No. 505.
Mr. Hunter
to Mr. Foster.
Department
of State,
Washington, September 18,
1883.
No. 74.]
Sir: Referring to instructions to your legation of
the 14th April and the 23d June last, in regard to the unwarrantable charges
made by Spanish consuls here as fees, I have to inclose a copy of a letter
of Messrs. McGrew & Small, of this city, and of protests, which they
send herewith, of Joseph Johnson and Joseph Thompson, masters of American
schooner Mira A. Pratt, against export fees exacted of them by A. Bermudez,
Spanish consul at Key West, Fla., on her cargoes of cattle shipped from that
port to Havana on the 30th of April and 14th of May, 1883, and of the other
papers mentioned in their letter.
Submitting the case for pertinent action,
I am, &c.,
W. HUNTER,
Acting
Secretary.
[Inclosure in No. 74.]
McGrew & Small
to Mr. Frelinghuysen.
Washington, D. C., September 10, 1883. (Received September
11.)
Sir: Inclosed please find protests of Joseph
Johnson and Joseph Thompson, masters of American schooner Mira A. Pratt,
against export fees exacted of them by Augusto Bermudez, Spanish consul
at Key West, Fla., on two cargoes of cattle shipped from that port to.
Havana, Cuba, on the 30th of April and 14th of May, 1883,
respectively.
We also inclose a letter from our correspondent, Mr. James McKay, in
explanation of said protests, and a copy of receipt given by Consul
Bermudez for $199.20 consular fees on 498 head of cattle shipped on the
steamer Alabama on the 8th of May, 1883
[Page 792]
Be pleased to acknowledge receipt of these papers, and to advise us
whether any progress has been made towards settlement from the Spanish
Government for the excessive export fees charged by their Key West
consul.
We have, &c.,
United States of
America,
State of Florida, County of
Monroe, City of Key West:
On this 30th day of April, 1883, personally came and appeared and
presented himself before me, W. J. H. Taylor, a notary public in and for
the county of Monroe and State of Florida, Joseph Johnson, master of the
American schooner Mira A. Pratt, bound on a voyage from this port of Key
West, to Havana, Cuba, having a cargo of 207 head of cattle; that on
this day he applied to Augusto Bermudez, consul of Spain resident at
this port, to visé his clearance procured from
the custom-house of this port, and was required by said consul of Spain
to pay in addition to the usual fees of his office, the sum of 40 cents
on each head of cattle on board said schooner, thus exacting the sum of
$82.80 export fees on said cargo of cattle.
Whereupon he, the said Joseph Johnson, master aforesaid, being a citizen
of the United States, hereby enters his protest against the payment of
the aforesaid sum of $82.80, which he has paid as aforesaid, as being
unwarranted by the power of any foreign Government to impose an export
duty upon the products or industries of the enterprise of a citizen of
the United States.
In testimony whereof the said Joseph Johnson has hereunto subscribed his
name, and I, the said notary, have to these presents set my hand and
seal the day of the date first above written.
Sworn to before me this 30th day of April,
A. D. 1883.
W. J. H. TAYLOR
,
Notary
Public.
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of an original protest
on record in my office.
[
seal.]
W. J. H.
TAYLOR,
Notary
Public.
United States of
America,
State of Florida, County of
Monroe, City of Key West:
On this 14th day of May, 1883, personally came and appeared and presented
himself before me, W. J. H. Taylor, a notary public in and for the
county of Monroe and State of Florida, Joseph Thompson, master of the
American schooner Mira A. Pratt, bound on a voyage from this port of Key
West, Fla., to Havana, Cuba, having a cargo of 214 head of cattle; that
on this day he applied to Augusto Bermudez, consul of Spain resident at
this port, to visé his clearance procured from
the customhouse of this port, and was required by said consul of Spain
to pay, in addition to the usual fees of his office, the sum of 40 cents
on each head of cattle on board said schooner; thus exacting the sum of
$85.60 export fees on said cargo of cattle.
Whereupon he, the said Joseph Thompson, master aforesaid, being a citizen
of the United States, hereby enters his protest against the payment of
the aforesaid sum of $85.60, which he has paid as aforesaid, as being
unwarranted by the power of any foreign Government to impose an export
duty upon the products or industries of the enterprise of a citizen of
the United States.
In testimony whereof the said Joseph Thompson has hereunto subscribed his
name, and I, the said notary, have to these presents set my hand and
seal the day of the date first above written.
Sworn and subscribed to before me this 14th day of May, A.
D. 1883.
W. J. H. TAYLOR
,
Notary
Public.
I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of an original protest
on record in my office.
[
seal.]
W. J. H.
TAYLOR,
Notary
Public.
[Page 793]
Dear Sir: Yours with copies of protests came to
hand. They are right. Captain Johnson was in command of the schooner
Pratt the first trip and Captain Thompson the second trip. Johnson went
in command the second trip. I inclose a copy of the receipt given for
the fees collected this year. I certainly think it is time the
Department was doing something if they ever intended doing anything.
Yours, truly,
Received from Mr. John Jay Philbrick the sum of $199.20, amount of
consular fees on 498 cattle shipped this day per Havana on the American
steamer Alabama, said sum to remain in deposit at this consulate till
further orders from the Spanish Government.
Key West
Fla., May 18,
1883.
AUGUSTO BERMUDEZ,
Consul for
Spain.
