Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-01-11
PORTO RICO'S
FIRST BLESSING.
American Control Brings Reduction
Of Taxes and Expenses.
s2,l7s,lo2 ARE STRICKEN OUT
budget tor the Ensuing Year Has
Itecn Dniy Approved By Gen.
Henry.

san Juan. y. H.. Jan 1-Thc FIRST
great blessing that has come To Porto
Rico since the American occupation has
been the reduction Of taxes ana gov-
crumcnt expenses. The budget for the
year isg9 has boon approved by Gen.
Henry. This covers the expenses VI
what II called the 'inanlar govern
mont" The following sums. which
would have been Included In the
budget Of the spanish government Tor
this year have been stricken out;
General obligations. tlgStoi; olcrry.
tis'ai5; war. ti.25s.si5i marine. i22g.ces.
The total o. tho obligations that ceased
10 exist and which are decided from the
amount 81 the budget is sgi5s.te2
Tho difference that has been expended
without tho realized economics here
with detailed equals s. ci1.t.i.
The calculated budget Tor 1922 ~
formed OF tho following ltnmH3
GCncful obligations 80 tsVi state obli-
cations, ilVi.sti. justice department.
y.giisg, finance department, 10000.
Interior department.. lifGGl,.
III. customs fuf the coming year
were estimated 10 b. i1iaz,g0 This
nuu II o. b. reduced BY tho amount
usually misod by the duty on wheat
Hour, and which has boon taken IN W
ugn. Henry. equal TO fioo,00o.
This leaves "a net revenue from the
custom house ~ ta.C9..poo. Thcru VIII
remain therefore an excess uf li,1tO,ttI.
IL should b. understood that the
above figures Tor the estimated budget
Tot the year embrace only the necessary
expo nrcH Tor the payment 81 salaries
and other Fixed charges. n this amount
cannot BE- paid FROM the proverbs u the
customs then IL must bc rais7d ~
other methods ~ taxation.
Gen. Henry has asked VI Washington
the riEht 10 apply the customs receipts
10 the expenses OF the government. VI
this should be permitted nii govern.
Incnt expenses could be paid ana many
improvements carried on.
~ the present time there are many
taxes collected that nf- great hind
rance 60 commerce and " the customs
fccciptH could be- used these might br
done away with,
Merchants la doinE business In Porto
Rico pay almost a prohibitisc tax. No
porting bufln-fn Without rr,tnr To- the
government a tax 81 about 400 pesos
per annum. Then therc nrc consnmp.
tiun tusoH Imposed upon every article
Imported for consumption. These
should all be done away with nn they
hlhdrt uuAr uui prevent the trulN
from America entering here.
Many Americans have come here for
tho purpose u establishing trade with
Porto Rlco and representatives of caps
itnl have visited the Island for the pur-
pose of securing franchises for tho
building ~ public improvements. They
have received check By the recent or
dor ~ the war department. which pros
hlhitH any town IN Porto itieo from
Hfantlng any franchise for public I'M
provcmoniS without first referring tho
application a. tho military governor.
Tho latter must refer the application
70 VI. secfrlhry OF war before the same
may be granted.
Tho effect ~ this order Il 70 iic the
handn N the military governor aud 10
practically put "a stop 60 any improve
inrnta upon the part ~ the municipau-
tics, This ruling " the war depart.
ment, with the delay IN reducing the
iaHn upon Articles between the United
states nni Porto Rico. VIII delay tho
development ~ the cou itry.
There are very good prospects for emp
itnl, but ~ long nH these matters are
uncertain capital WIN not be- Invested
In the trade or development ~ the
country. Whom this order came Gen.
Henry rcEaried II nH an advantage 10
the holders 81 Spanish franchises nnd
therefore promptly made Az tirdar TO-
Noklng all Of the latter Hin idea wns
90 place all upnn an equality. He had |
hardly signed the latter order. however,
before the legal questions involved nrs-
fented themselves and he decided 10 |
rescind the order 4 serious question |
was raised and one that might have
been decided against the general In |
favor of the holders Of old Spanish con- |
cessions.