No. 547.
General Sickles to Mr. Fish.
United
States Legation in Spain,
Madrid, January 15, 1874.
(Received February 16.)
No. 963.]
Sir: I have the houor to forward, herewith, a copy
of an order of the minister of hacienda, dated 31st December, ultimo,
suspending the collection of the tax on exports, some time since reduced
from five to one per centum.
I have, also, the satisfaction to forward a copy of a decree published
to-day, abolishing the tax definitely.
I am, &c,
[Page 856]
[Inclosure 1 in No. 963.]
Circular Order of December 31, 1873, suspending the tax of one per cent, on
exports.
[Translated from “La Gaceta de Madrid” of
January 11, 1874.]
Illustrious Sir: The government of the republic
has decided to suspend, until further orders, the collection of the
extraordinary and temporary impost denominated port
and sea police dues (carga y policia
naval,) which dicision has been communicated by telegraph to
the provincial customs administrations.
By order of the aforesaid government, I inform you of this for the
corresponding effects. May God guard you many years.
PEDREGAL,
The General Director of
Customs.
Madrid. December 31,
1873.
[Inclosure 2 in No. 903.]
Decree of January 14, 1874, abolishing the export-tax called “Impuesta de carga y policia
naval.”
[Translated from “La Gaceta de Madrid” of
January 15, 1874.]
ministry of finance.
Decree.
The extraordinary war-impost, called that of “carga y policia naval”
(port and marine police dues,) affects so many interests and trenches
upon so many rights that it has been the object of reclamations, both
from Spanish citizens and from foreign subjects. The government of the
republic, which needs every recourse for the operations of the campaign,
and which neither can nor should deprive itself of any source of revnue,
however painful the sacrifice may be to those who pay the tax, finds
itself, nev-rtheless, obliged to heed the sentiment of equity and the
arguments of justice. It is evident that this impost, not yet collected,
and, in fact, suspended by the very government that created it, is an
obstacle to foreign commerce, augments the burdens that weigh on our
mining industry, and is contrary to international treaties, without
yielding any large return to the exchequer. As a war-tax, and therefore
of a temporary character, it might have been justified, limiting it to
merchandise exported under the Spanish flag by national producers; but
in that case it would have acted adversely to our industry and our
mercantile navy for the benefit of those of other countries.
The tax having been already reduced, and its collection not having yet
been enforced in the custom-houses, the moment has come for its final
suppression.
The government of the republic, in a council of ministers, and on the
showing of the minister of finance, decrees the following:
Sole Article.—The temporary and extraordinary
war-impost, denominated that of “carga y policia naval,” is hereby
suppressed.
Madrid, January fourteenth, one
thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
The President of the executive power of the
republic,
FRANCISCO SERRANO.
The Minister of Finance,
José Echegaray.
