Under date of October 21, Consul Du Pont-Syle, of Funchal, transmits a report concerning some recent changes in the Portuguese tariff affecting the imports into the colony of Madeira. The change applies to tariff on packages (coverings), and, as will be seen by the list hereto appended, increases the duty on many articles of import from the United States, the principal ones being wheat, corn, flour, and kerosene:

18. China vessels

do

200

....do

200

19. Trunks and portmanteaus, except those Ad valorem 25 per cent.. Ad valorem. 25 per cent. with baggage.

*Wine pays an additional duty, as follows: On every 531 liters exported by land, 2 per cent. ad valorem on an assumed value of 30 mil-reis; on every 534 liters exported by sea, 2 per cent. ad valorem on an assumed value of 40 mil-reis, and 100 milreis on those which have passed the octroi barriers of Porto. Wine produced in Madeira, shipped to Portuguese ports, pays 1,800 reis on every 390 liters, and on that shipped to foreign countries, 4,800 reis on every 390 liters.

ITALY.

GENERAL TARIFF OF ITALY.

REPORT OF CONSUL ORAIN, OF MILAN.

I inclose herewith a schedule of Italian import and export duties now in force.

The duties entitled "general" are those of the Italian general tariff'; those designated "conventional" are prescribed by the treaty of commerce between Italy and Austria-Hungary, and are applicable to merchandise from all countries which by treaty with Italy have "the treatment of the most favored nations."

The following is a résumé of the several acts by which this schedule of duties was established:

At the expiration of the special customs treaties which had existed between Italy and France, Austria and Switzerland, the Italian Parliament, by the law of May 30, 1878, enacted the general tariff. By the treaty of commerce concluded between Italy and Austria-Hungary December 27, 1878, many import duties were modified and some export duties abolished. The last-mentioned duties were also abolished in the general tariff by the law of January 31, 1879, by which the said treaty was approved. The same law also abolished the import duty on dried chicory, and gave power to the Executive to reform the general tariff as to hemp, flax, and jute, which was done by the royal decree of January 31, 1879.

By the law of July 25, 1879, the general tariff was modified as to sugars, confectionery, preserves, chocolate, coffee, pepper, and cinnamon, and on citrons and limes, though preserved in salt water.

By the act of July 19, 1880, the import duties on mineral and rosin oils were increased, and by a law of July 23, 1881, the export duties on cattle, sheep, goats, swine, fresh meat, poultry, and cheese were abolished.

The labor of compiling the schedule has been considerable, inasmuch as no reprint in the Italian text contains the modifications introduced by Italian legislation since 1879. I inclose the latest Government reprint, in which it will be observed I have noted these modifications.

I deem it important to direct attention to certain internal taxes on manufactures, termed "sopratasse," which are extended to the same articles when imported, as follows:

By a law of September 25, 1870, a tax of 4 francs per hectoliter is imposed on "aerated waters."

By act of June 3, 1874, amended July 19, 1880, the heavy tax of 60 centimes per degree and per hectoliter is imposed on alcohol in casks or barrels, and for alcohol in bottles the tax is 42 centimes per liter.

By the same law of June 3, 1874, a tax of 9.60 lire per hectoliter is imposed on beer, with the option, however, to the importer to pay 60 centimes per degree and per hectoliter instead.

The law of June 3, 1874, amended by that of July 26, 1874, establishes a "sopratassa" of 30 lire the quintal on chicory.

By the law of May 30, 1878, the 10 per cent. war duty, 5 per cent. for warding dues, and statistic rights were abolished.

As the conventional tariff negotiated by the commissioners of France and Italy has as yet been ratified by neither nation, and as its fate is altogether uncertain, I have not thought it useful to consider it.

