grandson of the Emperor Iturbide, and adopted heir of Maximilian, holds a commission in the republican army. He studied at Tacubaya, the seat of the National Military Academy.
Navy. —The navy consists of four gunboats.
XI.
Duties.
An elaborate description of the Mexican tariff would be out of place in this guide-book. Suffice it to say, that there is an import duty on almost everything, except agricultural and scientific instruments and books. Up to November 1, 1882, machinery was admitted free. It now bears a duty of fifty cents per hundred kilogrammes (220 pounds). Since November 1, 1881, there has been an additional “package" duty on merchandise imported into the Republic. Nearly all articles are taxed heavily, especially carriages, buggies, and wagons. The traveler, in entering the country by his own carriage (either via the Rio Grande or otherwise), is obliged to give a bond to secure the amount of duties on the vehicle, in case he intends to return to the United States. If the bond is not filed, the regular import duty must be paid.
It may be remarked that the Government pays the subsidies to the various railroads out of the customs duties. An amount varying from four to six per cent of the customs receipts is pledged, and revenue-bonds are issued bearing no interest (see chapter on railroads). At present negotiations for a reciprocity treaty are pending between the United States of America and Mexico. It is said that an extensive revision of the Mexican tariff is about to be made, by which the duties will be considerably reduced.
