EXPORT DUTIES OF SWITZERLAND. REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL CRAMER. Referring to your circular dispatch of the 15th of February last, requesting a table or schedule of all export duties levied on the productions of foreign countries in Switzerland, I have now the honor to inform you that, having applied to the high federal council for the desired statistical information, said council gladly complied with my request by sending to this legation a table in French, relative to such export duties, a copy of which, with a translation thereof, is herewith inclosed. M. J. CRAMER. CONSULATE-GENERAL OF THE UNITED STATES, Strange animals which are not transported in cars or wagons Wood for burning and charcoal Wood, sawed and cut; wood for construction; for cartwrights' work; rough hewed and joined.. Wood, coarse, or easily cut, square in parts, but not in its whole length; wood or rafts.. Asphalt..... Trees or shrubs in pots or tubs.. Common articles made of wood, such as rakes, forks, poles, &c .. Francs. per price.. 1.50 1.50 .do.... .do.... ..do... ..do.. 50 50 50 05 50 05 05 05 .ad valorem.. 2 per cent. for carpenters; ..ad valorem.. ordinary floating 2 per cent. .ad valorem.. 3 per cent. per collier.. 15 Lime and plaster of Paris, coarse, calcined, or ground; lime hydraulics ..do... 15 Clean wastes of materials from which paper is manufactured; old cords and cables; linen, hemp, and cotton rags... per kilogram.. 4.00 Hides, coarse, wet, and dry.. do.. 1.00 Merchandise and diverse objects, not mentioned on the tariff of exports SPAIN. NEW SPANISH TARIFF. REPORT BY MR. DWIGHT REED, SECRETARY OF LEGATION AT MADRID. In accordance with an act dated the 6th July, 1882, providing for a new Spanish tariff, a royal order was issued on the 23d of that month giving to the public said tariff and ordering that the same should go into effect on the 1st August. This order, together with the tariff, was published in due time in the "Gaceta de Madrid," but I deemed it best to await its publication in pamphlet form, together with the rules and regulations for carrying it into effect, before making a translation of the same. The pamphlet did not make its appearance until the latter part of August, since which time I have been engaged, when my other duties would permit, in making a translation of the essential part of it, which translation I have now the honor to transmit herewith, together with a copy of the pamphlet in question. An extended review of the tariff does not seem necessary, but I deem it proper to say that its supposed benefits are only to be enjoyed by nations having treaties of commerce with Spain, and those which have no such treaty will pay the duties named in the first column, which are the same, with perhaps few exceptions, as those of the tariff of 1877. The countries having treaties of commerce with Spain at the time the tariff went into effect are the following: Germany, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Netherlands and colonies, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Belgium, Austria-Hungary, Anam, and France and Algeria; and the countries enjoying the benefit of the most-favorednation clause are China, United States of Colombia, Japan, Morocco, Paraguay, Persia, Peru, Siam, and the Hawaiian Islands. The treaties with Germany, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Netherlands and colonies, Portugal, Russia, Sweden and Norway, Switzerlaud, and Turkey will expire during the present month, and up to the present time only those with Germany and Sweden and Norway have been extended until the 15th of December next. All the remaining countries will pay, the day after the expiration of their treaty, if no extension shall be made, the duties named in the first column of the tariff. So far as the products of the United States are concerned, they will, of course, pay the duties named in the first column of the tariff. UNITED STATES LEGATION, DWIGHT T. REED. Madrid, October 26, 1882. MINISTRY OF FINANCE (HACIENDA). ROYAL DECREE. In conformity with my council of ministers and the opinion of the board of tariffs and valuations, I have decreed the following: ARTICLE 1. The inclosed customs tariff, reformed in accordance with the law of 6th instant, upon the application of base 5th of the law of 1st July, 1869, and that of 30th June ultimo, in regard to the commercial relations with the provinces of Ultra mar. ART. 2. In compliance with the provisions of article 4 of said law of 6th instant, the reductions of duties which result in the new tariff will only be granted to such goods as may be the product of and proceed from nations which may have in force treaties of commerce with Spain. The duties named in the first column of the reformed tariff shall be exacted on the goods produced in or proceeding from other nations. ART. 3. The new tariff shall go into effect on the 1st day of August next; the duties named in the same shall be exacted on all the products and merchandise which may have been declared in the customs for consumption after said date. ART. 4. All decrees, orders, and provisions of any kind, which may not agree with the provisions of the present decrce, are abolished. ART. 5. The minister of finance (hacienda) shall make the necessary provisions for the due execution of the preceding dispositions. Given at San Ildefonso on the 23d July, 1882. The Minister of Finance (Hacienda), J. F. CAMACHO. ALPHONSE. LAW OF TARIFFS, JULY 1, 1869. Article 9 of the law of budgets of receipts ("ingresos") for the economic year of 1869-'70, from 1st July, 1869. The customs tariff duties shall be reformed according to the basis established in Appendix C. BASIS CITED IN THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE. 1. All kinds of merchandise is admitted into trade in the Spanish dominions of the peninsula and adjacent islands, with the exception only of articles the circulation of which may be prohibited by the penal laws, those of public safety, and those pertaining to articles whose sale is limited by the Government to certain persons ("estancados"). 