Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, With the Annual Message of the President Transmitted to Congress December 5, 1899

Mr. Hay to Mr. Tower.

Department of State,
Washington , January 25, 1899 .

No. 199.]

Sir: I inclose for your information copy of a letter from the Secretary of Agriculture relative to the complaint of the Cudahy Packing Company, of South Omaha, Nebr., that the Austrian Government is enforcing a new ministerial decree which exacts the payment of duty on the salt in which meats are packed in addition to the duty collected on the meats themselves.

You are instructed to investigate the matter promptly and to report the result to the Department.

I am, etc.,

John Hay.

[Inclosure.]

Mr. Wilson to Mr. Hay.

Department of Agriculture,
Washington , January 17, 1899 .

Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your information copy of a letter just received from the Cudahy Packing Company, South Omaha, Nebr., stating that the Austrian Government is enforcing a new ministerial decree exacting the payment of duty on the salt in which meats from the United States are packed in addition to the duty collected on the meats themselves.

I invite your attention to this in order that, if you deem it advisable, you may make proper representations to the Austrian Government for relief from this burdensome requirement.

I have, etc.,

James Wilson,
Secretary.

[Subinclosure.]

The Cudahy Packing Company to Mr. Wilson.

South Omaha, Nebr. , January 10, 1899 .

Dear Sir: Our agent in Trieste, Mr. Silvio Liebman, writes us under date of December 23 as follows:

Yesterday a new ministerial law came into force here, enacting the payment of duty also on the salt in which all meats and fat backs coming from the United States are packed, and this for the protection of the Hungarian trade in these products. Previous to this it was allowed to remove the salt in the dock warehouses and pay duty only on the fat backs, etc., but now duty must be paid on the goods and the salt as they arrive. This will naturally make a difference of about 2/ per 100 kilos for buyers, and is, hence, an impediment to business with your country in these products. It would therefore be important and in the interest of business to ship all meats with as little salt as possible during the winter months; and I shall thank you to give your careful attention to this important matter.

Our agent also writes that he thinks that friendly pressure might be brought to bear by our Government upon the Austrian authorities, through the Austrian minister at Washington, to induce the Austrian Government to abolish this exaction, and to permit the goods to be entered as heretofore.

Yours, respectfully,

The Cudahy Packing Co.,

George Marples.