File No. 812.512/17.
Vice Consul Simpich
to the Secretary of State.
American Consulate,
Nogales
,
April 5, 1913
.
Sir: I have the honor to report that the
Constitutionalist party, now in power in northern Sonora, is demanding
and collecting taxes payable on mines and other property in this
consular district. Since Americans doing business in northern Sonora,
largely organized as various Mexican corporations, have no other
recourse, they are complying [Page 731]
with the demand of the Constitutionalists and are paying their taxes to
the State officials now in power. In consequence much speculation occurs
as to whether or not such taxes may have to be paid again, to the
Federal authorities, should the present Constitutionalist government in
Sonora fail. I am informed that in a previous revolution certain mining
taxes which were duly paid, under circumstances similar to the present,
were later collected a second time, and paid into the Federal
Treasury.
An official circular, demanding payment of certain taxes to State of
Sonora officials, is enclosed herewith, in the form of a free
translation.
I have [etc.]
[Inclosure—Translation.]
Circular demanding payment of certain taxes to
State officials of Sonora.
The Acting Secretary of State, in a telegram dated March 29, 1913,
instructs this Prefecture as follows:
Hermosillo, March 29, 1918.
Prefect of the District,
Cananea, Sonora:
By order of the Governor I recommend to you that you make
known in an efficacious manner to all mine owners, of that
district that they must call at the office of the Tax
Collector, Municipal Treasurer, and Fiscal Agencies,
respectively, to pay the taxes corresponding to the third
four months of the fiscal year, that is, March, April, May
and June, for which a term of eight days grace is allowed;
warning them that if they do not comply herewith they shall
suffer the consequent penalties. Until they receive their
provisional receipt equivalent to the revenue stamps, they
may receive payment (receipts for taxes paid) by means of
certificates of deposit which shall be issued by said
offices, and which shall, at the opportune time, be attached
to the formal receipts.
You are especially recommended to promptly comply with this
order.
The Acting Secretary [of State],
F. Rosado.
Which I for my part promulgate for the guidance of those
interested.
Cananea
,
April 1, 1913
.
Carlos N. Durazo,
The Acting Prefect
.
