Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-02-26

will look with satisfaction upon direct
appropriations Of money out of the fed
eral treasury for support of a people
who do not themselves contribute
thereto. Only one alternative, there
fore, remains. namely. taxation. Indi-
rect taxes are the least oppressive ana
easiest to be borne. They will fall on
those who are best able to pay. 1t
would be oppressive ana burdensomc
beyond measure to extend our internal
revenue system to Puerto Rico, and
vet if we are to treat Puerto Rico as
we treat ourselves we must do that"
Here is a clear and cogent statement
Of some Of the considerati ms which have
led a Republican majority Of the ways
ana means committee to report as they
did. 1t certainly seems to us that they
had strong reasons for believing that
a small tariff tax which would not be
oppressive for the Puerto Ricans. which
would fall the most heavily upon those
best able to pay it, and which would
be wholly applied TO the needs of the
island, would be the best possible way
of solving this question of revenue. 1t
was found that the extension of our
internal revenue system to these peo-
pie would work great hardship upon
those of them least able to bear it,
General Davis stated to the ways and
means committee that to carry
forward the educational work now
in progress in Puerto Rico, to build the
highways contemplated ana Imperative
~ needed for the prosperity Of the is
land and to properly maintain its gov
eminent would call for revenue Of
about 1000. GOO. The pending bill will.
it is thought. provide this necessary
revenue This will be million dollars
less than Spain collected and best of
ell. every penny Of it viii be expended
for the upbuiding of Puerto Rico.
But this is not all. The amount thus
collected is more than saved to the
Porto Ricans by the concession of -
per cent. in tariff duties which is made
in the pending bill. Mr.. Dalzell, one
of the ablcSt and most accurate men in
the National House. presents some in
tcrcsting figures on this point He
says:
1T must not be forgotten that we
are comforting advantages upon these
people far beyond what they have ever
dreamed Of. We have relieved them
of the multiplied and oppressive Span
ish taXcs-eXpOrt taxes, consumption
taxes. transportation taxes and others
without number.
Il find, for instance. from the report
uf Mr.. Carroll. special commissioner
from the treasury department to Puer-
to Rico. that in the year 1896 the pro-
ducers Of Puerto Rico paid export and
cargo duties on sugar. molasSes, Cof-
fee and lumber to the amount of $351,-
C24.4O. We relieve them from all bur
dens Of that kind. Their coffee comes
to our markets free, and that is two
thirds of their exports. on sugar we
reduce the duty from $50 per ton to $3.50
per ton. This will save them over
$1,000. 600 annually. We reduce the
duty on tobacco from 81 cents per
pound to between s and 9 nts. and
this VIII save another million annually.
In 1898, Il committee Of prominent cit
liens, appointed to report upon desired
changes in the Puerto Rican tariff sys-
tenn. made report to the Club de
TndtlstrialeS of Ponce recommending
certain changes. but particularly two.
one was greater protection to their
own industries and the other was an
attempt to secure from the North
American republic a reduction of 20
per cent. in duties on tobacco. sugar,
molasses- and salt exported from
Puerto Rico.
This bill more than satisfies the
desires then expressed. We give them
protection, and, instead of a 90 per
cent. reduction, we give them a IS per
cent. reduction.
But above all. we give them the
benefit Of all the money collected.
What they pay out with one hand they
| receive again with the other.
| In other words this bill Will save
the people of Puerto Rico on the two
| items of sugar and tobacco alone,
every dollar which it purposes to raise
for the upbulding of their prosperity
and civiizat ton.
| Puerto Rico is practically out of debt,
and we believe that it is for the high
est interests of her people that she
should remain SO. 1t is true that she
! could probably raise loan; but it is