3. To the merchant trader, on the basis of the imperial sanction of May 19, 1895, on the recommendation of the committee of ministers for aiding regular steamship communication between Vladivostock, the Russian Islands, and the bays of the strait of the Eastern Bosphorus, 6,000 rubles. 4. To the Black Sea: Danube Steamship Company, based on the imperial sanction of March 9, 1898, by the advice of the council of the Empire, payments made for maintenance of regular voyages obligatory under the statutes of the line, 313,180 rubles. This payment is authorized as operative to the company from 1898 to 1901, inclusive. 5. To the Archangel Lapland Steamship Company: (a) On the basis of the imperial sanction of May 15, 1895, by the advice of the council of the Empire, for mileage subsidies to be paid for the maintenance or regular steamship communication between the Arctic Ocean and the White Sea, 227,464 rubles. Mileage pay to be determined on actual operations from 1896 to 1915, inclusive. (b) On the basis of the imperial sanction of February 17, 1897, by the advice of the council of the Empire, payments made on subsidies for the encouragement of regular communication along the Petchora line on trips made between Archangel and the mouth of the Petchora River, 43,596.24 rubles. The payments are determined on trips actually made from 1898 to 1915, inclusive. 6. To the volunteer fleet, by imperial sanction January 6, 1882, by the advice of the council of the Empire, 600,000 rubles. This subsidy is authorized as effective during the first ten years, commencing 1892, 2,068,324.74 rubles. 17. REFUND OF RUSSIAN SUEZ DUES. The decision of the council of the Empire sanctioned by imperial decree, dated June 2-14, 1899, relating to the extension of privileges by reimbursing the duty paid by Russian vessels for their passage through the Suez Canal. At a general meeting of the council of the Empire, attended by the representatives of the several departments of the Government, as well civil as ecclesiastical, upon the proposal of the minister of finance that the privilege by which Russian vessels are reimbursed for the amount of toll paid for their passage through the Suez Canal should be extended, it was resolved: First. That the privilege by which Russian vessels are reimbursed for the amount of toll paid by them for their passage through the Suez Canal (sanctioned by imperial decree dated May 9, 1899, resolution of the council of the Empire, Collection of Laws and Government Instructions for the year 1889, No. 66, p. 546) is extended to 1910 upon the following conditions: I. All Russian steamships sailing from a Russian port and bound for a port of the Indian or Pacific Ocean and passing through the Suez Canal, or vice versa, those Russian steamers which arrive at Russian ports from any of the ports of the Indian or Pacific Ocean, have the right to receive from the Government treasury the toll paid by them for their passage through the Suez Canal. (a) The full amount of duty, in cases where the steamers are bound for any of the Russian ports of the far east, or vice versa, in the cases they sail from these ports, and (b) two-thirds of the full toll when they are bound for the foreign ports of the Indian or Pacific Ocean, or vice versa, when they sail from such ports. Remark: Up to July 1, 1901, the vessels mentioned in clause (b) of this paragraph shall have a right to receive the full amount of toll paid by them for their passage through Suez Canal. Second. Under the demonstration of toll for the passage through the Suez Canal, which is to be reimbursed (Sec. I), is understood the actual tonnage fee levied by the Suez Canal Company for the passage of vessels through the canal, not extending the meaning to the other fees, which are collected by the company from the steamers during their passage through the canal, such as anchorage, towage, and pilot dues levied on vessels according to the provisions regulating the navigation through the Suez Canal put in force on June 1, 1872. Third. Steamers sailing from Russia to ports of the Indian or Pacific Ocean and back by way of the Suez Canal are allowed to call at intermediate ports for commercial operations. Should such steamers go out of their way the canal tolls will be reimbursed only in case when it can be proved that the steamer was disabled. II. To cover the amount necessary for the reimbursement of steamers for canal tolls a yearly credit, beginning from January 1, 1900, will be added to the department of trade and manufacture, this amount to be determined by the actual expenses incurred for this purpose in preceding years. True and conform copy. K. OUSCHAKOFF. 18. RUSSIAN COASTING LAW. Decision of the council of the Empire sanctioned by imperial decree, dated the 29th of May (10th of June), 1897, relating to the exclusive right of vessels bearing the Russian flag to trade between Russian ports in the waters which surround the Empire of Russia. At a general meeting of the council of the Empire, attended by representatives of the several departments of the Government, as well civil as ecclesiastical, upon the proposal of the minister of finance that the right of navigation between Russian ports in the waters surrounding the Russian Empire should belong exclusively to ships carrying the Russian flag, it was resolved: I. To make the following changes and modifications in the laws relating to that subject: SEC. 1. The coasting trade, that is to say the carrying of freight and passengers between Russian ports situated upon the same sea as well as between Russian ports situated upon different seas, shall be the exclusive privilege of Russian subjects and of vessels navigating under the Russian flag. (Sec. 138 and sec. 190 of the Commercial Laws, Vol. XI, section 2, issued 1893.) SEC. 2. The transportation of salt from the ports on the sea