2. The exportation of all the products of the country, whether natural or artificial, of whatever kind, and of national products, is allowed. 3. A tax on the importation of merchandise specified in the tariff, and called as heretofore customs duty, shall be exacted. This tax shall be of three kinds: The first shall be called extraordinary, and may extend in generality to 30 per cent. of the value of the merchandise on which it may be imposed, and to 35 per cent. only in cases which may be determined by base 4. The second shall be called fiscal and may extend to 15 per cent. ad valorem. The third shall be called balance ("balanza") tax, and shall consist of a small quantity per unit, weight, or measure. 4. The merchandise charged heretofore with a protective duty shall pay up to 30 per cent. Articles among which are those now prohibited, and which may be determinately specified, shall pay up to 35 per cent.; also those articles which, owing to their high price or to their general consumption, although not of an absolute necessity, shall pay à similar additional duty. The remainder of merchandise shall pay fiscal or balance duties in the manner which the Government may determine. 5. During six years from the 1st of July instant, the duties named as "extraordinary" shall be unalterable. After that date these duties will be gradually reduced from the seventh to the twelfth year, until the maximum rate of the fiscal duties shall have been reached. (Sec law of 6th of July, 1882.) The manner of reduction for each article shall be determined in the details of the tariff. 6. Exportation duties shall only be paid on the following articles: Cork in rough or tablets from the province of Gerona; rags of old linen, cotton, and hemp, and of used materials of the same. Lead ores sulphides ("galenas"). Leads, and leads mixed with oil for paint (white lead), and silver leads. The maximum of duties to be imposed on these articles shall be 10 per cent. 7. The classifications of merchandise shall be made in generic groups, and not in specific subdivisions; the standard price of the article for the imposition of the duty shall be that of greatest importation of articles included in each group. The valuation of the goods shall be made by taking the average of the prices which the articles may have at the places (where duties are paid) on the coasts and frontiers, and in every case a certain per cent. shall be converted, for the concrete imposition, into a fixed rate of unity of weight, measurement, or count. 8. No alteration whatever shall be made in the tariff duties by orders or decrees, except in the case anticipated in base 5. In regard to classifications the rectifications which experience may advise may be made every three years on the proposition of the director of the branch and in view of the opinion of the board of tariffs. 9. No exemption, reduction of duties, on behalf of industry, public establishment, co-operation, nor person, of whatever class, shall be conceded." This basis does not abolish the franchises enjoyed by the diplomatic corps in accordance with treaties. 10. A commission of valuations shall be created, the object of which will be to form and publish every year tables of the average prices of merchandise during the year, the administration taking into account the observations made by tradesmen and manufacturers in regard to the same. These tables shall serve to make out the accounts of rates in the statistics of importation, exportation, and transit, and to rectify, in accordance with them, the tariff in the case determined by base 5. 11. The tariff duties shall continue to be collected in the custom-houses established or which may be established by the Government, which will give to each (custom-house) such authorization as it may deem proper. The Government may establish general warehouses ("depositos"), where all classes of merchandise may be admitted. 12. The customs (houses) shall be governed by regulations prepared by the Government, in which shall be established the directions, rules, and formalities for the importation, exportation, coasting and transit trade. The questions which may grow out of these operations shall be decided by the Government without causing expense or damage to the parties concerned. 13. The Government, in accordance with these bases, shall prepare the tariffs, which shall go into effect on the 1st July next. 14. The minister of finance ("hacienda") shall dictate the necessary provisions for the organization of custom (houses) during the month of July next, subject to the following rules: 1. Stability of officers. 2. Responsibility and punishment of all misdemeanors ("faltas"), with fines or dismissals after having been tried. 3. Increase of salaries, within the credits mentioned in the law of budgets for this service. 4. The filling of positions newly created from among the individuals of the branch, both active and inactive ("cesantes"), after having had due regard to services rendered (previo concurso). 