Mr. Olney to Mr.
Uhl.
Department of State,
Washington, July 18,
1896.
No. 115.]
Sir: Referring to the Department’s instructions
No. 53 and No. 55, of the 19th and 22d of April last, respectively,
requesting you to obtain certain information concerning the imposition
by the German authorities of tonnage dues and other taxes upon American
vessels in the ports of Germany, I inclose for your information copy of
a letter of the 15th instant, from the Acting Secretary of the Treasury,
inquiring whether, in the judgment of this Department, the continued
imposition of tonnage taxes and light-house dues in German ports upon
American vessels entering from the United States does not call for the
suspension of the exemption from tonnage taxes in American ports,
pursuant to the proclamation of the President of the 26th of January,
1888, upon vessels entering the United States from German ports.
In view of the inquiry contained in Mr. Hamlin’s letter the Department
would be pleased to receive, as soon as practicable, the report called
for by the above-mentioned instructions.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure in No. 115.]
Mr. Hamlin to
Mr. Olney.
Treasury Department,
Office of the
Secretary,
Washington, D.
C., July 15,
1896.
Sir: Replying to your letter of the 13th of
March, in reply to the letter of this Department dated March 9,
concerning the imposition of tonnage taxes on American vessels in
German ports, I have the honor respectfully to invite your attention
to the following statement in your letter of that date:
As a bill has been reported from the Senate Committee on
Commerce repealing the law exempting from tonnage taxes
vessels from foreign countries which extend a like exemption
to United States vessels, it would seem to be advisable to
postpone the consideration of the first of your inquiries
until the fate of the pending legislation referred to is
determined.
[Page 147]
In view of the fact that the bill referred to did not pass, and of
facts set forth in the letters of this Department dated March 9 and
May 2, I have the honor respectfully to renew my inquiry of December
27, 1895, whether in your judgment the continued imposition of
tonnage taxes and light-house dues in German ports upon American
vessels entering from the United States does not call for the
suspension of the exemption from tonnage taxes in American ports,
pursuant to the proclamation of the President, upon vessels entering
the United States from German ports?
Respectfully, yours,
C. S. Hamlin,
Acting Secretary.