of Azoff and on the Black Sea to the ports of the Baltic Sea may be carried on until further orders by vessels sailing under foreign flags. II. The provisions of section 1, or such part of them as relate to the coasting trade between ports situated upon different seas, shall take effect from and after the 1st of January, 1900. COMMERCIAL LAWS, VOLUME XI, SECTION II. SEC. 138. The right to fly the Russian commercial flag, which belonged exclusively to Russian subjects, is extended First. To Russian stock companies the principal officers and management of which are within the Russian Empire; Second. To the trading partnerships established according to law, when one of the partners who has full powers is a Russian subject; and Third. To such persons as have built or purchased vessels at their own expense, providing the manager of the association is a Russian subject. SEC. 190. Not more than one-quarter of the crew of Russian ships shall be foreigners, excepting in those cases where the number of foreign sailors is determined by special trading rules or commercial treaties. The masters must always be Russian subjects. Remark.-In view of the exceptions to the general rule mentioned in this paragraph, it was decided in 1868 that Russian ships might, until further notice, carry any number of foreigners, either as masters, pilots, or sailors. At the same time it was resolved, in order to encourage the employment of men as sailors in Russia, that the owners of a vessel more than three-fourths of whose crew were foreigners should pay a tax to the Crown. This tax was fixed at 25 rubles per annum for every foreign sailor in excess of the number allowed. The sum fixed is to be paid to the proper custom-house, and where custom-houses do not exist, to the port administration, before the ship sails and at the time the master presents his ship's papers. SWEDEN AND NORWAY. Under date of June 2 and June 19, 1899, the minister of the United States at Stockholm transmitted the following information relative to the subsidies paid to the vessels of Sweden and Norway: 19. ROYAL DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE. To the Councilor of State and Acting Chief for the Royal Foreign Office: With regard to the request made by the minister of the United States at this place for information as to the nature and extent of the aid given by the Swedish Government to shipping and shipbuilding in Sweden, in the form of subsidies or bounties for shipbuilding, subsidies or navigation bounties, together with compensation or contracts for ocean mail service, the royal foreign office has, in a communication of May 15 instant, referring to a communication of the royal department of finance of the 23d of April, 1894, in compliance with a request then made by the said minister, asked to be put in a position to answer the present request; and concerning the information desired in reference to the compensation or contracts for ocean mail service, I have the honor to inform you That the subvention mentioned in the said communication of April 23, 1894, for the maintenance of the connection between Malmö and Stralsund is no longer continued; That, in conformity with the royal letters of December 3, 1899, and March 3, 1899, a private company of shipowners is authorized, in consideration of making a double trip daily the whole year between Trelleborg (Sweden) and Sassnitz (Germany) for eight years from May 1, 1899, inclusive, to receive from the public funds a yearly subvention of 222,500 kronor; and furthermore, with certain reservations, a yearly compensation of 44,500 kronor for missed opportunity for extra trips with a vessel belonging to the company; That the royal proclamation of December 21, 1888, referred to in the communication of April 23, 1894, concerning the right of the postal department to forward letters and postal cards, as well as concerning the transmission of the mail by railway and steamer and by stage, remains unchanged with regard to steamships; and That the postal department has paid out during 1898 from the postal funds, for sea mail service Copy of a memorandum from the first bureau of the postal administraiton to the bureau of commerce and consular affairs, department of the interior, dated June 1, 1899. Referring to the honorable bureau's communication of the 26th of last month, I have the honor to inform you that subsidies are given from the public funds to the following postal steamship routes to foreign countries: Kronor yearly. (a) For daily trips between Christiansand and Frederikshavn (Denmark) (c) For trips once a week between Trondhjem and Newcastle.. Of these amounts are given, respectively, 80,000 kronor, 75,000 kronor, 100,000 kronor, as direct subvention for the maintenance of the routes, while the remainder is given as compensation for mail service. (d) For mail service about once a month between Stavenger and Iceland... (e) For mail service between Christiania and Hamburg (Germany), about . (ƒ) For mail service between Christiansand and Hamburg. 153, 000 125,000 125,000 5,000 19,000 9,000 Moreover there is paid subvention for a route between Norway and Spain a yearly sum of 75,000 kronor. But this route has for the present no mail service. DENMARK. [From report to the British Government.] 