Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-09
PUBLIC DEBT COUNCIL
QUESTION OF PROPOSED In
CREASE OF CUSTOMS DUTIES.
Special cahlegram to The Star.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
CONSTANTINOPLE. April 9.-At the
last meeting of the council of the public
debt the question of the proposed in
crease of the customs duties was dis
cussed by the delegates The decree of
Muharrem, which is the charter of the
administration, confides to the public
debt the right of collecting certain reve-
nues, and specifies one of these ceded
revenues any increase in the customs re-
ceipts consequent upon the introduction
of higher duties in case of revision of
treaties of commerce. The delegates were
unanimously of the opinion that the coun
Ncil should insist upon maintaining the
right thus guaranteed. The imperial
commissioner who represented the Otto
man government on the council was re-
quested to make known to the porte the
views expressed at the meeting. What
the public debt desires is that the in
creased customs duties should be levied
by its own officials and paid over to the
administration as part of the ordinary
revenues of the debt.
At the end of each financial year three
quarters of the sum thus raised would be
paid over to the port as part of the gov
ernment's share of the excess of the debt
revenues over the debt charges. The un.-
ication decree of 1893 fixed the debt charge
and directs that one-quarter of the excess
quarters paid over to the government.
There is no danger of the increased Gus
toms receipts being diverted to the service
OF the debt, as the excess of revenue over
the hxed charge now amounts tof$2, sou, uUU
year and is likely to increase One-quar-
ter OF this Increase would go to the sinking
fund, but this would be entirely to the ad-
vantage of the government of the coun-
try.
1t is quite natural that the council should
wish to make the position as clear as pos
sfble; but the rights of the public debt in
this matter are said to be so inconteSti Bile
that the porte is not likely even to attempt
to ignore them. The Ottoman government
has scrupulously respected the decree or
Muharrem ever since the public debt ad-
ministration came into being twenty-three
years ago, and is well aware that the ex-
celient credit which Turkey enjoys in the
European money market is due entirely to
this fact.
Best for All Concerned.
Moreover, quite apart from legal rights.
the arrangement desired by the public debt
is regarded best for ali parties concerned.
1t makes 1t easier for the powers to secure
that the increase of revenue shall go to the
budgets of the Macedonian vllayets. The
Improvement in morals and methods of Gus
toms administration caused by the cooper
alton of the public debt officials will prob
than enough to balance the one-ouarter
which Will be devoted to the sinking fund
of the debt and cannot fail to benefit trade
1t cannot in any way offend the suscepti-
bilities of the Turkish government, for the
employees of the public debt are Ottoman
officials who already cooperate with the Of
ficials of other departments. Indeed. If the
proposed arrangement be adopted the re-
forms will result in the customs being of
real political advantage to Turkey, since
they Will put an end to International con-
troI-which is only too natural at present
So many difficulties have arisen over
the proposed increase in the customs du-
ties that 1t will certainly require time to
get everything in apple pie order. In some
quarters fear is expressed that the Turks
will endeavor to enforce higher duty
without waiting for the consent Of the
powers. Such a course, however, could
not fail to provoke a serious conflict, and
1t is therefore not at all probable that
the porte will do anything so foolish.
What is possible is that the government
may make the delay in granting the 3 per
cent increase an excuse for stopping the
remittances to Macedonia, which would
have the effect of Gripping the internal
tional financial commission.