Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-13
THEY WANT FREE TRADE
Porto Ricans Make Statement of Their
requirements to Congress
business Men of the Island Point Out
the Needs of Their
Country.

A dispatch from San Juan, Porto Rico.
says the planters. merchants and manu-
facturerS of Porto Rico mailed to Congress
by the steamer Philadelphia the following
statement:
I'VE, the undersigned, beg to submit to
your earnest consideration the following
views as to the financial policy of Porto
Rico. We note with regret the principle
enunciated by certain speakers in the lower
house of Congress that a tariff between
Porto Rico and the United States is the
proper method of raising revenue for this
island. To this We are unchangeaby OPP
posed for the following reasons:
First Because taxation on our exports
means embargo on our foreign COM
MERGE
Second. Because curtailment of our COM
merce with the United States would lock
up our products here and prevent US from
gaining our legitimate proportion of profit
on our productions.
I'VE can never become independent finan-
cially if forced to trade solely among our
selves. We must have market other than
Porto Rico, else We cannot gain Wea tn.
Do not mistake the proposed Is per cent of
the DlnSley rates for reasonable rate. 1t
is a fact that no class of goods produced
here from leaf tobacco will be taxed less
than % per cent ad yalOrem, while one of
the most important of this class will be
taxed 160 per cent ad vaorem under the
bill adopted by the House of Representa-
tives.
IF this is not an embargo on our trade
what can it be called?
we earnestly ask for free trade, be-
lieving that with mutual interchange of
products between the two countries the
United States will be more than gamer
The United States will for many years
supply our 10000 people with their man
ufactured products In genera, We recog
ha for hot I,
insular government would be necessary; but
We are decidedly of opinion that the bet
ter method for raising that revenue will
he by internal taxation, and for the follow
ing reasons:
First. Because by that system no re-
striction will be placed on our commerce
with the United States
Second Because the adoption of that
system will be as simple in operation here
it is in the United States.
In considering the amount of revenue
needed for this island we beg to submit the
following calculations, which, after due
Consideration. We believe can be realized:
Rum. 100000 gallons. which, at s1.1o per
gallon, works out at 81 10000; cigarettes,
2yOoO,90, which, at $50 per thousand,
works out at Ss75,oNo; cigars, 40 coo. o01.
which. at 81. 90 per thousand. works out at
s432,"n-total. 81 $50 We estimate the
entire special license tax nominally S15.GO.
This will give US a total revenue of S222.I-l.-
600 One-third of that equals about $780,
A fair estimate of the annual cost of adj
miniStration is sGI0G0, add for interest and
sinking fund on bonds to be issued, $1,000
Total required. $4,000
Even with free trade with the United
States, there would be an additional rev.
cnue Of at least 10000 annually from cus4
toms duties on goods coming here from
thOrize Porto Rico to issue s2GnOoo OF
forty-year . per cent bonds the above will
provide for them. viz: For interest s1o0-
t-1. and for sinking fund, $4,000; total,
$40 $50
Therefore we infer that it will be IN
necessary to adopt for this island the full
revenue rates of the United States. One
third of those rates will give ample re-
ceipts TO cover all the above. Porto Rico
has no bonded other debts. Therefore
S2n'1hpp of bonds to he issued for internal
Improvements would be conservative.
We call your attention to the fact that
1t has been the custom for al. countries to
make internal improvements by the sys-
te moi bonded Indebtedness, which divides
the expenses among succeeding genera tions.
We do not desire to have the burden of
internal improvements placed solely.
If il must be so. then We ask that it be
done by system of internal taxation that
will not prevent the increase of our COM
merCe with the states of the American
Union and that will not starve US.
The fact cannot be disputed that our
people are in sore distress. Al, commerce
is now hampered. The investment of cap
itai is stopped The farmers have not the
means to plant or gather their crops.
Building and improving are impeded. Cap
ital refuses to come here for investment
in either manufacturing or agricultural
pursuits for the reason that the sovereign
ty of the United States over this island
has deprived us of free trade with Spain
and with Cuba, which formerly took our
exports at fair prices and enabled US to
live.
We now ask as a right in equity that
free trade with the United States be given
US. We ask bread as a right from our
mother Do not, We pray. give US a stone
We ask for an immediate decision"