Mr. Hay to Sir
Julian Pauncefote.
Department of State,
Washington, March 13,
1899.
No. 1377.]
Excellency: Referring to my note No. 1367, of
the 2d instant, and to previous correspondence on the subject, I have
the honor to inclose herewith copies of two proclamations this day
issued by the President, revoking the proclamations of April 7, 1885,
and December 2, 1891, which suspended the collection of tonnage dues on
vessels arriving at ports of the United States from ports of the islands
of Trinidad and Tobago, respectively.
Additional copies will be sent to you as soon as printed.
I have, etc.,
[Page 337]
By the President of the United
States.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas by a proclamation of the President of the United States,
dated April seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, upon proof
then appearing satisfactory that upon vessels of the United States
arriving at the island of Trinidad, British West Indies, no due was
imposed by the ton as tonnage or as light money and that no other
equivalent tax on vessels of the United States was imposed at said
island by the British Government, the President did declare and
proclaim from and after the date of his said proclamation of April
seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, the suspension of the
collection of the tonnage duties of three cents per ton, not to
exceed fifteen cents per ton per annum, imposed upon vessels entered
in ports of the United States from any of the ports of the island of
Trinidad by section 14 of the act of Congress approved June
twenty-six, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, entitled “An act to
remove certain burdens on the American merchant marine and encourage
the American foreign carrying trade, and for other purposes;”
And whereas it now appears upon satisfactory proof that tonnage or
light-house dues, or a tax or taxes equivalent thereto, are in fact
imposed upon American vessels and their cargoes entered in ports of
the island of Trinidad higher and other than those imposed upon
vessels from ports in the island of Trinidad or their cargoes
entered in ports of the United States, so that said proclamation of
April seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, in its operation
and effect contravenes the meaning and intent of section 14 of the
act of Congress approved June twenty-six, eighteen hundred and
eighty-four, as amended by section 11 of the act of Congress
approved June nineteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, entitled
“An act to abolish certain fees for official services to American
vessels, and to amend the laws relating to shipping commissioners,
seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other purposes:”
Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the aforesaid section 14 of the act of
Congress approved June twenty-six, eighteen hundred and eighty-four,
as amended by the aforesaid section 11 of the act approved June
nineteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, do hereby revoke the
said proclamation of April seventh, eighteen hundred and
eighty-five, suspending the collection of the whole of the duty of
three cents per ton, not to exceed fifteen cents per ton per annum
(which is imposed by the aforesaid sections of said acts), upon
vessels entered in the ports of the United States from any of the
ports of the island of Trinidad; this revocation of said
proclamation to take effect on and after the date of this my
proclamation.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of
Washington
this
thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and of the
Independence of the United States the one hundred and
twenty-third.
[
seal.]
William McKinley.
By the President:
John Hay, Secretary of State.
By the President of the United
States.
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas by a proclamation of the President of the United States,
dated the second day of December, eighteen hundred and ninety-one,
upon proof then appearing satisfactory that no tonnage or
light-house dues or other equivalent tax or taxes were imposed upon
American vessels entering the ports of the island of Tobago, one of
the British West India Islands, and that vessels belonging to the
United States of America and their cargoes were not required in the
ports of the said island of Tobago to pay any fee or due of any kind
or nature, or any import due higher than was payable by vessels from
ports or places in the said island of Tobago, or their cargoes, in
the United States, the President did therefore declare and proclaim,
from and after the date of his said proclamation of December second,
eighteen hundred and ninety-one, the suspension of the collection of
the whole of the duty of three cents per ton, not to exceed fifteen
cents per ton per annum, imposed upon vessels entered in the ports
of the United States from any of the ports of the island of Tobago
by section 11 of the act of Congress approved June nineteenth,
eighteen hundred and
[Page 338]
eighty-six, entitled “An act to abolish certain fees for official
services to American vessels, and to amend the laws relating to
shipping commissioners, seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other
purposes;”
And whereas the President did further declare and proclaim in his
proclamation of December second, eighteen hundred and ninety-one,
that the said suspension should continue so long as the reciprocal
exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States and
their cargoes should be continued in the said ports of the island of
Tobago, and no longer;
And whereas it now appears upon satisfactory proof that tonnage or
light-house dues, or a tax or taxes equivalent thereto, are in fact
imposed upon American vessels and their cargoes entered in ports of
the island of Tobago higher and other than those imposed upon
vessels from ports in the island of Tobago, or their cargoes,
entered in ports of the United States, so that said proclamation of
December second, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, in its operation
and effect contravenes the meaning and intent of said section 11 of
the act of Congress approved June nineteenth, eighteen hundred and
eighty-six:
Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States
of America, by virtue of the aforesaid section 11 of the act
aforesaid, as well as in pursuance of the terms of said proclamation
itself, do hereby revoke the said proclamation of December second,
eighteen hundred and ninety-one, suspending the collection of the
whole of the duty of three cents per ton, not to exceed fifteen
cents per ton per annum (which is imposed by the aforesaid section
of said act), upon vessels entered in the ports of the United States
from any of the ports of the island of Tobago; this revocation of
said proclamation to take effect on and after the date of this my
proclamation.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of
the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of
Washington
this
thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and of the
Independence of the United States the one hundred and
twenty-third.
[
seal.]
William McKinley.
By the President:
John Hay, Secretary of State.
