16 T H E C U B A R E V I E W . 



IMPORTANT CUBAN CUSTOMS CHANGES. 

 To Take Effect January 1, 1909. 



Summarized especially for the CUBA REVIEW by Victor H. Barranco, Attache, Consulate-General 



of Cuba at New York. 



Extracts from Decree No. 1076, Havana, November 15th, 1908, signed by 

 Charles E. Magoon, Provisional Governor of Cuba, amending the Consular Tariff 

 Law of February 14th, 1903, are here presented: 



Article 21. — Invoices under the value of $50.00 need not be certified (*excepting those 

 invoices which contain merchandise originating from those countries which benefit under 

 the Reciprocity Treaty with Cuba). *ModHication by Cable — December 21st, igoS. 



Consular Fees. 



Article 21. — For certifying invoices from $50 to $200, $2 each invoice. 



Article 21. — For certifying invoices over $200, for each additional $100 or frac- 

 tion thereof amounting to over $50, 10 cents each invoice. Invoices of less value 

 than $59 originating from the same firm or individual, forming part of the same 

 shipment and addressed to the same consignees, will be taxed the proper fees at 

 the Cuban Custom House at Havana, on the total amount of such invoices. 



Article 22. — In case of loss of the original, or at the request of the parties 

 interested, a second certificate will be issued at 50 cents each invoice; former cost. 

 $5 each invoice. 



Article 23. — For deposit of merchandise or for damaged goods at the demand 

 of the Consulate, or at the request of the parties interested, in addition to the stor- 

 age and watchman's expenses, there shall be an additional charge on the value of 

 the goods so deposited of (twenty cents per hundred dollars), 20 per cent. 



Article 58. — Any American or foreigner sending merchandise to the Republic 

 of Cuba must file with the respective consular office the corresponding invoice for 

 proper certification, provided the same represents a value of $50 or more. 



Article 59. — With the exception made in the foregoing article, the Cuban Cus- 

 tom House shall require in order to take action on a declaration or clearance of 

 merchandise, the proper invoice certified to in the respective consular office, or in 

 exceptional cases, the necessary security for the later fulfilment of said requirements. 



The Custom Houses of the Republic shall impose fines amounting to double 

 the proper consular fees, in the event of the presentation of invoices the certi- 

 fications of which bear a date subsequent to the date of the arrival of the vessel 

 carrying said goods at the first port of entry of Cuba. 



Invoices whose amoimts at the time of assessment of duties should have been 

 raised to a larger sum than the one declared therein as a basis for the application 

 of this law, shall likewise be fined by the Customs of the Republic double the 

 amount of fees short paid at the Consulates. For example, if an invoice amount- 

 ing to $300 is presented for certification and after the consular fees have been 

 paid the value of said invoice is increased to a larger amount, say $1,300, in such 

 case, as stated in this paragraph, the customs officers at that port would double 

 the amount of the legal fee on $1,300. As originally presented at the Consulate 

 for certification the fee would be $3,10, but this would now be $6.20. 



Said fine will not be imposed when the merchandise covered by the invoice 

 filed proceeds from a country and is shipped at a port wherein no Consular Officer 

 exists. 



No fees will be charged for certificates, declarations or explanatory notes re- 

 quired on invoices for the purpose of establishing the origin of merchandise, in 

 order that it may enjoy the benefits extended by Treaties. 



Article 54. — The fees established by this Tariff are understood to be in U. S. 

 Currency or in National Gold when the same shall be adopted by the Cuban Gov- 

 ernment, but they should be received in the official currency of the country where- 

 in the Consular Officer resides, and at such rates of exchange as may avoid any 

 loss to the TreasurJ^ 



The following are already in effect: 



Immigrants to Cuba. 



All steerage passengers sailing for Cuba or the Isle of Pines must appear in 

 person at the Cuban Consulate at the port of sailing, and receive an Inspection 

 Card, which will be issued gratis in their names. The different Steamship Com- 

 panies must not issue a passage ticket until the passenger presents this card at 

 their office. 



The object of this Inspection Card is to avoid the Immigrant being detained 

 at Quarantine and the railroads of Cuba. 



