Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-24
Porto Rican Questions Expectedto Be
Soon Settled,
PROBABLY Be LEFT TO CONGRESS
Plan for Permitting tobacco to
Enter Cuba Free.
A NEW CODE OF VS.

With the return of Secretary Root, Porto
Rican interests are again becoming promt-
nent. and it is believed that a determina-
ton will soon be reached. The indications
are that most of the important questions
relating to that island will be left for Con-
gress to deal with, instead of being settled
by executive action. as had been expected.
One Of these questions relates to the free
exchange of commodities between Porto
Rico and this country. Such a course has
been strongly urged by the Porto Rican
authorities. on the ground that their in
dustries were seriously distressed and
would be quite Frustrated if more ready ac-
cess to the American market was not
granted. 1t is said this was one of the
questions considered during the recent con-
ference at Lake Champlain, and the i'm
preston is growing among those usually
we'll Informed that favorable consideration
was not given to the proposed plan. The
understanding is that the needs Of keep
ing government revenues up I'd good point
is one of the reasons why 1t Is inexpedient
for the present remission of all duties on
Porto Rican goods, and, moreover, is
felt to be question of such magnitude
that Congress should pass Upon 1t.
Free-Tobacco-fOr-Cu Plan.
Another plan for relieving Porto Rico
was to permit her tobacco to enter Cuba
free Of duty. This would give an easy
market to Porto Rican tobacco, but the
point has been raised that 1t would de-
press the Cuban tobacco by giving them
this added competition. AS between serv-
ing the Porto Ricans and injuring the Gu
bans in this respect considerable doubt has
arisen. Mr.. Quesada, the Cuban commits
sioner, strongly opposes the free admis-
sion of outside tObaccos into Cuba. He
says the native tobacco raisers have enough
to contend with already without COM
petition from without.
A number of prominent Forto Ricans, in
cluding the former premierS Aunos Rivera,
were at the War Department today In
hopes of securing definiteS Information on
these and other subjects yreiating to the
island. -
Code of Laws Prepared.
The insuar commission has completed
the code of laws proposed fpr Porto Rico,
and as soon as the index can be prepared
the code will be submitted to the Secretary
of War for his consideration. While the
commission is withholding the code until
1t has been acted upon by Secretary Root
and but little is known Of its provisions,
it is understood that the new code Will COM
prise about 5000 sections. One OF Its fea-
lures will be the inhibition of trusts in
the island.
The code was prepared BY the commits
sion from the codes of all the states and
territories. Prov1sions which seemed par
ticularly applicable to Porto rRican condi-
tons. with which the commission is thor
oughly familiar. of course, were taken from
the several codes of the states and modified
or expanded to suit the caie. :
1t remains with the President and the
Secretary OF War to decide whether the
new code shall be put into. application i'm
mediately under the military form of gov
eminent, or be submitted to Congress for
revision end application. 1t is understood
tnat thsfe Is q strong sentiment in official
circles favorable to the Immediate enforce
ment Of the code