The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-27 00:00:00

THE SPANISH TARIFF.

The Madrid Gazette publishes the draught of M.
Bruil's Bill on the reformation of the Customs Tariff.
The number of articles of import, the rates of which it is
proposed to reduce, is about 300. M. Bruil proposes to
do away with the protection hitherto imposed on large
classes of cotton goods, which are to be admitted at a
duty which he estimates at from 45 to 50 per cent. ad
valorem, the prohibition to import the remaining arti-
cles being continued till January, 1861, when all cottons
are to be admitted on payment of a duty to be after-
wards fixed. The present measure proposes to admit
all kinds of cotton twist from No. 40 inclusive at a uni-
form duty of 3 60-100 rea's under the Spanish, and
3 70-100 reels under a foreign flag. Plain cotton goods,
which were prohibited before if not containing 26 threads
to the quarter inch, are to be admitted from 20 threads
inclusive, and the duties, which on the classes admitted
are from 5 8 5 reals and 8 2-5 reals per pound weight
under the Spanish flag, and from 6 7-10 reals to 10 1-10
reals under a foreign flag, according as they are classed
as crude, white, dyed, printed, kc., are in future to be 4,
5, and 6 reals per pound weight under the Spanish flag,
and 1.10 of a real more under a foreign flag. Muslins
were prohibited up to 14 threads to the quarter inch,
and those between 15 and 26 threads paid 14 reels and
16 4-5 reals per lb., according to the flag, and those
from 26 threads and upwards 21 and 25 1-5 reals ; the
prohibition on the coarser kinds is now to be taken off
altogether, and those up to 25 threads to pay 10i reals
per lb. weight under the Spanish, and 1-10 of a real
mare under a foreign flag ; also those from 26 threads
and upwards to pay 14 and 14 1.10 reals, according to
the flag. Similar reductions are proposed to be made
on a great number of other articles of cotton goods, in-
cluding lace velvets, piques, &c ; and the differential
duties for the protection of the Spanish flag are to be
reduced from the present surcharge of 20 per cent. on
the duties payable under the Spanish flag to a uniform
surcharge of one-tenth of a real per lb. weight, which
will not exceed from 2 to 3 per cent. All made-up
clothes, as stockings, drawers, &c., are to be ad-
mitted at a duty of 30 and 40 per cent. ad valorem,
according to the flag, and articles not specially
included 35 per cent. ad valot em, with one-tenth
of a real more under a foreign flag. The minister
calculates the duties to be imposed on woollen
goods, as cloth, flannel, baize, &c., amounting to 30 per
cent. ad valorem, and those on silk goods of most gene-
ral use at 20 to 25 per cent. ad valorem. Earthen ware,
instead of 40 and 48 reale, is to pay 25 and 27 reals per
aroba; plain or coloured porcelain, instead of 65 and 78
reels, is to pay 30 and 32 reels ; and superior porcelain,
instead of 65 and 78 reals, is to pay SO and 32 reale; and
superior porcelain, gilt or plated with ornaments of dif-
ferent kinds, instead of 15 and 20 per cent. ad valorem,
to pay 50 to 52 reals per aroba.
The finer kinds of iron tools, which now pay 1 20.100
and 1 45-100 reals per pound weight, are to pay 85-100
and 95-160 reals. The duty on cast iron in bars is fixed
at 6 and 10 reals per quintal, instead of 8 and 9 2-3
reels ; that on iron cables remains at 6 reals per quintal
under the national flag, and is increased from 8 to 16
reals under a foreign flag ; and on iron chains from 181
and 25 reals to 20 and 30 reals.
The duty on coal imported in Spanish vessels is to bo
reduced from 1 reals to three-fifths of a real per quintal ;
and that imported under a foreign flag, on the other
hand, to be increased from 2 to 2 10 reale per quintal.
It is proposed to restore the duties on salt codfish to
the rates prevailing before 1851, namely, 35 reals per
quintal under the Spanish flag on importation direct,
from the fisheries, and 56 reale from other foreign parts.
The differential duties on those classes were, before the
reduction of 1851, 49 reals and 74 reals ; they are now
to be 43 reals and 64 reals.
The other articles on which an increase is proposed are
unworked steel, in bars and pieties, which is to pay 46
and 58 reels per quintal, instead of 30 and 40 reels ;
guano, from 2-5 and 1 1-5 reals, is to pay 1 real and 5
reals per quintal, according to tie flag. Wood of diffe-
rent kinds will have to pay 30 per cent. higher than at
present ; and the duties on tea, coffee, sugar, and cocoa,
and other articles of colonial produce, are also to be in-
creased.