The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-23
A NEW DANGER.
Concluded from First Page1

Concluded from First PaEe)
not specially mentioned vaseline, 6. W.,
kilos 81.
VALUE OF IMPORTS
In the course of his report, on which the
Porto Rican tariff is largely based, Special
Commissioner Robert p. Porter shows that
the value of the importations into Porto
Rico during the year 1897 amounted to IT,
35S,06S pesos Upon which was collected in
duties $2,4S1,962 He says: THE tariff in
force in Porto Rico until the United States
took possession of the island last summer
was purely a revenue measure, the total
amount of duty collected averaging about IA
per cent. on the value of merchandise i'm
ported These values, both as to importa-
ton and duties collected, are given in silver,
and therefore under existing conditions
two silver Porto Rican pesos for one United
States dollar-must be divided in order to
express the amounts in United States
money. If the same amount of revenue be
required in Porto Rican pesos and the ex-
ports are likely to keep up to the 1897
standard, the fiscal problem confronting the
Treasury Department in Porto Rico is
briefly this Probable total value of dutiable
imports, ST. 53S, 063 pesos or So res, 031; total
revenue to be collected, 2,4S1, 1862 pesos, or
$124O,9S1.
''Discarding the money question, which
after all in this case is a purely Porto Rican
matter the simple problem is an importa-
ton of about 100000 United States money
and needed revenue of $1,250000 United
States money. The aim in framing the Gu
ban tariff was to secure a revenue repre-
senting about % per cent. ad valorem of
the imports The aim has been in the Porto
Rican tariff to secure a revenue represent
ing about 10 per cent. ad valorem on all inn
ports.
The value of the importations of mer-
cbandise into Cuba the last normal year
(1S95) was SOL 443,334, and the total revenue
collected thereon $l4.5S7 1885, or an average
Of nearly 70 per cent ad Valorem On the
Abo frfn al ,1fs.
chandise for Porto Rico in 1897 which, so
far as that island is concerned, was a nor
NAL year, was /, .35SO63 pesos, and the duties
collected 24Sl ,962 pesos, or an average of
about IA per cent The basis, in the case of
Cuba, was practically gold and Porto Rico
silver, but that makes no difference in the
relation of the tariff of one country to the
other. Speaking roundly the Cuban tariff
yielded about % per cent. and the Porto
Rcan say about Is per cent"
1T would be manifestly unjust" Mr..
Porter continues Ito Porto Rico to adopt
and put in force the amended Cuban tariff
because it is believed the Cuban revenue
will amount to about % per cent. of The
imports, while a 10 per cent. al '7alOrem
tariff, assuming that the imports keep up
to those of 1891, will yield sufficient revenue
for the governmental needs of Porto Rico.
The necessities and wants of the two coun-
tries are radically different. Porto Rico has
not been devastated by war nor VIII 1t re-
quire large United states army to keep
order. There are no armed insurgents de-
manding millions for payment Of military
receipts. For these and other reasons the
amended tariff for Porto Rico has been
framed on a revenue yielding basis of 10
per cent instead of p per cent. as in the
case Of the amended tariff of Cuba. BY this
it must not be inferred that all the sched-
ules will be uniformly Is per cent. The
schedules relating to wool and manufac-
lures of wool. silk and manufactures of
silk. and musical instruments. have been
increased to p per cent. al valorem. The
rates of liquor schedule will exceed rs per
cent. and is practically the same as in the
Cuban schedule An endeavor had been
made to keep cotton and manufacture of
cotton below 10 per cent only the finer
grades at the higher rate and all the