The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1900-06-01
Washington Letter.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, May 90 Washington ha
not In many years seen rs prompt ant
vigorous official action as that which fol
lowed the discovery of the Cuban posta
frauds. Every agency Of the government
has been set at work TO bring all the fact
to the surface and all the guilty parties t
Justice. The fact that the men who at
charged with these crimes were, wher
selected, men whose integrity had nevel
been called In question does not reduce II
the slightest degree the vigor with which
the investigation is being pushed or thu
plans laid for the punishment of ever!
guilty man.
Senator Foraker had prepared an elabor
ate document relative to the levy aud col
lection of taxes In Porto Rico, translated IL
the division of customs and insular affairs
war department, together with a transla
tion of the Spanish Porto Rican tariff and {
statement of the auditor for Porto Rico
The paper gives verbatim copy of the ia,
schedule as levied by the Spanish govern
ment to be used as foundation for the
collection of receipts. The voluminous is
provides for taxes on everything and every
body save educational and religious insttu-
lions supported by the state.
The tariffs relating to the tax on industry
and commerce are five in number, having
as basis the scale of population of the
several cities and towns of the island.
An annual school tax of 81 per capita is
imposed on various persons, classified and
specified in said orders.
The taxes required to be paid by means
of internal revenue stamps, are as follows:
On certificates issued by any of the
bureaus, internal revenue Offices, custom
houses, and courts of justice, So each.
A tax of one-tenth of 1 cent Is required
on each box of matches.
A tax of cents per liter lin addition TO
the consumption tax and licenses required
by municipalities) is required of manufac-
turers of brandy, rum, or other alcoholic
liquors, to be paid by means of internal
revenue stamps, to be affixed to each bottle,
vessel, or package containing the class of
liquor described.
All mines pay tariff according to the
class of metal extracted, gold paying more
than copper, iron and other metals.
A yearly tax of $50 was imposed for each
salt claim composed of $50, 900 square meters;
according to the law of 1895, the tax now
imposed is $s4 for 100000 square meters.
Under the general statutes Spanish
Laws, August 81, 1ss4) fee Of 1880 pesos
was required, in stamp duty, for each trade
mark issued and registered. The fee is now
collected In money $3.50, the stamp duty
tax stamped paper being discontinued.
The metrical system of weights and
measures revenue is derived from the fine
Of $40 imposed for any infraction of regula-
tions issued by the secretary of finance, dated
March, Is, 1899.
There Is uniform consumption tax OF Q
cents per pound on all oleomargarine i'm
ported into or manufactured In Poro Rico.
Nor the collection of this tax the collectors
Of customs are appointed collectors of inter-
nal revenues, and 1t is provided that the tax
on oleomargerine imported into the island
shall be collected at the customhouses at
the time Of the importation.
There Is tax of 20 cents on every pack
OF playing cards imported into Porto Rico,
10 be collected by collectors of customs act
Ing in the capacity of internal revenue COL
lectors.
Ihe taxation of lands on the island Is
based upon various civilizations and the
quality Of the land taxed. In accordance
With the various civilizations, there are taxes
On cane lands, coffes lands, tobacco lands,
pasture lands, minor produce lands, and
forest lands. In accordance With the quality
II the land, there are taxes of the first, sec
ind, and third classes; the first class COM
,rising the best land, the second class the
aext best, and the third class the poorest.
Under the American administration of |
Porto Rico, the old Spanish taxes ere being |
In fact the, consumption,
anding and transportation charges have al
eady been abolished on: 80
Petroleum, charcoal, fiiewood, fresh beef,
real, fresh pork or mutton, domestic fowls
md eggs, fresh fruits, fresh and green vege-
ables, -four, cornmeal and bread, rice and |
'eans, salt pork, ham aud bacon, fresh fish,
'od6sh and herring, soup paste, dried beef,
ugar, molasses and coffee.
ASsnls.u |