The Washington union., 1857-09-12
A NEW EXPORT DuqY ORDERED IN foRro mco.

royal order of great importance 10 our mercan-
tileclasses, bearing date May S. 1857, has recently
been issued in Porto Rico Ii provides for the entire
extinction Of the Macuquina money that has long
been the circulating medium in that island, by the
discount Of lai per cent. on Macuquino currency.
This royal order published in the island by the
captaingensral, Fernando Cotoner, by proclamation
or circular dated July a. and is in force. There
at that date, according to the most reliable cal
culation, about million and half dollars of this de-
preciated currency in circulation in the island and
the loss incurred by the government in the operation
of changing, feights, expenses of recoining, &c,
will, In the aggregate, amount to about 80 per
cont, (say) $3.50 900. This government is to be
ndemnifod for this loss by an export duty pro-
duce of the island commencing August A. Qast
monthly as follows:
On sugar, ct cents per 100 pounds.
On coffee, % do do,
On tobacco, 37l do, do.
On molasses, 90 cents per cask.
On rum, 81 per cask.
These export duties are to be collected until the
whole sum is paid Off
In reference to this change the intelligent gentle
who represents the commercial interests of the
United States at ST. Johns, Porto Rico informs the
Department of State under q late date, that "the
change will be beneficial to the island, but fear
from the wording of the circular it is intended to
prevent the circulation of all foreign moneys as
legal tender, which will cause great Inconvenience"
The tariff of Porto Rico in force since November
/, 1851, exempts from export duties the articles
comprised in epreceding category The first article
of this tariff is thus translated The products Of the
island, except timber, free from all export duty,
both municipal and of the government" In Mr..
Reuss' Calculations and Statements relative to
the American trade the Macuquino dollar is eonsid
ored an anomaly. Its ineness is stated to bo only
dneros, or 9-l2, and weight Is dwts ii grains,
making its value from about % cents to 10 cents,
but il is commonly estimated at from about 3s
2ld to 3s. 4d, the usual exchange being sc to the
G. In reference to the fears entertained by our re-
spected consul at ST. Johns in the extract from his
communication to the State Department which we
have quoted we think that there is greater reason
to apprehend that these temporary export duties
will be continued and become permanent after the
Specai purpose IOT WHICH uley are lInpobeu bnall
have been accomplished. Similar special taxes
both upon imports and exports, have been provided
in the neghborng island of Cuba to meet special de-
mands but unfortunately, these taxes still exist
burden upon commerce, while the special demands
have long since been amply and fully gratified
These duties, we must remember, and even higher
duties than those now prescribed, have heretofore
been levied on exports from Porto Rico; and when
consider that the United States has nearly three
fourths of the foreign commerce of the island, the
Importance of such changes, and their effect upon
American commercial interests cannot be over-esti
mated. The total value of imports from the island
last year was $3,s7O,963 of which sugar alone
amounted to $3,239,l52 The quantity imported for
this 1906, ,O22 lbs. the new duty on which
would amount to the snug figure Of over $4,000 in
round numbers Had the late high prices of sugars
continued this additional tax would be sensibly felt
by the consumer in the United States.