Department
of State,
Washington
,
November 22,
1884.
No. 289.]
[Inclosure in No. 289.]
Mr. Williams to Mr.
Hunter
.
Consulate-General of the United States,
Havana
,
October 24, 1884.
No. 64.]
Sir: Replying to the Department’s instruction
No. 16, dated the 14th instant, inclosing the copy of dispatch No. 78
from the commercial agent at Mayaguez, Porto Rico, receipt of which is
acknowledged in my No. 62, and in which he informs the department of the
abolishment of the office of custom-house interpreters in Porto Rico,
and, instead, the requiring masters of vessels to have their manifests
translated at their own expense, I now have the honor to say, that upon
the plea of economy, the same office has also been abolished in this
island by royal order, promulgated in the Official Gazette, on the 24th
of June last past.
In virtue thereof, the manifests of American vessels, as well as those of
other nations, not presented in the Spanish language are translated at a
cost to the masters ranging in each case from $4 to $25 Spanish gold.
Thus far, no complaints from masters have reached this office in
consequence.
But, as instructed, I shall represent the hardship and unfairness of the
measure to the proper authorities. I have, &c.,
RAMON O. WILLIAMS,
Consul-General.
