New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-01
MEXICO NOW UNDER
DOUBLE STAMP TAX
Huerta's Decree to Raise
New Revenues Goes Into
Effect To-day.
RESULT OF MEASURE
ANXIOUSLY AWAITED
Burden viii Be Felt by All
Glasses and Seriously A.
feet Huerta's Future.

IBy Cable to The Tribune
Mexico city. Nov. 30-Presldent Huer-
ta's decree doubling stamp taxes goes
into effect tomorrow.
These taxes were long one of the most
obnoxious fiscal burdens of the Mexican
people. and when Porfrio DiaZ started
his revolution against President Sebas-
tian Lerdo de Tejada in 1876. one of his
promises. i'm case of his triumph, was to
abolish the stamp revenue Needless To
say this promise, like most other prom
ses of Spanish American revolutionary
leaders, remained unfulhlled when Diaz.
after overthrowinG Lerdo, became Presi-
dent, hut during the closing years OF the
Diaz administration the stamp taxes were
considerably reduced and the measures
for their assessment and enforcement
were rendered far less vexatious and
inquisitorial. so that business men and the
Public generally had come TO regard the
stamp law with less repugnance than
formerly.
Now, by a stroke Of the pen. prac-
tically all stamp duties have been doubled
including the taxes on title deeds OF
mines and the annual rental tax on MIN
ing property. There is much speculation
as TO the effect of this new measure and
whether il will yield the needed increase
Of revenue 10 the federal government
During the closing years OF the Diaz
regime receipts from stamp taxes
AVERAGED about 100000 pesos a year so
that. other things being the same, Huerta
.I.t In ,NTaf
from the same source but on one hand
important revenue producing districts are
now outside the governments control
and on the other hand all commercial anu
private transactions on which stamp
duties are assessed have undergone
great shrinkage owing to the country ;
disturbed condition.
Heavy Increase Of Taxes.
There is no form Of revenue In Mexico
more sensitive to general conditions thah
the stamp revenue. The same conslder-
atoms apply TO the increase Of import
duties. which altogether. between Madcro
and Huerta. have been Increased b. Pe'
cent since the days Of PorfirIo Diaz. Some
custom houses and districts served by
them are held by the rebels and large
part OF the population is making shlit W
do without imported articles
Some observers maintain that Huerta
NAV consider himself fortunate II with
tho Increased schedules import duties ana
stamp taxes Yield more or less what they
we're Welding TO Dlaz, that is. about 90
10000 pesos annual import duties ana
60 5000 pesos stamp taxes. or S"p'V"
pesos a year In all. on the other hand
the most thiclly populated section oi
Mexico IS fully controlled by the federal
government. and persons friendly 10 the
administration predict confidently that tho
new fiscal measures will produce the de-
sired results
The Finance Department estimates that
tn. increased stamp dIties. together with
the new import duties on wines, spirits
and tobacco. also operative tomorrow.
Will produce 2j.pl0Sp pesos additional
revenue a year over and above what may
be- expected from the Increased import
duties and that altogether the Huertd
government will succeed I'm collecting
revenue amounting to about ljj.coJVO
pcSos annually. which IN needs for tn"
campaign against the rebels iu addition
to regular administrative purposes.
In any event much depends for the Inn
tho effect. fiscal and social Of the in
creased stamp duties operauN" to-nor-
ROW They will affect all classes ana put
q strain on public support of the Hucrta
regime. especially II II Is seen that. de-
spltc the sacrifices demanded OF the COM
munity. the work of the country's pacih-
cation makes little progress.
Huerta Hemmed In.
with American Warships at all impor-
tant Mexican ports the possibility OF es-
cane for General lluerta In the event OF
a Carranzsta triumph would practically
depenu on the willingness OF the United
States. Those nearest TO Huerta, how
ever, say they are not worrying about
this and declare that II he quits the
capital IL will be to take the field against
the rebels and not To seek his personal
safety
Senior Moheno's "trip to Vera cruz to
meet his father, due there from Southern
Mexico, caused a rumor OF possible
renewal of negotiations with John Lind.
but this has not been confirmed. II u
not believed that Huerta will entertain
any new proposals to resign. and 1t IL
felt here that the dispute must be fought
out between the warning factions.
There appears TO be no truth In the
report that the Japanese Minister Is act
ing as a mediator I'm the renewal of ne
gotiations between Mexico and the United
States. He saw Nelson OShauGhnessy,
the American charge d'affaires. yesterday
and asked him whether the United States
would protect the Japanese on the West
coast. After consulting Washington, the
charge informed the minister that the
United states would protect the japanese
and other foreigners on the West coast.
In circles friendly 10 the admlnistra-
ton the fall Of Mazatlan is denied. II IS
said the rebels have tried To take the
place. but failed on the other hand in
the same circles il liz acknowledged that
nothing Is known Of the movements Of
General Rubio Nayarrete or of develop
ments at Victoria. as Geographic com
munication with that city IL interrupted.
Record Grain Shipments.
H., william Ontario Nov 20 In the