The evening times., 1900-02-16
TIRE new SPANISH TARIFF
An Increased Duty Which Will Af-
feet Some American Exports.
The Typewriting Machine n Luxury
in the Land of the DOns-Every De-
scriptiOn Of Electrical, Scientific,
and Omce LabOr-Saving Device
Ciassed Under Heavy Rate.

julius C. Lay. the United States Consul
| General to Barcelona. has written the
| State Department respecting the new
| Spanish tariff as follows:
Il wish to call the attention of our ex-
porters to the increased duties on num-
| Der of articles now exported from the
United States to this country, as provided
for in the new Spanish tariff which went
into effect on January l, 1900. These in
creased duties will seriously affect our
exports of typewriters and, especially, oils.
"Typewriters in Spain are considered at
present a luxury, and not a necessity,
among business men; and although in time
use them, still. of course, If the price is
increased, so also will be the difficulty in
introducing them. as none are made in
this country.
According TO the new Spanish tariff,
typewriters, which formerly paid (No. 26s
of the old tariff a pesetas per 100 kilo-
grams plus 90 per cent war tax. or %
pesetas per 100 kilograms (say, at cur
rent exchange. less than cents per pound
weight are now dutiable at (2S9 new tar
iff) pesetas per Kilograms mot per 100
Kilograms, as in the old tariff plus 20 per
cent war tax-9.6 pesetas per kilogram, or
at current exchange over 81 cents per
pound weight, or about thirty-twO times
as much as before.
1T must be noticed. however. that the
old tariff was on the gross weight, whereas
the new tariff charges on the net weight;
So as it may be fairly reckoned that the
packing OF a typewriter weighs about as
much as the machine itself the difference
is really only sixteen times as much. An
ordinary typewriter weighs from twenty
to thirty pounds with its cover and the
accessories usually supplied with it, so that
the duty on fiTst-class American type
writer is now. say. from sl@ to $50. where
as before it averaged about half dollar
per machine.
Another item in the new Spanish tariff
covers monographs and their parts, which
formerly were not enumerated in the
Spanish tariff. but are now dutiabc the
same as typewriters tNo. 800 new tariff
ca cents per pound weight.
Every description of electrical
scientific. and office labor saving apparatus
or instrument is now also classed under a
heavy rate tNos 2St. 292 293. and pa new
tariff, plus 20 per cent war tax. For in
stance. an Edison monograph. which form
erly paid SI.i5. is now dutiable at 81.
The duties on sewing machines. yeloci-
pedes. slaves. and lumber remain un-
changed.
The new tariff has doubled the duty
previously charged on paraffin wax: this
wax imported from the United States is
now dutiable at IS pesetas per 100 kilo-
grams gross weight. plus 20 per cent war
tax. or $50 pesetas (SS.I6 per 220.4t
pounds, and from Great Britain. at 80
pesetaS tS5.SSl. or u difference OF l1.6G
pesetas (S2.5S) per 22046 pounds.
Il understand from our agents here of oil
and paraffin concerns in the United States
that this Increase makes business impossj-
ble in Spain. Their clients. who have made
important contracts. have decided not 10
import more wax. and New York firms have
been cabIed to stop all shipments. Should
the Spanish Government offer to reduce The
duty to 40 pssetas per lC0 Kilograms (220.i6
Doundsl gross weight. the same duty as is
now paid on British wax. it would still BE-
too high to complete With stearin which
pays only q pesetas tS3.5gj per 100 kilo-
grams and 20 per cent war tax
The various candlemakers who have
contracts with British manufacturers have
also been obliged to give Instructions to
stop all shipments. as even the British
paratfin cannot be introduced and pay III
80 pesetas per 100 Kilograms duty.
The Barcelona candlemakers have de
cided TO send commission to Madrid 10
protest against the increased duties Un
parafiin. 1t would appear that the in
crease in the duty was made in favor II
the stearin manufacturers. who pay III
cents per 100 Kilograms gross weight Oh
tallOw which is used for the manufacture
of Ste3rin.
"Lubricating oils from the United States
under the new tariff are dutable at SS.62 !
per 220. 10 pounds net and S1.Gl per 100 Ili- !
lCgrams for barrel and 20 per cent add /
tional war tax. while those from Russia !
and Great Britain are now dutabie al
Ss.35 per 100 Kilograms net. and Sl.4T per |
100 Kilograms for barrel. without war tax. !
Prior TO January /. 1900 the duty on lu- !
bricating ellis from the United States was |
Al per 100 Kilograms gross weight with /
20 per cent additional war tax while the |
British and Russian oils paid 80 pesetas |!
per 100 Kilograms gross without any war !
tax. 1t Is an advantage 10 our exporters |
TO pay duty on the net. instead of the !
gross weight of the oil. but the increased !
duty of 80 pesetas per 100 Kilograms will /
entirely stop all importatiOns OF 'ubri- |
eating oils from the United States and Sc !
riously interfere with those Of cylinder |
oils and even if the duty should be Teduc-
ed to that now paid on British and Rus |
sian oils. We cannot compete with the veg
etable oils"