each legation, and in the case of Moors by the Sultan's representative. They shall be appointed as far as possible in proportion to the importance of the commerce of each nation.
The committee shall be appointed for the term of three years.
The schedule of values fixed by it shall serve as a basis for the appraisals which the administration of Moorish customs shall make in every custom-house. It shall be posted at all custom-houses and in the chanceries of the legations and consulates at Tangier.
The schedule may be revised at the end of six months in case of considerable changes in the values of certain articles.
Art. 97. A permanent committee, to be known as the "Committee of Customs," shall be organized at Tangier and appointed for a term of three years. It shall consist of a special commissioner of His Shereefian Majesty, of a member of the diplomatic or consular body appointed by the Diplomatic Body at Tangier, and of a delegate from the State Bank. It shall be empowered to add to its members, in an advisory capacity, one or more representatives of the customs service.
This committee shall exercise its high supervision over the customs service, and shall have the right to propose to His Shereefian Majesty such measures as are likely to effect improvement in the service and assure the regularity and supervision of operations and collections (landing, shipping, land transportation, handling, the incoming and outgoing of merchandise, storage, appraisal, liquidation and collection of duties). The creation of such a Committee of Customs shall in no way infringe the rights stipulated in favor of the bondholders by articles 15 and 16 in the loan contract of June 12th, 1904.
Instructions to be drawn up by the Committee of Customs and the services interested therein shall determine the details of the enforcement of article 96 and of the present article. They shall be submitted to the advice and consent of the Diplomatic Body.
Art. 98. In custom-houses where sufficient warehouses exist the customs service shall take charge of the disembarked merchandise as soon as it is turned over by the captain of the vessel to the officers in charge of the lighterage, who shall receipt therefor, and until such time as it shall have been regularly cleared from the customs. The customs service is responsible for injuries caused by loss of or damage to merchandise which may be imputed to the fault or negligence of its officers. It is not responsible for damages resulting either from the natural decay of merchandise, or from too lengthy a storage in the warehouse, or from cases of vis major.
In custom-houses where there are not sufficient warehouses the agents of the Maghzen are required only to employ such means of preservation as may be at the disposal of the custom-house.
A revision of the storage regulations now in force shall be made under the direction of the Diplomatic Body, whose decisions shall be taken by a majority vote, in concert with the Shereefian Government.
