The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-04-06
Trade with Cuba and Porto Rico,
n~psrt Of tts Secretary Of tho Treasury.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
March A6 1852

n~psrt Of ths Secretary Of tho Treasury.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, }
March 36, 1852.
Sir;-ln trr.y to the resolution Of the Senate Of
the l0,h iss,iary that the Secretary Of the Troa
-ury communicste to the Senate such information
n he mag have IN relation to Lie expectancy of
rcpea ling ~ modifying the act VI June ID, 1884
concern;. = Tonnage duty Spanish vessels
ploy.o ~ The trade between the United States and
ihc lssu,,. Of Cuba and Porto Rico, | have the
honor 20 submit the following report
The wars in which Spain FOR 50 long a tims
engag ed iah hsr revolled colonies on the American
cont meat. had most materially injured the Spanish
mercantile miiine: and, notwithstanding tho groat
advantage, possessed in tho harbors OF the above
islands. u. Regards discriminating duties on
shana-e and tonnage, still the foreign flags and
pnitcnlasi} Tie American, seemed 10 haze procs-
deiic. ii,at OF spain.
From ID, proximity of the United States, and
from :,,tis,epense of all connection with the
political mnyemen,s of Europe. it wa principally
under ore dag lhot large proportion OF the yalua
hle p,od,'S's 81 those islands were exported aad
-iheir !oesn wants supplied. This state Of things
co1iin,csi. with or less part oipation by the
English Iscat' and other flags, until the recogni-
ton by span 81 the Independence Of her South
american denendeneies, and the disappearance Of
those pslyr', crs which had made such havoc upon
her eonuens. The internal Tranquility of Spain
being secured ahou! the same time by the cessation
ot the civil aar excited by Don Carlos, ronewed
,iniclns vas given TO the commercial enterprise Of
The nntioa Which had 80 long remained dormant
j he 5lg al @plin gradually recovered its appro
pirate station IA her tfalsmurinc harbors aud
rapidly began 10 absorb, through the ope ION Of
The d'ocf,n, mating and tonnage duties before
TERED -, great portion al that commerce Of which
among olhbr foreign nations the United Statos Ind
engaged 81 re share.
II tia mercantile interest Of Spain while
most earnestly pressed upon the ministry the polioy
OF recognizing ,he independence Of Mexico an
South America on the ground that il would thro
~ LII trnH 40 tn lbp mi In
a. IN "ndisturbed intercourse with ls remaining
American colonies Of Cuba and Porto Rico
Amonb'e relations being thus re established be-
! tween Sl,aia and her revoltod colonies by the nc
Acknowledgements Of their independence, she naturally
dctcrmincd 10 give to her commerce ali the encou-
,agement IL her power. by continuing the discrimi
mating duie, IA FAVOR Of her own dag in the poss
Ot her above colonies.
In 1928 tlie tonnage duty on foreign vessel, in
nba, was 81 80 per ton. and on Spanish 10 ceu;.
IN 1889 /! was reduced TO II 80 on foreign, and G2a
cents on spanish vessels, at which lator rates it
continues
In Tia san,a periods respectively The duties Oh
iore'gN merchandise, imported under tho Spanish
flag were from seven to nine per cent lsss than in
foreign vessels, except few articles paying specific
.ut,cs, smong the most prominent OF which wss
hosr Que OF our great staples. the duty on which,
in favor OF tho Spanish flag, was FROM to ono
Sollar and half per barrel.
In the year 1882, under the representati iuads
TO Congress on the subject Of the inequality Of ton
vessels. The following act was passed on tho 18th
July of that year,
An Ac, concerning tonnage duty on Spanish
sells.
Be il enacted BY the Senate and House Of Representa-
tives Of the United States Of America in Congress
bed That other greater duty of tonnage be Levied
by subjects OF Spain coming from port in Spain than
shall the Secretary Of the Treasury be ascertancd to
have been paid on American vessels in the ports Of Spain
rrevio". TO the twentieth October Thousand eight
hundred aud seventeen.
