Department
of State,
Washington, November 17,
1885.
No. 412.][Inclosure in No.
412.—Extract.]
Mr. John B. Hamel
to Mr. Bayard.
West
Philadelphia, November 7,
1885.
Sir: Your letter 6th instant received, and
contents noted with thanks.
The preamble of the decree of June 30, 1882, says that in order to give
further facilities to the people of Cuba, cabotage is established, and that the products of Cuba,
excepting colonials, will be admitted free of duties in Spain. This does
not exclude metals.
At that time the duties on old iron was 1.35 pesetas (about 27 cents) per
100 kilograms, and for many years previous it had reached as high as
2.50 pesetas (50 cents), yet they forced us to pay over $6,000 at the
rate of 5 pesetas ($1) per 100 kilograms. Therefore it is not a treasury
ruling, but fixing new duties that only Cortes can do. Our first
shipments after June 30, 1882, were admitted free, until November, 1883,
when the customs authorities discovered that Cuba was not a part of
Spanish possessions, but some unknown foreign land, and therefore goods
imported from Cuba ought to pay duties that had never before been paid.
The minister of finance naturally sustained his employés.
Old metals are the product of the country where they become old. Here we
say American or imported scrap-iron. All old metals paid duty when new
and imported into Cuba, and became nationalized.
I am, &c.,