20. STEAMSHIP SUBSIDIES. COPENHAGEN, September 20, 1895. SIR: You were good enough to inquire, in a note dated 26th May last, what changes have taken place in Denmark since the 6th of February, 1889, in the subsidies granted in aid of the construction and running of ships. I hasten to state, in reply, that nothing is changed with respect to the construction of ships; no subsidy of any kind is granted in aid. With respect to aid in the running of ships, I beg to state that the subvention granted to the Esbjerg-Parkeston Line has been changed, so that the company called “Forenede Dampskibsselskab" (United Steamship Company), which manages this line, no longer receives from the State a fixed monthly sum as it did formerly, but an indemnity on the reduction of the rate to be paid on the transport of butter, fish, and other commodities. This indemnity amounted last year to 189,825 kroner 27 öre (£10,546). The Gjedser-Warnemünde Line is also subventioned by Denmark, which pays a yearly sum of 80,000 ring, that is, 71,200 kroner (£3,955), for its maintenance to the management of the Mecklenburg State railways. Mention must also be made of the lines between Copenhagen and the islands of Färöe and Iceland, and between Copenhagen and the town of Malmö. The first of these lines receives 40,000 kroner (£2,222) and the second 4,380 kroner (£243) annually. I avail, etc., REEDTZ THOTT. [Inclosure 2 in No. 5.] The Danish Government granted no subsidies on the construction of ships in 1889 and 1895. Subsidies granted by the Danish Government on the running of ships, 1889. To the Esbjerg-Parkeston Line, per annum.. Special subsidy to Esbjerg Parkeston Line for the transport of swine Total annual subsidies, 1889 Subsidies granted by the Danish Government on the running of ships, 1894–95. To the line between Copenhagen and Färöe and Iceland.. Total annual subsidies, 1889 Total annual subsidies, 1894 To the Esbjerg-Parkeston Line, 1894 (as a bounty proportional to the cost of Increase in subsidies since 1889.. 83, 805 4, 656 COPENHAGEN, September 25, 1895. SIR: In continuation of my note of the 20th instaut respecting subventions granted by Denmark in aid of the running of ships, I have the honor to inform you that I have just learned that besides the subventions mentioned in that note the State pays, since the budget of 1892-93, an annual sum of 50,000 kroner (£2,777) to the United Steamship Company in aid of the line between Kallundborg and Aarhus. I have, etc., 21. PORTUGAL. H. LEON. (For the Minister.) Under date of April 25, 1899, the minister of the United States at Lisbon transmitted the following communication in regard to steamship subsidies paid to vessels of Portugal: "Replying to dispatch of April 4, 1899, I have the honor to inform the Department that no subsidies or bounties for shipbuilding or navigation bounties are awarded by the Portuguese Government, although a bill with this object in view was presented to the Cortes some months ago by the minister of marine in the previons cabinet, but I am informed in all probability it will not pass. "The 'Empreza Nacional' (National Steamship Company) has a contract with the Portuguese Government by which it received from the Government $22,500 per annum for carrying the mails to and from Cape Verde Islands and Portuguese West Africa. It also enjoys a monopoly of all Government cargo and passengers to and from the above-named colonies, a reduction of 20 per cent from the regular rates being made in favor of the Government. "The 'Empreza Insular' (Insular Steamship Company), trading between Portugal, Azores, and Madeira, receives $30,000 per annum for carrying the mails between these points. The Empreza de Navegacao receives $10,800 per annum for carrying the mails between ports on the coast of Portugal." 22. ROUMANIA. Under date of November 21, 1898, the minister of the United States at Athens transmitted the following information in regard to the operations of the two Stateowned lines of steamships of Roumania: The direction of the maritime navigation of Roumania has closed its accounts for the year 1897-98. The Line Constantza-Constantinople shows the following results: Receipts Excess of expenses. The Line Danube-Rotterdam has given the following results: Francs. 574, 938.92 1,250,000.00 676, 061. 08 Francs. 2,027, 211. 40 1, 471, 933.00 555, 278. 40 Total receipts.. Total expenses. Deficit.... 2,602, 150. 32 2,721, 933. 00 119, 782.68 This deficit is insignificant compared to that of the year 1895-96, which amounted to 1,300,000 francs, and to that of the year 1896-97, which was 725,000 francs. If the running of the Constantza-Constantinople Line is so expensive, it is because the passenger and postal service between those two ports is done by luxurious boats, the personnel and the keeping up of which cost a great deal. Furthermore, in the column of expenses of this line is put 50 per cent for the running of the offices of the maritime direction and the inspection. The boats on the Danube-Rotterdam Line have only made this year forty-eight trips and have earned, however, 2,027,211 francs. It is hoped that next year the number of trips of the boats may be raised to fifty-four. The estimates for the maritime navigation service for the year 1899-1900 are as follows: The extraordinary estimates for this service carry a sum of 720,000 francs for the creation of a line to the Archipelago. Three new boats will be bought for this purpose with the credit of 4,000,000 voted by the legislative corps. A last observation: The Danube-Rotterdam Line made last year a clear earning of 555,278 francs. It is hoped that next year this profit will amount to 650,000 francs. If one estimates that the boats of this line cost 4,200,000 francs, one finds that the working capital is producing a revenue of 16 per cent. 23. CHILE. Under date of May 12, 1899, the minister of the United States at Santiago transmitted the following information in regard to steamship subsidies paid to vessels of Chile: REPORT RELATIVE TO NATURE AND EXTENT OF AID GIVEN BY CHILE TO NATIONAL SHIPPING AND SHIPBUILDING. 1. Subsidies or bounties for shipbuilding.-At the present time the Government gives no subsidies or bounties for shipbuilding. A law relating to the subject is now in course of preparation and will be presented for the consideration of the Chilean Congress at the present session. The main feature of the law, as it is reported, is the |