Statement of goods exported to the United States from the consular district. I make no comparison of the above with previous years for the reason that, whereas during the year October 1, 1862, September 30, 1863, inclusive, cognizance was taken of all goods exported to the United States, whether sold or consigned previously, (with exception only of the month of November, 1862,) the invoices of consigned goods only had to be legalized, and consular cognizance of exportations extended therefore no further than to consignments. It may be estimated, however, that the total exportations to the United States from this consular district, during the year 1862 and 1863, were double those of 1861 and 1862. In connexion with this, a singular fact in regard to the business in raw silks is observable. For the year July 1, 1861, June 30, 1862, inclusive, the Public Silk-Drying Institution reports the drying of 1,013,817 Swiss pounds (1,115,199 English pounds) of raw silk, whereas for the year July 1, 1862, June 30, 1863, inclusive, it reports but 810,386 pounds, (891,370 English pounds,) being a decrease of 203,480 pounds, (223,828 English pounds,) or about 20 per centum. Now, when it is considered, first, that the exportations to the United States have been so much larger during the year 1862 and 1863 than during 1861 and 1862, and that silk goods constituted nearly 90 per centum of these exports; and second, that the greater part of the raw material used in the manufacture of Zurich silk goods passes through the institution already named, and that its reports give a very fair basis for calculating the relative amount of business done in raw silk in different years, the following inferences are deducible from what I have stated: 1st. That the exportation of Zurich silk goods to other countries than the United States has been smaller during the year 1862-'63 than the year preceding. 2d. That the fall season of 1862 found manufacturers with unusually large stocks of manufactured goods, and probably of the raw material also, on hand; and that consequently the looms having been kept employed in producing more goods than were needed for immediate consumption, the weavers could have suffered but little from the depression in the American silk trade. That the object of drying the silk may not be misunderstood, I remark that it is only done in order to ascertain and fix the specific weight of the silk, a weight which shall be satisfactory to and accepted by both the dealer in selling and the manufacturer in purchasing. Where silk is purchased in Italy the specific weight is fixed and a certificate of the same made out by an Italian drying house; but as the purchaser in this case is generally a raw-silk dealer only, H. Ex. Doc. 41-30 the silk, in most cases, passes, after all, the Zurich drying institution upon its being disposed of to a manufacturer. * The vintage is said to be unusually large this year, and the quality of the wine better than usual. The prices, it is remarked, however, have not fallen. So universal is the use of wine here that the use of water as a beverage is wholly ignored. It is a common thing to see a laborer making his meal of a piece of bread and a bottle of wine on the road side. * * * BASLE-A. S. WOLF, Consul. FEBRUARY 21, 1863. I have requested the attorney general of this canton for his opinion as to the validity of oaths administered by an American consul. His answer is, in substance, as follows, viz: I. That a person will be punished for perjury if the oath be administered by the authorities. II. That notaries are in some respects considered as belonging to the authorities, but are not entitled to administer oaths; they would not be valid, and no action would be sustained in case of perjury. III. That the United States consul does not belong to the authorities, and has no character as such, and that an oath administered by him has no validity; perjury in such case would not be punished; the consul would only be considered as a private person. In accordance with the opinion of the Attorney General of the United States consuls are under the laws of Switzerland. I had a long conversation with his excellency the president of this canton, who approved of the opinion of the Attorney General. I asked him whether, if an oath administered by a United States consul was invalid, it would be necessary for shippers to take the oath before a magistrate or any other officer authorized by law to administer oaths? The president replied, that an oath is very seldom allowed to be taken, and only in very exceptional cases. The president and secretary of the court are by law authorized to administer oaths in open court, and a certain time allowed for information. Before the oath can be administered, it is necessary that the person deliver the certificate of a clergyman that he is well informed as to the solemn act he is about to perform. In many cases where, in the United States, an oath is required. here, instead of an oath, a solemn promise (cin hand gelubdi) by shaking of hands is sufficient, or a simple warning by the authorities to tell the truth. The president hoped that the United States government would not impose any embarrassments on shippers, and he would consult the Attorney General as to this point. The Attorney General writes that an oath is very seldom allowed to be taken, is not customary or usual, and if made to an invoice it has no legal force, and that the authorities would have no power to administer an oath in such a case, that no prosecution would follow should perjury be committed; to confer such power on the authorities a special law would be necessary. Seeing the disinclination of the Swiss people to oaths, I had a consultation with Mr. Fogg, our minister at Bern, and Mr. Fairlamb, our consul at Zurich, and have adopted the following mode for the verification of invoices, to have the form of an oath in the presence of a public officer; the act would then become legal. Statement of goods, wares, and merchandise exported to the United States from Basle for the quarter ended December 31, 1862. In compliance with circular No. 30, dated December 24, 1862, which I received February 12, 1863, I have obtained some information in reference