The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-21
LAWS FOR PORTO RICO
RELATIVE VALUE OF COINS FIXED
BY PRESIDENT M'KINLEY.
New Tariff Act Also Signed and VIII
Go Into Effect Feb. 1-Washing-
ton News in General.

meeting lAc IIGSiu0il SlSUeU Il new ldIlI
for Porto Rico which will go into operation
on Feb. 1 next. The regula lions and general
makeup of this tariff will be along the
lines of that recently put into operation in
Cuba, except that as a whole the rate of
duty will be about Is per cent. ad valorem,
or 10 per cent. less than the Cuban tariff
The President had placed before him by
Secretary Gage a form of executive order
fixing the ratio between the native Porto
Rican silver and the money of the United
States The ratio of the peso will be 50
cents to the dollar, American money This
order was signed this afternoon. 1t fol-
lows:
1T is hereby ordered that on and after
Feb l, and until otherwise provided. all
customs. taxes, public and postal dues in
the Island of Porto Rico shall be paid in
United States money, or in foreign gold
coins, such as the Spanish Alphonsinos
(centen) and the French louis which will be
accepted in payment of such customs taxes,
public and postal dues at the following
rates: Aphonsnos Twenty five-peseta
piece, A.S2; louis (twenty-franc piece,
1886.
1T is further ordered that on and after
Feb l, 1S99 and until further provided. the
following Porto Rican or Spanish silver
coins now in circulation in the island of
Porto Rico shall be received for customs,
taxes, public and postal dues at the follow
ing fixed rates in United States money: The
PN1OJ RNNNf eS"tVs
D.12; the real, S0,06; the medic real, 5000.
1T is further ordered and directed that
out of the Porto Ricon coins so received a
convenient supply shall be retained and
carried for exchange for United States
money at the rate herenbefore enumerated
namely, 60 cents United States money for
one Porto Rican silver piece.
cit is further ordered that ali existing
contracts for the payment of money in the
currency of Porto Rico may be discharged
and paid in that money in acceptance with
the contracts or in United States money at
the relative value set forth in the above
table namely, 500 United States currency
for 166 2-3 Porto Rican pesos. Bronze and
copper coins now current in the island OF
Porto Rico will be received at their face
value for fractional parts of a dollar, in a
single payment to an amount not exceeding
twelve cents Zone peseta)."
Special Commissioner Robert p. Porter, in
a recent report to the secretary of the treas
ury on the Porto Rican currency situation
commends the plans carried out to-day in
the Presidents order and says: MANY con-
sideratiOns suggest the wisdom of some such
plan in dealing with the Porto Rico cur
rency as the one you have in mind"
Mr.. Harris. the newly appointed minister
to Austria, is here receiving his instruc-
tons The department will erect the Aus
trian mission into an embassy of the first
class as soon as the Austrian government
has carried out its announced purpose to
do likewise in the case of its mission in
Washington. 1t is understood that the first
gelmuler, who is now absent from the
United States in his own country he not
having the length of service and the rank
required by Austrian custom for an am
bassadorship.
In accordance with an order just issued
enlisted men discharged in Cuba, Porto Rico.
Hawaii and the Philippines or other places
outside the United States, will be provided
free transportation to the United States on
government transports and will be subssted
by the subsistence department TO port OF
destination They will not be entitled to
travel pay from port of embarkation to the
United States nor to Communication of ratiOns
for the time on the transports
The first assistant postmaster general has
issued an order increasing the salaries of
all the regular free delivery carriers, who
provide their own horses or other modes of
conveyance from $500 to $500 per annum,
beginning Jan. /, last. This applies to
all free delivery offices, operates from jan
l last, and is expected to meet the en-
barassments caused by many faithful car
riers threatening to resign because OF in
sufficient pay.
Labor saving devices are not wanted in
China. This is clearly shown by Consul
General Goodnow in report to the State
Department. made in reply to an inquiry of
an export association in New York. Il cannot
give you any encoura cement" he says, lin
ttSdIQ ~ lIe SilpHltlII VI WltelDdIIOWSs
scrapers. dump-cars and the like to China
The wheelbarrow used there has one large
wheel in the middle and a seat on either
side, where passengers are carried Once in
a great while dirt is carried in baskets in
such a barrow, but ordinarily it is carried
by a cooe in two baskets hung
on the end of bamboo rod balanced on his
shoulders. These baskets are about the size
and shape of a grain SCOOP Labor saving
devices are not in demand in China. The
cheapest thing there is a. man. There is
Ia har there than find pmnlOympnt
cooie carrying dirt will receive from
to 10 cents gold day. He must work from
sunrise to sunset--not very steadily or in
tensely, but putting in a great many hours
and accomplishing a great amount of work
for the amount of wages paid. There are
more coolies willing to work for this pit
lance than there is work for them to do
The Presidents message vetoing the bin
for the relief of Albert T.. Redstone was
read in the Senate to-day. The bill makes
an appropriation of 200 to compensate Red
stone for losses suffered by the incorporation
of land pre-empted by him in 1889 in the
Sierra forest reserve. The President gives
four reasons for his veto. The first of these
IS that RedstOnes entry was protected by
saving clause in the Presidents proclama-
ton; the second that his claim had expired
before the creation of the reserve; the third
that he had abandoned the claim and the
fourth that the improvements made while
the claim was held did not amount to $500
in value, while the bill appropriates $500.
BY request of the Secretary of the Treas
ury the War Department has ordered the
American officials in Porto Rico TO enforce
the Chinese exclusion laws of this country in
Porto Rico. Under this regulation no China
man can be admitted to Porto Rico without
compliance with the laws of the United
States. Cinnamon can go backward and for
ward between this country and Porto Rico
without restriction They will not be al
lowed TO go from Cuba to Porto Rico. The
treasury officials ascertained that the Chin
csc agents were preparing to flood
Porto Rico with Cinnamon from
later to get into the United States.
The President to-day sent these nomina-
lions to the Senate: James Lowe. of New
York. collector of customs for the district of
Niagara, n. Y. Frederick G. L. Hachenber-
ger of Colorado, register of the land office
at Hugo, Col, and number of minor pro-
motions in the volunteer army.
The House has concurred in the Senate
amendment to the bill creating an additional
judge for the sixth circuit. The amendment
added another judge for the fifth circuit and
the action of the House passes the bill.
Senator Gear offered joint resolution in
the Senate to-day appointing Oscar w.
Degnan. of Iowa. a cadet at the United
states Naval Academy. Deignan was one Of
the Merrimac heroes.
A b. Anderson, who has been visiting
Representative Lands, has recovered from
his attack of grip and with Mrs. Anderson,
will leave for Crawfordsvile tomorrow.