Mr. Hay to Mr.
Tower.
Department of State,
Washington, January 25,
1899.
No. 199.]Sir: I inclose for your information copy of a
letter from the Secretary of Agriculture relative to the complaint of
the Cudahy Packing Company, of South Omaha, Nebr., that the Austrian
Government is enforcing a new ministerial decree which exacts the
payment of duty on the salt in which meats are packed in addition to the
duty collected on the meats themselves.
You are instructed to investigate the matter promptly and to report the
result to the Department.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
Mr. Wilson to
Mr. Hay.
Department of Agriculture,
Washington, January 17,
1899.
Sir: I have the honor to inclose for your
information copy of a letter just received from the Cudahy Packing
Company, South Omaha,
[Page 41]
Nebr.,
stating that the Austrian Government is enforcing a new ministerial
decree exacting the payment of duty on the salt in which meats from
the United States are packed in addition to the duty collected on
the meats themselves.
I invite your attention to this in order that, if you deem it
advisable, you may make proper representations to the Austrian
Government for relief from this burdensome requirement.
I have, etc.,
[Subinclosure.]
The Cudahy Packing
Company to Mr. Wilson.
South Omaha, Nebr., January 10, 1899.
Dear Sir: Our agent in Trieste, Mr. Silvio
Liebman, writes us under date of December 23 as follows:
Yesterday a new ministerial law came into force here,
enacting the payment of duty also on the salt in which all
meats and fat backs coming from the United States are
packed, and this for the protection of the Hungarian trade
in these products. Previous to this it was allowed to remove
the salt in the dock warehouses and pay duty only on the fat
backs, etc., but now duty must be paid on the goods and the
salt as they arrive. This will naturally make a difference
of about 2/ per 100 kilos for buyers, and is, hence, an
impediment to business with your country in these products.
It would therefore be important and in the interest of
business to ship all meats with as little salt as possible
during the winter months; and I shall thank you to give your
careful attention to this important matter.
Our agent also writes that he thinks that friendly pressure might be
brought to bear by our Government upon the Austrian authorities,
through the Austrian minister at Washington, to induce the Austrian
Government to abolish this exaction, and to permit the goods to be
entered as heretofore.
Yours, respectfully,
The Cudahy Packing
Co.,
George
Marples.
