Alphabetical list of the principal goods enumerated in the tariff—Continued. DECREE OF JUNE 6, 1898, GRANTING FREE ENTRY TO CERTAIN GOODS IMPORTED FOR ACCOUNT OF THE FEDERAL OR STATE GOVERNMENTS. ART. 2. The Federal Executive may only exempt from the payment of import duties the following articles: I. Arms and munitions of war destined to the national army and navy or to the States of the Federation, provided that, for the latter, the respective governors request free admission thereof after having been duly authorized by the legislative bodies of the States they represent. II. Wire for the Federal telegraph lines. III. Rolling stock and material for the construction, working, and repair of the National Tehuantepee railway, provided it concerns similar articles specially enumerated as duty-free in the railway concessions granted to private enterprises. ART. 3. According to the stipulations of the foregoing article 2, in case articles not specified in above paragraphs are imported for account of the Federal or State Governments, they shall be subject to the duties leviable thereon, unless specially exempted by act of Congress, and said articles shall be liable to the same formalities as goods belonging to trade or private persons. The present decree shall enter into force on July 1, 1898. It shall apply to goods shipped by vessels which entered into port on the 30th instant after midnight, even should they have called at any other Mexican port prior to that date, and likewise to goods imported across the frontiers and entered in the custom-houses on the above-mentioned date and hour. CENTRAL AMERICA. BRITISH HONDURAS. Replying to tariff circular, I have to report that there are no export duties levied on the trade of this colony or bounties paid on its products. The tariff may be said to be for revenue only, and is levied on the merchandise of all countries alike. I send, under separate cover, copies of the tariff now in force, and a copy of chapter 17 of the Consolidated Laws of the Colony relating to the customs. 4. If any officer, clerk, or person acting in any office in or belonging to the customs shall take or receive any fee, perquisite, or gratuity or reward, whether pecuniary or otherwise, directly or indirectly, from any person (not being a person duly appointed to some office in the customs) on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him, or in any way relating to his said office or employment, except such as he shall receive by permission of the governor, every such officer, clerk, or other person so offending shall, on proof thereof, be liable to be dismissed from his office; and if any person shall give, offer, or promise to give any such fee, perquisite or reward, such person shall, for every offense, forfeit a sum not exceeding $500. 8. Upon examinations and inquiries made by the collector or other person appointed by the governor to make such examinations and inquiries for ascertaining the truth of the facts relative to the customs of the conduct of officers or persons employed therein, any person examined before him or them shall deliver testimony on oath or affirmation to be administered by such collector, or other person as shall examine such person, and every person so examined, or who shall make oath or affirmation under and in pursuance of the last preceding section, who shall be convicted of making a false oath or affirmation touching any of the facts so testified on oath or affirmation, or of giving false evidence on oath before such collector or other person in conformity to the directions of this chapter, shall be deemed guilty of perjury and shall be liable to the pains and penalties thereof. 10. It shall be lawful for the collector to station an officer or officers on board any ship in any part of the colony, and the master of every ship on board which an officer is so stationed shall provide every such officer sufficient room under the deck for his bed or hammock, and with suitable board, and in case of neglect or refusal so to do, every such master shall forfeit a sum not exceeding $100. 11. The master of every ship arriving from parts beyond the seas at any port in this colony, whether laden or in ballast, shall within twenty-four hours after such arrival personally appear at the custom-house at such port, and there make a report and manifest in writing in the form Schedule A hereto annexed containing the several particulars indicated in or required thereby, or in such form as the collector shall from time to time prescribe, and shall make and subscribe a declaration to the truth 10388-31 |