Minister Bowen to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Caracas,
Venezuela, March 30,
1904.
No. 270, Confidential.]
Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith a
statement showing the amounts that were paid monthly to the
representative of the Bank of England here during the year ended
February 29, 1904, and also a statement showing what the total income of
Venezuela was during the year 1903.
Comparing the statements, we find that Venezuela is paying about
one-eighth of her entire income to the said representative. That in
itself is not a heavy burden, but by the terms of the protocols she is
bound “to make a new satisfactory arrangement to settle simultaneously
the 5 per cent Venezuelan loan of 1896 and the entire exterior debt,”
which together amount to very much more than the claims do which have
been presented to the commissions. It is likely, therefore, that when
the promised arrangement is made Venezuela will have all the financial
burdens she can carry.
Although the 30 per cent of the amount collected in the customhouses at
La Guaira and Puerto Cabello falls short by about 315,000 bolivars of
the 5,400,000 which it was estimated the 30 per cent would yield, it
seems to me, in view of all the circumstances, that if the allied powers
can afford to accept the situation we can, also.
Some time ago I informed you that I thought the allied powers would be
paid off by the end of this year, but I believe now that I should have
added nearly another year to that calculation. * * *
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure 1.]
Payments of 30 per cent of revenues of
custom-houses at Puerto Cabello and La Guaira made to the
representative of the Bank of England at Caracas.
|
Month. |
Amount. |
|
Month. |
Amount. |
| 1903. |
|
Bolivars. |
1904. |
|
Bolivars. |
| April 16 |
March |
403,227.75 |
January 15 |
December |
522,747.35 |
| May 7 |
April |
312,973.90 |
February 17 |
January |
461,367.55 |
| June 5 |
May |
312,535.00 |
March 16 |
February |
439,405.10 |
| July 10 |
June |
290,195.45 |
|
|
|
| August 6 |
July |
436,339.00 |
Total |
|
5,084,577.50 |
| September 11 |
August |
400,007.30 |
Exchange, $1=5 bolivars
and 20 centimos |
|
$977,803.36 |
| October 15 |
September |
444,004.60 |
| November 13 |
October |
527,109.95 |
|
|
|
| December
10 |
November |
534,664.55 |
|
|
|
[Page 1008]
Income of Venezuela during the year
1903.
| Source of income. |
Amount. |
Source of income. |
Amount. |
|
Bolivars. |
|
Bolivars. |
| Customs duties |
21,102,827.53 |
Loan of 1903 |
344,203.36 |
| Transit duties |
5,731,292.66 |
Patents |
7,637.50 |
|
26,834,120.19 |
Registrations |
44,187.67 |
| War tax |
9,760,172.50 |
Mortgage |
2,000.81 |
| Salt |
1,738,068.51 |
Cattle tax |
168,276.00 |
| Coining silver |
1,616,783.94 |
Buoy tax |
62,726.00 |
| Consular returns |
232,232.53 |
Telegraphs |
293,497.65 |
| Stamped paper |
99,026.49 |
Creeks |
41,331.84 |
| Pearl industry |
68,370.00 |
Special rents |
6,926.73 |
| Postal packages |
27,150.55 |
Wharf tax |
171,438.95 |
| Unappropriated lands |
42,140.05 |
Aqueduct Miranda |
14,249.97 |
| Mines |
43,347.07 |
Schools |
1,745,590.83 |
| Waterworks of Caracas |
45,429.50 |
Total |
43,426,908.64 |
| Municipal
rents |
18,000.00 |
Exchange, $1=5.20
bolivars |
$8,351,328.58 |
These two statements might very properly be published.—H. W. B.
