Office of the Historian

No. 472.
Mr. Coleman to Mr. Bayard.

Legation of the United States,
Berlin, August 13, 1888. (Received August 25.)
No. 656.]

Sir: Referring to previous correspondence relating to Mr. Samuel R. Honey’s contention with the Prussian authorities with regard to the liability to pay a tax on income expended by his wife and daughter at Frankfort-on-the-Main, I have the honor to state that the foreign office has informed this legation under date of the 10th instant, in a communication of which I inclose herewith a copy, with translation, that the Prussian minister of finance has directed that the imposition of the tax in question shall be discontinued and the amount already paid refunded.

The legation is also informed that the question of Mr. Honey’s liability to a communal tax has been referred to the Prussian minister of the interior, and that a further communication relating thereto will be made to the legation.

[Page 651]

I will remark in this connection that Mr. Honey’s complaints to this legation have been hitherto understood to relate solely to the imposition of income tax.

The legation has notified Mr. Honey through the consulate general at Frankfort on-the-Maiu of the favorable decision and action of the minister of finance.

I have, etc.,

Chapman Coleman.
[Inclosure inNo. 656.—Translation.]

Mr. Hellwig to Mr. Pendleton.

Foreign Office,
Berlin, August 10, 1888.

Referring to the note of the 2d ultimo, foreign office No. 376, the undersigned has the honor to inform the envoy extraordinary and minister plenipotentiary of the United States of America, Mr. George H. Pendleton, that the royal Prussian minister of finance has directed that the state income tax assessed against the lawyer, Honey, of Newport, R. I., at Franfort-on-the-Main, since September 1, 1887, be discontinued, and the tax already paid be refunded. In so far as Mr. Honey’s complaint relates to the communal tax demanded of him, the royal Prussian minister of the interior has been requested to give the matter further consideration.

While the undersigned expresses the purpose of making a further communication with respect to the last-named matter, etc.,

Hellwig.