Warren sheaf., 1900-04-05
PUERTO RICO TARIFF
senator Davis, of Minnesota, Op-
poses the Pending Bill.


e senator Advocates Free Trade, in a
1orlc1ble Manner, With the Island.
He Proposes Establishment
OF Internal Revenue.
Senator Davis in. opposing the pas
sage OF the Puerto Rico tariff bill in
the United States senate, spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. President, gave notice of two
amendments which intend to propose to
ene penang Dill In regard to the house
+hea ! snail only explain one of
this: s'''oi'''''ei' 40
Inc creation of the Puerto Rico in
ternal revenue district; no stamp tax to
oe levled In that district; IS per centum
OF the internal revenue tax to be laid in
lhdt ulstrlct with the exception of rum
OF olstllled spirits and tobacco, and the
iilahuIactures thereof, upon which only
,ilernal III revenue taxes shall be levied in
Fuerto Rico; that there shall be free.
traue between Puerto Rico and the
Ohlted states, and that the proposed law
snall continue until the first of March,
1902" '
Whatever may be said as to the con-
tentlons upon the other part of the SUBJ
Ject, whether, considering Puerto Rico as
dependency or as colony, or as a part
OF the United States, we can or cannot
levy tariff duties as between that island
and the United States, there can be no
doubt whatever upon this general prin-
c1ple that, so far as internal revenue
taxes are concerned in Puerto Rico, no
such question can arise under the distinct
ana inherent power Of this government to
levy them. Now, Mr.. President, why in
slst, l submit in all candor, that tariff
shall be levied and nothing else?
The bill which passed the senate few
days ago in respect to the government of
Hawaii imposed no tariff duties between
that island, which we erected into a gov
ernment, and the United States. It, too,
is semi-tropical island. It has the
same range of agricultural productions as
Puerto Rico
If there is any reason whatever to i'm
pose a tariff upon the products of Puerto
Rico, there was the same reason for i'm
posing tariff upon the products of Ha-
waii. Wherein lies the difference? Where
IN on principle-both of them being out
lying possessions of the United States,
call them what you Willis the situation
as to Puerto Rico different from that of
Hawaii?
Why, Mr.. President. this whole project
and conception of imposing tariff duties
upon the dependency of Puerto Rico self
generates objections wherever it is con-
sidered and they also spring from every
my hand the convention entered into be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain Tor q reciprocity treaty between the
the United States, islands lying in the
same sea with Puerto Rico, raising the
same products and having in a great de-
Mr.. President, Puerto Rico came to this
cost the Tilted states three mons Of Of
Cuba and to buy their guns. It did not
cost us a dollar to disarm any army in
Puerto Rico, for there was none of the
% a dollar for for any % army m what Whatevep Ven - pay
1t has been said that this may be a
precedent as to the Philippines, and that
itants of Puerto Rico because, forsooth,
at some time, perhaps years or perhaps
shorter, when rebellion is crushed in
United States is established, there may
be some difficult questions of that kind in
dealing with the Philippines. Mr.. Presi-
not wreak or work an injustice upon
Puerto Rico by any such contingent re-
ippines.
it is said that American labor and
American industry need protection by
Puerto Rico. It is too small to consider:
But, Mr.. President, if it is needed, what
protection to American labor or Ameri-
rate upon any theory in which any pro
tective tariff was ever framed? When
the question of the Philippines comes to
party in power, the interests of Ameri
can labor will be protected so far as any
apprehension can be ascertained from
Puerto Rico is 700 miles from our coast;
the Philippines 5000. Puerto Rico is an
actual and geological dependency of the
long to Asia Puerto Rico can enter our
II: It is said that this subject is not under
Stood: Stood: It is in Vain that any man should
claim this. He need not lay the f1atter-
ing JUNCTION to his soul that the editors
and Hf the IN sny fhers IS not
city which does not possess more than
one-do not understand the subject just
that tn til the - mass Of people throughout the
country do not understand a subject SO
Simple as this: They understand perfect
vel the @hich 6ars inter
course between this country, and one of
it's dependencies, and system Of tax
alton such as shal - PROPOSE Srs wn}cns WIN TN
Puerto Rico the same system the same
principle, as that imposed in the United
Distilled spirits and tobacco. In this
a 1.-THE of mill upon either of those
articles while they remain in Puerto Rico:
Tobacco and rum, the greatest and most
fruitful subject Of taxation, while they
remain in Puerto Rico, are absolutely un-
taxed. The subjects Of taxation which
bear the heaviest burdens of our United
States and the municipal governments,
there. of all places in this broad land, go
absolutely scot free of any taxation
Whatever. What is the exchange for it?
Fifteen per cent taxation on everything
else e Isl that goes to Puerto Rico, from the
United States or comes to the United
States from Puerto Rico. It is SO simple
and easy to reverse the entire policy and
way of doing things, and makes rum and
tobacco in Puerto Rico bear the weight
Of taxation, as they do here and else
where throughout the civilized world, and
make communication between Puerto
Rico and the United States, as to all
goods exported or imported, free as 1t is
RetWeen the United States and Alaska. It
is SO easy to do it it would relieve the
situation so much in every way, that I
am surprised, and shall be surprised, If
the suggestion does not commend itself to
the calm and deliberate reflection of
everybody.
pie Of this country say, and what are
fI1ey saying, and what have they right
to say, under the bill of the house as it
is presented in the body of the bill for the
civil government of Puerto Rico?
AS to Puerto Rico they say, Free rum,
hut tax the flour out of which is made the
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