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Page:British and Foreign State Papers, vol. 61 (1877).djvu/116

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GERMANY.

the purpose, in the first place, of paying therefrom the expenses for the establishment of normal postal institutions in the Hanseatic towns.

LII. The stipulations in the foregoing Articles XLVIII to LI have no application to Bavaria and Wurtemburg. In their place the following stipulations are in force for those two States of the Confederation:

To the Empire alone belongs the legislation as to the postal and telegraph privileges, as to the legal relations between both institutions and the public, as to exemptions from postage and rates of postage, exclusively, however, of the rules and tariff regulations for the home circulation of Bavaria, and of Wurtemburg respectively, likewise under similar reservation the settlement of the fees for telegraphic correspondence.

In the same manner the regulation of the postal and telegraph intercourse with foreign countries belongs to the Empire, excepting the direct intercourse of Bavaria, and of Wurtemburg themselves with the neighbouring States which do not belong to the Empire, the regulations as to which remain as stipulated in Article XLIX of the Postal Treaty of November 23, 1867.

Bavaria and Wurtemburg do not participate in the income flowing into the Imperial Treasury from the postal and telegraph service.


IX.—Shipping and Navigation.

LIII. The war navy of the Empire is one united navy under the chief command of the Emperor. The organization and composition thereof is the business of the Emperor, who appoints the Naval officers and officials, and into whose service they and the men are to be sworn.

The Harbour of Kiel and that of Jade are Imperial military harbours.

The necessary expenses for the establishment and maintenance of the war fleet, and the institutions in connexion therewith, are paid from the Treasury of the Empire.

The whole of the maritime population of the Empire, including engineers and shipwrights, are free from service in the land army, but on the other hand, are bound to serve in the Imperial Navy.

The apportionment of the recruits is arranged according to the number of the maritime population, and the quota which each State thus contributes is deducted from the contingent to the land army.

LIV. The merchant vessels of all the States of the Confedoration form one undivided commercial navy.

The Empire has to determine the method of ascertaining the burden of sea-going vessels, to grant bills of admeasurement, as well as to regulate the ship-certificates, and to determine the con-