Tonnage-tax collections at the various ports, etc.-Continued. The amount actually received in the Treasury as tonnage tax during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1899, was $835,834.74. 3. ENTRIES AND CLEARANCES AT SEAPORTS. The following statement shows the entries of vessels in foreign trade at seaports of the United States (Great Lakes excluded), classified as American and foreign, since 1888: 4. MARITIME EXPENDITURES OF THE UNITED STATES. The following statement shows the appropriations for rivers and harbors, LightHouse Establishment, Life-Saving Service, and Marine-Hospital Service, also tonnage tax paid by foreign vessels, for ten fiscal years: 5. TONNAGE TAX ON VESSELS FROM THE ISLAND OF TRINIDAD. [Department Circular No. 42. 1899.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, To Collectors of Customs and others: In pursuance of the proclamation of the President, dated the 13th instant, of which a copy is printed below, you will take measures for the collection, on and after the date of the proclamation, from vessels entered in the United States from any of the ports of the island of Trinidad of tonnage dues, as provided for by section 11 of the act of June 19, 1886. Approved: O. L. SPAULDING, Assistant Secretary. EUGENE T. CHAMBERLAIN, Commissioner. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas by a proclamation of the President of the United States, dated April seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, upon proof then appearing satisfactory that upon vessels of the United States arriving at the island of Trinidad, British West Indies, no due was imposed by the ton as tonnage or as light money and that no other equivalent tax on vessels of the United States was imposed at said island by the British Government, the President did declare and proclaim, from and after the date of his said proclamation of April seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, the suspension of the collection of the tonnage duties of three cents per ton, not to exceed fifteen cents per ton per annum, imposed upon vessels entered in ports of the United States from any of the ports of the island of Trinidad by section 14 of the act of Congress approved June twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, entitled "An act to remove certain burdens on the American merchant marine and encourage the American foreign carrying trade, and for other purposes;" And whereas it now appears upon satisfactory proof that tonnage or light-house dues, or a tax or taxes equivalent thereto, are in fact imposed upon American vessels and their cargoes entered in ports of the island of Trinidad higher and other than those imposed upon vessels from ports in the island of Trinidad or their cargoes entered in ports of the United States, so that said proclamation of April seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, in its operation and effect contravenes the meaning and intent of section 14 of the act of Congress approved June twenty-sixth, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, as amended by section 11 of the act of Congress approved June nineteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, entitled "An act to abolish certain fees for official services to American vessels and to amend the laws relating to shipping commissioners, seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other purposes: Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the aforesaid section 14 of the act of Congress approved June twentysixth, eighteen hundred and eighty-four, as amended by the aforesaid section 11 of the act approved June nineteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six, do hereby revoke the said proclamation of April seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-five, suspending the collection of the whole of the duty of three cents per ton, not to exceed fifteen cents per ton per annum (which is imposed by the aforesaid sections of said acts), upon vessels entered in the ports of the United States from any of the ports of the island of Trinidad; this revocation of said proclamation to take effect on and after the date of this my proclamation. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-third. [SEAL.] By the President: WILLIAM MCKINLEY. JOHN HAY, Secretary of State. 6. TONNAGE TAX ON VESSELS FROM PORTS IN THE ISLAND OF TOBAGO. [Department Circular No. 41. 1899.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF NAVIGATION, To Collectors of Customs and others: In pursuance of the proclamation of the President, dated the 13th instant, of which a copy is printed below, you will take measures for the collection, on and after the date of the proclamation, from vessels entered in the United States from any of the ports of the island of Tobago of tonnage dues, as provided for by section 11 of the act of June 19, 1886. EUGENE T. CHAMBERLAIN, Commissioner. BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas by a proclamation of the President of the United States, dated the second day of December, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, upon proof then appearing satisfactory that no tonnage or light-house dues or other equivalent tax or taxes were imposed upon American vessels entering the ports of the island of Tobago, one of the British West India Islands, and that vessels belonging to the United States of America and their cargoes were not required in the ports of the said island of Tobago to pay any fee or due of any kind or nature or any import due higher than was payable by vessels from ports or places in the said island of Tobago or their cargoes in the United States, the President did therefore declare and proclaim, from and after the date of his said proclamation of December second, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, the suspension of the collection of the whole of the duty of three cents per ton, not to exceed fifteen cents per ton per annum, imposed upon vessels entered in the ports of the United States from any of the ports of the island of Tobago by section 11 of the act of Congress approved June nineteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty six, entitled "An act to abolish certain fees for official services to American vessels and to amend the laws relating to shipping commissioners, seamen, and owners of vessels, and for other purposes;' And whereas the President did further declare and proclaim in his proclamation of December second, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, that the said suspension should continue so long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States and their cargoes should be continued in the said ports of the island of Tobago, and no longer; And whereas it now appears upon satisfactory proof that tonnage or light-house dues, or a tax or taxes equivalent thereto, are in fact imposed upon American vessels and their cargoes eutered in ports of the island of Tobago higher and other than those imposed upon vessels from ports in the island of Tobago or their cargoes entered in ports of the United States, so that said proclamation of December second, eighteen hundred and ninety one, in its operation and effect contravenes the meaning and intent of said section 11 of the act of Congress approved June nineteenth, eighteen hundred and eighty-six: Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the aforesaid section 11 of the act aforesaid, as well as in pursuance of the terms of said proclamation itself, do hereby revoke the said proclamation of December second, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, suspending the collection of the whole of the duty of three cents per ton, not to exceed fifteen cents per ton per annum (which is imposed by the aforesaid section of said act), upon vessels entered in the ports of the United States from any of the ports of the island of Tobago; this revocation of said proclamation to take effect on and after the date of this my proclamation. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed. Done at the city of Washington this thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine, and of the Independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-third. [SEAL.] By the President: JOHN HAY, Secretary of State. WILLIAM MCKINLEY, APPENDIX I. FOREIGN TONNAGE TAX, LAWS, AND RATES. Following are statements of the laws imposing tonnage taxes, light dues, and equivalent taxes, together with the rates in Great Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Mexico, and Japan. GREAT BRITAIN. Under the system in force in Great Britain up to April 1, 1899, light dues were levied at every entry and clearance of a vessel, ou the basis, theoretically, of the light-houses which the vessel passes on her inward and outward voyage. These rates varied for different light-houses and for different ports. Through the usual official channels the Bureau has been furnished by the British Board of Trade with a statement of the light dues imposed up to April 1, 1899, on a vessel entering and clearing each of eight of the principal seaports of the United Kingdom. It should be noted that the average charge on a ship of 1,000 tons in the last column is the average rate paid on one way only, namely, for entry or for clearance, while the charges are imposed at both entry and clearance. Table 2 states more particularly the nature of the local light dues, which are in addition to the general light dues based on the light-houses passed. The general light dues are devoted to the mercentile marine fund, the local light dues to local purposes. 1. LIGHT DUES ON VOYAGES BETWEEN NEW YORK AND THE UNITED KINGDOM. NOTE.-Where two routes are shown, the first is the one most frequently taken. Fishing vessels and pleasure yachts are exempt. 2. LOCAL LIGHT DUES LEVIED AT VARIOUS PORTS ON STEAMERS ENTERING FROM AND CLEARING TO NEW YORK. |