Under date of October 21, Consul Du Pont-Syle, of Funchal, transmits a report concerning some recent changes in the Portuguese tariff affecting the imports into the colony of Madeira. The change applies to tariff on packages (coverings), and, as will be seen by the list hereto appended, increases the duty on many articles of import from the United States, the principal ones being wheat, corn, flour, and kerosene:

*Wine pays an additional duty, as follows: On every 531 liters exported by land, 2 per cent. ad valorem on an assumed value of 30 mil-reis; on every 534 liters exported by sea, 2 per cent. ad valorem on an assumed value of 40 mil-reis, and 100 milreis on those which have passed the octroi barriers of Porto. Wine produced in Madeira, shipped to Portuguese ports, pays 1,800 reis on every 390 liters, and on that shipped to foreign countries, 4,800 reis on every 390 liters.

ITALY.

GENERAL TARIFF OF ITALY.

REPORT OF CONSUL ORAIN, OF MILAN.

I inclose herewith a schedule of Italian import and export duties now in force.

The duties entitled "general" are those of the Italian general tariff; those designated "conventional" are prescribed by the treaty of commerce between Italy and Austria-Hungary, and are applicable to merchandise from all countries which by treaty with Italy have "the treatment of the most favored nations."

The following is a résumé of the several acts by which this schedule of duties was established:

At the expiration of the special customs treaties which had existed between Italy and France, Austria and Switzerland, the Italian Parliament, by the law of May 30, 1878, enacted the general tariff. By the treaty of commerce concluded between Italy and Austria-Hungary December 27, 1878, many import duties were modified and some export duties abolished. The last-mentioned duties were also abolished in the general tariff by the law of January 31, 1879, by which the said treaty was approved. The same law also abolished the import duty on dried chicory, and gave power to the Executive to reform the general tariff as to hemp, flax, and jute, which was done by the royal decree of January 31, 1879.

By the law of July 25, 1879, the general tariff was modified as to sugars, confectionery, preserves, chocolate, coffee, pepper, and cinnamon, and on citrons and limes, though preserved in salt water.

By the act of July 19, 1880, the import duties on mineral and rosin oils. were increased, and by a law of July 23, 1881, the export duties on cattle, sheep, goats, swine, fresh meat, poultry, and cheese were abolished.

The labor of compiling the schedule has been considerable, inasmuch as no reprint in the Italian text contains the modifications introduced by Italian legislation since 1879. I inclose the latest Government reprint, in which it will be observed I have noted these modifications.

I deem it important to direct attention to certain internal taxes on manufactures, termed "sopratasse," which are extended to the same articles when imported, as follows:

By a law of September 25, 1870, a tax of 4 francs per hectoliter is imposed on "aerated waters."

By act of June 3, 1874, amended July 19, 1880, the heavy tax of 60 centimes per degree and per hectoliter is imposed on alcohol in casks or barrels, and for alcohol in bottles the tax is 42 centimes per liter.

By the same law of June 3, 1874, a tax of 9.60 lire per hectoliter is imposed on beer, with the option, however, to the importer to pay 60 centimes per degree and per hectoliter instead."

The law of June 3, 1874, amended by that of July 26, 1874, establishes a "sopratassa" of 30 lire the quintal on chicory.

By the law of May 30, 1878, the 10 per cent. war duty, 5 per cent. forwarding dues, and statistic rights were abolished.

As the conventional tariff negotiated by the commissioners of France and Italy has as yet been ratified by neither nation, and as its fate is altogether uncertain, I have not thought it useful to consider it.

Under date of October 21, Consul Du Pont-Syle, of Funchal, transmits a report concerning some recent changes in the Portuguese tariff affecting the imports into the colony of Madeira. The change applies to tariff on packages (coverings), and, as will be seen by the list hereto appended, increases the duty on many articles of import from the United States, the principal ones being wheat, corn, flour, and kerosene:

*Wine pays an additional duty, as follows: On every 531 liters exported by land, 2 per cent. ad valorem on an assumed value of 30 mil-reis; on every 534 liters exported by sea, 2 per cent. ad valorem on an assumed value of 40 mil-reis, and 100 milreis on those which have passed the octroi barriers of Porto. Wine produced in Madeira, shipped to Portuguese ports, pays 1,800 reis on every 390 liters, and on that shipped to foreign countries, 4,800 reis on every 390 liters.