5. Admittance through examination ("oposician rigorosa"), and promotion by rotation ("escala") and contest ("concurso"). 6. Simplification and rapidity in dispatch of "expedientes," in accordance with the basis 12. Suspension of the application of base 5 of the law of 1st July, 1869. Royal decree of June 17, 1875, declared a law by that of July 17, 1876. (See the law of 6th July, 1882.) ARTICLE 1. The application of base 5, of Appendix C of the law of budgets of 1st July, 1869, according to which, from the 1st of July next, the extraordinary custom duties must be gradually reduced to the maximum of the standard of the fiscal, is suspended. ART. 2. The Cortes of the Kingdom, to which the Government shall acquaint with this decree, shall fix the date when the provisions of said base must be executed. Law of 6th July, 1882, repealing the suspension of base 5 of the tariff law, and ordering the rectification of the tariffs. Alphonse XII, by the grace of God constitutional King of Spain, to all who shall see and hear the present, know: that the Cortes have decreed and we have sanctioned the following: ARTICLE 1. The order suspending the carrying out of base 5 of law of tariffs in force, issued by royal decree of 17th June, 1875, is canceled. ART. 2. The gradual reduction of the extraordinary duties to fiscal duties provided by base 5 of the tariff shall be made as follows: First. Duties which exceed 15 per cent. and not 20 per cent. shall be reduced to 15 per cent. on the 1st August of the current year. Second. The other extraordinary duties, from 20 per cent., inclusive, and upwards, shall be reduced to 15 per cent. by reduction being made on the said first day of August next, the second on the 1st July, 1887, and the third and last on the same day and month of 1892. Within one year previous to the date fixed in the preceding paragraph for making the second reduction of the extraordinary duties, the Government will name a commission composed of senators, deputies, manufacturers, agriculturists, merchants, and members of the consultive board of tariffs, with a view to taking information, and, in consequence of such information, to report whether or not it will be convenient to the general interests of the country for the reduction to take place on that date or to suspended till 1st of July, 1892, on which day it shall be made in union with the third (and last reduction). ART. 3. In accordance with base 8 of said law of tariffs, the rectification of the valuations and classifications of the same shall be made within the time named in the previous article, the consultive board of tariffs and valuations having been previously heard. ART. 4. The reduction of duties which may grow out of the application of the first of the three reductions provided for by this law shall only be applied to merchandise which may be produced by, and proceed from, nations which may have treaties of commerce with Spain. On merchandise which may proceed from other nations, the duties named in the tariff in force for nations which have no treaty of commerce shall be exacted, or those (duties) which may be hereafter established." ART. 5. Before realizing the second reduction of extraordinary duties, in case this should be done in accordance with the second paragraph of article 2, the Government will open negotiations with the countries with which we may be connected by treaties of commerce to obtain from said state, as a reciprocal equivalent, new reductions in the tariff duties collected from articles of Spanish production. In case these concessions should not be obtained, the second reduction of the extraordinary duties shall not be made until the 1st of July, 1892, on which date said reduction shall be made in union with the third and last reduction; and the duties which may result from it shall only be applied to the nations with which new treaties of commerce may be celebrated, on account of the present ones having been abrogated. ART. 6. The Government shall continue to charge importation and navigation duties on the products, vessels, and merchandise proceeding from countries which may in any way specially injure our products and our trade. TRANSITORY ARTICLES. The specific duties which may be established by the reformed customs tariff shall be exacted in accordance with the prescriptions of this law on all the products and manufactures which may be declared for consumption in the customs from the 1st of August of this year. We, therefore, order all tribunals, justices, chiefs, governors, and other authorities, both civil and military and ecclesiastic, of any kind and dignity whatever, to keep and cause to be kept, fulfil and carry out the present law in all its parts. The following articles shall not pay any tariff duty on their importation into the Peninsula and Balearic Islands: 1. Mineral waters, with the exception of their "envases." 2. Trees, vine-shoots (“sarmientos"), and plants (see the note of the disposition 14). 3. Lime (protoxide of calcium). 4. Minerals of copper, gold, and silver. *The word "envases" will frequently occur. It signifies the package in which the substance is contained, as, for example, the bottle for liquids, drugs, medicines, wines, spirits, &c.; the tin case for such articles as sardines, fruits, biscuits, &c.; the inner packings of damageable articles, to the exclu sion of the wooden case, box, cask, or barrel. S. Doc. 231, pt 5-10 |