New-York tribune., 1869-01-07
PANAMA.

HOSTILITY TO FOREIGNERS-THEY ARE TO BE
DRIVEN FROM THE COUNTRY ~ OPPREs-
sIvE TAXATIoN-A WAR TAX IN DISGUISE
GREAT INDIGNATION AMONG FOREIGNERs-
REMEDY NEEDED-A GALE IN AsPINWALL.
IRON OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
PANAMA, Dec. 29.-The State Government Of
Panama is determined drive away foreigners By ys
TEN Of exorbitan and In cases prohibitive, taxa
ton. law has just passed tho Assembly raising the
commercial Of the city Of Panama for 1869 to 100000
an increase the taxes paid this year Of CCi per
cent Besides this tax separate contributions cxacted
from auconeers on sales OF ice and from pcddlers
that the to be derived from the merchants will
nearly slOOOO increase of 73i per cent
oyer the sum collected during the present year. Tho
TO 600 The Of thus imposing burdens upon
the mercantile community Will be better understood when
you learn that Of the tax OF 1863 Of 10000 the native
business pay bu $l1yG leaving 8oO5 To be paid by
foreigners. Auctoneers are each taxed $50 year
and the sale Of ice has been declared Government
monopoly and tax OF 1920 per annum imposed and
the Government exacs the privilege OF obtaining all the
ice it wants for half price memorial has been drawn
up and signed Nv tho merchants praying Tor reduction
Of the tax the ground that the mercantile community
accede such exOrbtaDt demands The truth OF
the matter is the tax war tax In disguise The Coy
crnment is bankrupt aud cannot meet the heavy lab
are raised resort to forced loans be made The latter
they cannot impose upon foregners ana hcnee; rom
TO make foreigners pay al the war expen"s, Inc
deaf ear turned their protests Should not foreign
Governments interfere to protect their citizens from being
ture in this law which makes 1t still more ntol
lerabe. In former times the taxes assessed by
committee OF the merchants who arc supposed to know
the Of the business done by each person 10 be
taxed. Now, however, the Government itself Is the
assessor and hence you imagine, that native mer-
chants viii be favored and foreigners mucted II for
egners get protection the result VIII be that they
the country snce every succeeding year te
raised upon some pretcIt or another UnIOr
tunatey the Government will thus attain their object ana
build UP their fortunes on the ruins OF foreign
interests.
H. " Clinton has not yet been tried Every device Is
used by the courts 10 get the money now in tho
hands Of tho American Consul and claimed by Gin
ton order seut by the Judge ordering IL TO be
delivered but the Consul refused There s not the re-
motest possibility that the criminal Will DO handed over
10 the United States authorities or even convicted AS
soon as the spOis divided among tho hangcrsOn OF
tho courts, he will be acquitted and go of scotfr
This have predicted from the beginning, based upon
knowledge OF the Diodus operGndI IA vogue here.
President COrreOsO has been elected by tho Assembly
Constitutional President for the term Of four years
A heavy gale passed over Afpnwal on the afternoon
OF the 25h inst winch very nearly resulted In serious
damage to the shipping IN the port The new railroad
wharf severely injured .
The difficulties between the Australian and New-Zeal.
and Royal Mail steamship Company ana number OF
merchants OF this city In relation 70 the return or pro
esed bills drawn by tho agent here have been sasiac'
tOrily settled.