The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-07-16
Important Commercial Circular.
ssrRycrloNs TO THE COLLECTORS AND OTHER OFF,

xmR0600nt OOmmorCaQl CtHO010rs
INSTRUCTIONS TO THE COLLECTORS ANS OTHER OFF,
GERS OF THE CUSTOMS
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 80, 1907.
The Department has received official information
that the Spanish government, by royal decree OF
Sd January, 1852 has authorized the admission into
the ports of Spain and Islands adjacent, on footing
of equality with Spanish vessels as to navigation
and port duties the vessels of all nations which may
ooncede like benefit in their respective territories
to the vessels of the Spanish mercantile Marine and
that the American Minister ut Madrid had made an
arrangement with the Spanish government by which
the privileges conceded by said decree to foreign
vessels should take effect as regards the American
flag and after the first day Of May last.
The Collectors Of the Customs are therefore re-
quested instructed to admit Spanish vessels
irving from Spanish any other foreign ports,
those Of Cuba and Porto Rico excepted TO entry on
the same footing as American vessels, as regards
tonnage duty, light money, and all other dues TO
the United States, far respects the ves-els but
the provisions of the act of 18th July, 1892 as re-
cards Spanish vessels arriving from the ports Of
Cuba or Porto Rico, to remain in full force
Any tonnage duty or light money which may have
been exaced contrary to the tenor Of the preceding
instructions from Spanish vessels that may have
arrived IN the United States since the first utimo
will be returned by the Department under the usual
certificates and foImalites
Under the circular instructions from this Depart
ment Of 18th June, lsl9, Spanish vessels from the
ports of Cuba have been admitted to entry free Of
Tonnage duty, when arriving with cargo of molas-
ses, or III ballast, in consequence of American
sells arriving in the ports Of that island being OK
empted from the customary foreign tonnage duty
provided they arrived in ballast, or loaded outward
with full cargo of moasses The Department.
however, has recently ascertaned that this exemp-
tion of tonnage duty on American vessels arriving
ballast is not accorded to such vessels unless
hey likewise depart in ballast, and that the
full tonnage duty of one dollar and fifty cents
per ton is oxacted if they take away any por-
tion OF cargo of the produce of the island, mo-
lasses only excepted. Under these circum stances
he Department does not consider itself uthorized
under the provisions of the act of the 18th July
1852. to admit to entry Spanish vessels from Cuba
on any others terms than American vessels adj
mltted into the ports of that island and conse
quenly. all Spanish vessels arriving from said island
N ballast, must pay the same tonnage duty of one
dollar and fifty cents per ton as is eXacted on Ame
rcan vessels entering che ports of Cuba unless they
likewise leave the United States in ballast; but
Spanish vessels arriving from tho ports Of Cuba
with full cargo of molasses will continue be ex
empted from tho payment of any tonnage duty.
| Spanish vessels arriving from a port in Porto
Rico will, in all cases whether in ballast, or with
cargo OF any description, pay tonnage duty of
eighty-seyen and half cents per ton, being the
amount which, agreeably to the latest auth entic
advice in possession OF the Department, is cxacted
upon American vessels in that island, unless any
vessel SO arriving from said island shall produce
certificate from the principal officer of the customs
at the port of her departure, duly certified by the
American Consul, that less tonnage duty is
charged Mt said port upon American vessels, or
that the latter, under any particular circumstances
are entirely exempted from the payment of tom
mage duty in which case said vessel shall be adj
mitted to entry on like terms as may be thus ac-
corded to American vessels in the ports of Porto
Rico.
In all cases where Spanish vessels may arrive
from the ports of either Cuba or Porto Rico, and
shall produce certificates above duly verified by
the American Consul, of any modification in the
state Of tonnage duty on American vessels in the
ports OF said islands, the collectors of the customs
willreport the same to the Department, and if they
may not have been already authorized, they will be
instructed to make similar notification agreeably
TO the provisions of the act of 18th july 1892 in
the tonnage duty upon Spanish vessels thus arriving
fiom said islands.
Complaints have been made to the Department,
that under the instructions Of 9th ultimo, to the
collectors of of the principal ports, annulling
so much of the circular of 18th June, 1919, as ex-
empted Fl ON tonnage duty Spanish vessels arriving
IN ballast from Cuba, various Spanish vessels have
paid this duty whom they had no knowledge of the
change at the time ofthcir departure for the Uni
toe States Tho collectors are instructed to report
all such for the consideration of the. Depart
mcnt, with the view of affordiDg such Just relief as
il may DC in it power to grant The report in any
such case will state the time of clearance and de-
parture from Cuba, the time of arrival in the United
States, and the amount OF tonnage duty paid in
each case.
The collectors will report promptly to the depart
ment any authentic information they may receive
Of notifications in the tonnage or other dues upon
American vessels III the ports OF either of the above
islands. in ordcr that the Department may promptly
meet any such notifications in favor of American
vessels, by oxtcnoing the same to Spanish vessels
arriving IN the L tied States from the ports Of ci-
ttcT Of those colonies. WM l. HopdE,
Acting Secretary of the Treasury.