See And be il further enacted That vessel, owned
wholly by Spanish subjects coming from any OF the colo
nes OF Spain either directly or after touching at any
ether poet place shall pays In the ports of the United
states the same rate Of duly on tonnage that shall he
levied American vessels In the Spanish colonial port
from whence such Spanish vessel shall have last Departed
The said amount to be asoetained by the Secretary Of
time TO give directions to the ocers OF the customs OF
he United States for the collection Of duties
10 CONFORM The sd duties ~ variation that may take
place in the duties levied American vessels in auc,
Spansh pors.
See :. And be 1t further enacted That whenever the
President s:,a be satisfied that the discriminating or
souaervaDg duties Of tonnage levied by any foreign
lion the ships vess<a Is thc United States shsi
have been sboshed he drect that the tonnage duty
the els OF such nasbor shall to he levied in
The ports oi the United Stssss and cause duties o.
tonnage that may have t~ep levied the vessels ot
-uch foreign nation, subsequent to the abolition Of
discriminating duties of topntSc, 10 he refunded
Sec And he il further enacted, That the second and
third sections of this a te in force and take effect
from and alter tbs first day al January next.
Approved, July Is 1882.
This retaliation did not induce the Spanish
ihorites 10 equalise the tonnage duty, as regard
The American and Spanish Gags in those islands,
was il sufficient to give to flag adequate
protection against the dscrm eating duties in flvos
Of The cargoes imported il Spanish bottoms. Thei'
vessels continued TO resort t. our ports for supple
Of provisions and merchandise, and whilst by the
above act the vessels OF the two nations were
placed on footing Of equality. as regards the ton
rage dnty which was respectively levied upon them.
he difference of duties in Cba upon cargoes carried
greater than the freight ia the article Of -four, for
instance an Amer;can vessel would have to carry it
tree Of freight, in order 70 pace the shipper Of il on
footing Of equality with that conveyed by
Spanish vessel, ut the freigh; (and that is full
rate to Havana) of one dcgiaI per barrel.
Further reMon.trances were made TO Congress ON
ihe subject, from the commercial interest OF the
nited STATES, and resulted in the following act,
which is the subject OF the percent inquiry on the
part of the Senate
Re enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
lives Of the Dtci States of America in Congress
spanish vessels coming from he leland Of Cuba or Porto
Rico either directly or after toDshDg port place
ha psy in tho ports Of The und states such further
tonnage duty in addition t. In, tonnage duty which
he payable ndcr any other law shall be equivalent to
The amount OF Discriminate. cuty that would hsyo been
imposed on the carsoes imported In the said vessels
.pecivcy, il the bad exported from the
sf Havana in American bottoms.
sec And be further enacted That before any suck
yort VI the United States witt cargo which shall be d
rectly indirectly destined either of the said islands
he said vessel shall pay such further tonnage duty
hall lie equivalent 70 the smons at discriminating duty
hat would lie payable for The tse being upon the cargo
il imported into The port Of havana in an American bot
sec. g. Aud ,e il further enacted. That no Spaniel,
vessel shall he allowed 10 cer .Ht depart from port
81 the United states with any rtos wares or merclan
ssc. except upon destnssbu sorne port or place in
the Island ut Cuba or Porto HAeC, without givn. bond
with approved security in double Tue value Of the vessel
aud that the said part thereof shalt
be LANDED, in either of the sd sands which bond
,hali he cancelled producing of cerbcair from
american Consul, that The ,a cargo has been landed
,lsew here bona de and wert intention 10 reshp il for
/: port ia pi the said islan0s.
See 4. And be !! futther enscfsd That Ia" Serrota
Of The Treasury be and hc h'Ysby authorized irnm
Time time. 20 estimate tho .'G additional Tonnage di
and 10 give directions tft scrs Of the customs
~ the U,ed States for the collection Of such duties
coo,o.m The 10 any variation which may take
Yaee the discriminating agtjCf icyi,d on the cf.pes
Of ,mcricau vessels IN the .aid pors y Havana.
Soc = Aud lie Il further enacted. That whenever The