Alfonso to foreign merchandise carried to the Philippines under the Spanish flag, May 18, 1877

Proposed law for conceding bounties to foreign merchandise carried to the Philippines under the Spanish flag.

[From the Gaceta de Madrid, May 24, 1877.]

ministry of ultramar.—royal decree.

In subjection to article 3 of the decree of June 28, 1871, and in accord with the council of ministers,

I hereby authorize the minister of ultramar to present to the Córtes the project of law relative to conceding bounties in the Philippines to foreign merchandise carried under the national flag.

To the Córtes:

By royal decree of June 28, 1871, in view of the reasons set forth by the minister of ultramar, in accord with the council of ministers and in conformity with the council of state, there was accorded the concession of bounties in the Philippines upon foreign merchandise carried under the national flag; but as this reform postponed the effects of article 3 of the decree-law of December 29, 1868, whereby was reduced to the extent of 50 per cent, the discriminating duty of the flag (derecho diferencial de la bandera), which was to be kept for the space of two years, there was presented to the Córtes on the 3d of July, 1871, a project of law to the end that the aforesaid decree of June 28 should, have the force of a law. That project not having been discussed, the undersigned minister, with the consent of His Majesty, and in accord with the council of ministers, has the honor to reproduce it in the following form:

Project of law.

Sole article. Goods, fruits, and effects, carried to the Philippine Islands from foreign ports under the national flag, shall pay the customs duties, with the following reductions:

Twenty-five per cent., the importations effected from July 1, 1871, to June 30, 1873;

Twenty per cent., those effected from July 1, 1873, to June 30, 1875;

Fifteen per cent., those effected from July 1, 1875, to June 30, 1877; and

Ten per cent., those which may be effected from July 1, 1877, to June 30, 1879, on which day the bounty shall definitively cease.