Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-13
THE PUERTO RIoAN BILL

To the Editor;
What substantial constitutional right
or privilege possessed by the people OF
Arizona, New Mexico OF Oklahoma, is
Withheld from the people OF Puerto Ri
co by the act Of Congress which has
Just been passed? The bill provides
for United States and local courts, the
FORMER OF which at least will have the
same jurisdiction as any other United
states district and circuit courts This
includes the privilege OF the writ Of
habeas corpus, trial by jury, no prose-
cution for felony except upon present
ment or indictment by a grand jury.
and the right OF the accused TO be con-
fronted with his witnesses and OF trial
by jury OF the Yicinage. In includes
necessarily the right OF free speech, Of
exemption from search seizure or pun
ishment for crime except upon due con-
Ylction, and secures every man against
being deprived Of life liberty and prop
erty without due process OF law.
The only difference between the gov
eminent provided for Puerto Rico, and
the government existing in Arizona, Is
that the upper branch OF the legislature
IN Puerto Rico is 10 be appointed by the
President instead OF being elected by
the people and this is a distinction
rather than a difference for any law
passed by the Arizona legislature may
be vetoed by the governor or annulled
by Congress. The representative OF Ari-
ozna In Congress is called delegate
and receives 5000 a year; the represen-
tative OF Puerto Rico viii be called
commissioner and receive the same sal
airy, and possess the same privileges.
There u.s. however, an essential dif-
ference IN the system Of revenue and
taxation, but It Is a difference that
Is all IN favor of the people OF Puerto
Rico. ana one which they viii pr0ba-
bly, relinquish with reluctance IN 1902
In order 10 provide revenue Tor the sup
port Of local government. In the island
and IN lieu Of land, property income, OF
license taxes, q revenue duty OF less
than one-siXth OF that imposed upon
foreign importations Is levied upon
goods coming ID the United States from
Puerto Rico. or going into Puerto Rico
from the United States. This will Sc
cure the trade OF the island for Amer
lean goods and the import duty on
Puerto Rlcan productions Is really in
the nature OF a light export tax. II
viii fall principally upon tobacco and
sugar, ana rs pratlcal effect VIII be
10 place about one-half OF the entire
burden Of taxation upon the sugar and
tobacco growers. II Utah were Ter
ritory and Congress should abolish an
territorial and municipal taxation, and
levy a light tax upon the lead, silver,
copper, wool sugar. cattle and other
products sent out Of the State, Il might
work n great hardship upon the smelt-
tors. and the sheep and cattle men, but
such a law would be very popular with
farmers, real estate proprleiors, me-
chanics and traders. who would escape
taxation altogether
II IS not asserted that the law TO pro.
vide revenue for the government OF
Puerto Rico IS correct IN principle, or
can be commended as other than tenn
porary measure Of expediency, but
when Il IS denounced as q law which
Expresses the people OF our new west
Indian possession. II IL only fair 70 con.
slider II fairly IN It's practical
aspects. and not 1y all 70
pieces about some prontless abstrae-