Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-08-30
ISLAND INDUSTRIES
Porto RiCdn Question TO BE
Soon Settled.
1t Will Probably Be Submitted d TO
Congre ss-pIsn fer Permitting
Tobacco TO Enfer Cuba Free-New
Code of Laws for the Island.

Washington, Aug. 29.-Porto Rican
interests are again becoming promi-
nent. and it is believed that a deter
mination will soon be reached. The
| indications are that most of the i'm
! port tant questions relating to that
j island will be left for congress to
! deal w:.5h, instead Of being settled by
executive action, as had been expect
! ed. One CT these questions relates to
the free exchange of commodities be-
tween Porto Rico and this country.
Such a course has been strongly urged
by the Porto Rican authorizes, on
the ground that their industries were
seriously distressed and would be
quite prcstrated if more ready access
to the American market was not
granted /: is said this wQs one Of
the questions considered during the
recent conference at Lake Champlain
and the impression is growing among
these usually we'll Informed that
favorable consideration was not given
to the proposed plan. The underst and
ing IS that she needs Of keeping gov
ernment revenues up to a good point
IS one Of the reasons why it is mex
pedient dor the present remission Of
GIL duties On Porto Riean goods, and,
moreover, it is felt to be a question of
such magnitude thas congress Should
pass upon it,
Another plan for relieving Porto
Rico was to permit her tobacco to en+
ter Cuba free of duty This would
give an easy market to Porto Rican
tobacco, but the point has been raised
that it would depress the Cuban TO-
baceo by giving them this added com
petition. As between serving the
Porto R:cans and injuring the Gu
bans in this respect considerable d0ubt
has arisen. Mr.. Quesada, the Cuban
commissioner, strongly opposes the
free admission of outside tobaccos into
Cuba He says the native TOBACCO
raisers have enough to contsnd with
already without a competition from
without.
A number of prominent Porto
Ricans, including the former pre-
Inier, Muncs Rivera, were at the war
Department today securing definite IN
formation on these and other subjects
to the island
The insular commission has com
pleted the code of laws proposed for
Porto Rico, and as soon as the index
can be prepared the ccde will be sub
mttted to the secretary OF war for his |
consideration. While .-he commission
is Withholding the code until it has
been acted upon by Secretary Root |
and but dittle is known OF it's provis- !
ions, it is understood that the new
code VIII comprise about 5000 sec
lions. Cne of its features will be the |
inhibition of trusts in the island
The code was prepared by the com
mission from the codes of all the /
states and territories. Provisions !
which seemed particularly applicable |
to Porto Rrcan conditions, with which |
the commission is thoroughly familiar,
of course, were taken from the several |
codes of the states and modified or ex-
panded to suit the case.
It remains with the president and
the secretary of war to decide whether
the new code shall be put into appli-
cation Immediately under the military
form Of government, or be submitted
to congress for revision and applica-
tion 1t is understood that there is a
strong sentiment in official circles
favorable to the immediate enforce
ment Of 'She code.