none had been made The contention of the naval officials is that the old law Imposing ton tonnage tonnage tonnage nage and light dues was superseded by the statute which forfeits to the govern government government government ment cargoes carried by foreign vessels ves els elsIn in the American coastwise trade in viola violation violation vIolation tion of the laws The attorney general g in his recent opinion replied In the nega negative negative tive when asked by b Secretary Metcalf whether the prohibition contained in the th law extended to merchandise which con constitutes constitutes constitutes property owned by the gov government government government This being the case and the cargo of ot the vessel belonging to the navy the officials of or the latter department fall fail to see any reason for the detention of oC the vessel A dozen or more other foreign vessels char chartered chartered chartered by the equipment bureau to carry coal to the Pacific coast will be affected by b the final disposition ot of the present Ica case cave e |