to the protection of the revenue and the collection of duties on the passage of goods to Switzerland and across the frontier. Switzerland is divided into six departments for the collection of duties. Basle belongs to the first department; the custom-house is located in this city. I. Regulations concerning imports, and the formalities to be observed: The importer has to make a written declaration stating the value and description of the merchandise; all of which must be examined and inspected by the officer of the custom-house, except such merchandise as is declared to be subject to less than the highest tariff class; this is No. 9, and pays 15 per cent. for 100 pounds Brotto weight. The importer has to bear the expense of packing, which is only a trifle. For every wagon-load of goods a declaration has to be made, and the custom-house officer is authorized, if necessary, to open and to examine every package; and if in accordance with the declaration, to be packed up again without any charge. II. Transit across Switzerland. For transit of goods, a written declaration is wanted, and the officer of the custom-house may inspect and examine the same, if necessary, and issue a certificate which has to be presented within a certain time to the officer at the frontier custom-house. The transit toll for a distance of eight hours is five centimes for 100 pounds weight; over that distance 30 centimes. Goods may be transmitted under seal of lead. For every package 50 centimes has to be paid. III. Export. The formalities for export are very simple. A written declaration has to be made, and for most all goods 20 centimes per quintal has to be paid. Merchandise under seal for transit from Switzerland across France requires two written declarations. The charges of the French custom-house are, for every package, 50 to 75 centimes; and if in wagons, for every 1,000 kilogrammes, 25 to Merchandise exported from Switzerland, via France, to any country where no international transits are in existence, has to be examined at the French frontier custom-house, every package sealed with lead and forwarded under a guarantee. The charges for every package are 75 centimes; for seal, 75 centimes; for guarantee, 75 centimes. IV. The penalty for offences against the revenue laws. a. Whoever imports, exports, transit merchandise liable to pay duty, or taking the same out of the public warehouse against the rules and regulations. b. Whoever imports and exports merchandise liable to pay duties over certain non-allowed roads or to places being no port of entry. c. Whoever leaves the prescribed road from a bye custom-house to a general custom-house. d. Whoever appears with merchandise liable to pay duty, and passes the custom-house for one hundred yards without being allowed to do so. e. Whoever fails to offer the officer of the custom-house the tolls in whole or in part. f. Whoever gives an incorrect statement of his merchandise for the purpose of lessening the tolls. g. Whoever declares the weight 5 per cent. too low, or the value at least ten per cent. lower than it actually is, with the purpose of cheating the revenue. h. Whoever appears within the boundary line of Switzerland with merchandise liable to pay duty, out of office hours, against the rules and regulations. Every such one who acts contrary to any of the above-named regulations will be punished for the first offence with a penalty from five to thirty times the amount of the toll, also the fees, &c. In repeated cases, the fine can be doubled, and, under certain circumstances, a punishment of two years in the penitentiary is declared, subject to the pardon of the federal government. Statement of goods, wares, and merchandise exported from this consular district to the United States, with invoices authenticated at this cousulate during the quarter ending March 31, 1863. Statement of goods, wares, and merchandise exported from Basle to the United States during the quarter ended June 30, 1863. NOVEMBER 4, 1863. Herewith enclosed I transmit to the department three papers, I, II, III, in relation to the commerce of Switzerland. Nothing of much interest has transpired in the commercial relations of this place and country. The Swiss confederation, abolished the viser of passports for all foreigners. In consequence of that measure, declarations to the same purpose were received from the following governments, to wit: Algiers (France) abolished the viser for Swiss citizens, as per decree of that government, on July 17, 1862. Baden.-Visers to passports, travellers, book, and certificates of domiciliation abolished per decree, 1854. Great Britain.-No passports required. Hamburg-No passports required; approved July 8, 1862. Italy. The viser of passports abolished January 16, 1862. Holland. The production of passports abolished April 2, 1862. Austria —The viser of passports not required; declaration of embassy February 11, 1862. Bavaria. The viser for Swiss passports abolished; declaration of the embassy December 8, 1862. Spain. The production of passports no more required; a legitimation of domiciliation is satisfactory. All nations are progressive in facilitating passports. Only France holds back and keeps up these formalities. The French people may come over into Swiss territory, and no passports are required; but whenever the Swiss reach the French frontier, a passport, with the viser of the French consul, is required; and so it is with our people. Every American, with the intention to enter France, has to comply with the passport formalities. This is a great annoyance to travellers. Before the French consul visers the passport, it must be visaed first by the American consul. The French consul charges five francs for every viser. The French Emperor has abolished passports for English people. Perhaps he may favor the Americans with the same privilege. ENCLOSURES. No I. Exports from this consular district. No. II. The imports and exports of Switzerland. No. III. A commercial treaty between the king of the Belgians and the federal government of Switzerland. I. Table showing the exports from Basle to the United States for the September 30, 1863. Francs. 6, 411, 161, 53 1,204. 65 5,870.00 155,00 13,762. 10 159, 824. 81 11, 101, 821. 33 |