The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-25
REFORMS IN PORTO RICO.
7HB RECENT HURRICANE NAY CAUSE
CHANGE IN TARIFF plans.

Income From Internal Revenue Sources
Crippled and the Purposod Tariff Changes
viii Have to be Heconsidered-The In
sular Cemmission's Forthcoming Report
WARRINGTON. Aug. 24.-The plans Of the Ad-
ministration for lessening the restrictions on
the introduction Of articles Of trade Into Porto
Rico have been blown into q confusion by the
recent hurricane" 10 quote a prominent
ofioial OF the War Department. Brig osn.
Davis, the Military Governor at Porto Rico, re-
GENTLY submitted tables to the War Dspsrt-
mont showing lust how much the revenues Of
the island would DO reduced By lssssnins the
duties on certain imports. These tables were
furnished By Gen. Davis In response to Ia
struotions from the department, Consid-
erable attention has been devoted By
Secretary Root and other War Depart
msnt officials to the question OF decreasing
the Customs duties on products imported into
Porto Rico, 90 that the ialand would have the
beneht Of Q great many necessary oommodi.
ties It had been practically decided to permit
the introduction Of agricultural I'm elements
into Porto Rico free OF ct much lower rate OF
duty than that now charged. and II was also
contemplated TO have free exchange OF GER
tain articles between the island and the United
5tatss.
Tho hurricane occurred subsequent to the
receipt Of the tables. and 1t is now believed By
the officials here that their original plans can
not be carried into operation. The hurricane
destroyed 90 much property that the internal
revenues OF the island will be greatly reduced.
and tits feared that the reduction eonten plated
in customs duties will not give enough revenue
to support the Porto Rioan administration.
For that reason It will be necessary to devise
an entirely new SGT Of plans and tho ofloials
are hopeful that they will he able to arrange
schedules which will give the natives OF the
island the benefit Of outside productions at
smaller cost without causing deficit In the
expenses OF the Insular Govornnont.
1t has been represented to the Governm emit
by prominent Porto Rioans that greater ad-
vantaees in trading with the United States
should he extended to tho island. ~ the
loss OF the Spanish market has seriously
crippled Porto Rican industries. In ad-
aitton to the suggestion that there bs
q FREQ exchange OF certain commodities
between the United States and Porto Rico. 1t
has been proposed that authority be given by
tho Government for the FREQ entry OF Porto
Rirau tobacco into Cuba. This plan has met
with opposition from the Cuban tobacco
growers and Mr.. Quesada. tho United States
Comm issione- for Cuba, win urge the War De-
pa;tment not to mako the concessions. He
mptu.aina that the Cuban tobacco growers
can n ut stand outside competition.
Gen. Robert P. Kennedy. Chairman OF tho
Insular Commission. said to-day the COM
mission had about concluded its labors
ana would be ready to submit tho COM
pilation Of laws for the government OF
Porto Rico to tho President early next
week The commission has worked indus
triously. and has nearly finished its labors
much sooner thdn was expected. Just how
long 1t will take the President to review the
report cannot be stated. but It 10 the purpose
OF the Administration to pr omulgate the now
laws and have them put in operation as soon az
possible. 1t was said to-day that the President
win take this matter up on his return and dis
pose OF It without delay.
A census OF Porto Rico will be taken BY the
War Department Tho Census Bureau here
will assist the War Department. and prepare
the necessary schedules. Just whom the order
for the Porto Rlcan census will be issued no
one at the War Department seems to know. but
the subject has been discussed. Tho probabili-
ties are that Lieut. Col. Sanger. tho Director
Of the Cuban Census. will be despatched to
take the census OF Porto Rico. The enumsra-
ton Of the population Of tho island has been
recommended By the Insular Commission.