The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-09
Lewis on Puerto Rico.

seems TO have a profour6 confidence In
the ignorance of his hearers. He seems
to think that nothing Is too gross or
improbable for his auditors TO swallow.
Thus for example we find Col.
James Hamilton Lewis gravely an
nouncing to the representatives OF the
Democratic clubs at Indianapolis that
the sugar trust and the tobacco trust
urged the imposition Of the taxes on
Puerto Rican sugar and tobacco. and
that those taxes were imposed as a
concession to these trusts. In other
words, that the sugar and tobacco
trusts urged congress 70 compel them
to pay several hundreds of thousands
OF dollars In taxes for the benefit Of the
Puerto Ricans.
There are no sugar refineries in Puer-
to Rico. The sugar is imported into
this country in raw state. and Is pur-
chased by the sugar trust. or by some
of its competitors. As a matter of
course the interests OF the sugar trust
would be favored by getting in this
raw sugar free of duty. Equally as a
matter of course. the sugar trust which
buys this sugar In Puerto Rico and
imports 1t through the custom house.
pays the duty. deducting 1t. probably.
from the purchase price. 1t win be
remembered that Mr.. Richardson. the
Democratic leader in the house, pro-
posed during the last session OF con-
gress that this government remit to all
persons who had raid duties on Puerto
Rican goods imported into this coun-
will also be remembered that when
this proposition was sprung, II was
shown by the treasury statistics that
1t meant badly the payment OF several
millions OF dollars out Of the treasury
to the sugar trust which had paid the
bulk of the duties on che importation
OF Puerto Rican products. II will also
be remembered that on this showing
Richardson promptly withdrew his
Its Introduction that he was not aware
at the time that he was proposing a
simple donation OF millions of dollars
in cash to the sugar trust.
Neither Mr.. Richardson nor any other
Democratic speaker has this excuse at
the present time for incorporating
the matter. The facts are known: II
not known. the exercise Of ordinary
common sense should be sufIicient
guide to the truth. The purchasers OF
imported raw material have no inter-
est In having import taxes Imposed up
on such raw material. The sugar trust.
particularly. has been persistent
clamorer for free trade in raw sugar.
while az persistentiy demanding pro-
lection for the manufactured article.
what n asked In both respects The
provision OF the Dinsiey bill. imposing
tax on raw sugnr. in the interests of
the Louisiana sugar planters and the
beet sugar growers of the West, was
fought by every influence which the
sugar trust could bring TO bear. The
direct pecuniary interests of the sugar
trust were against the imposition OF a
tariff on sugar. and In favor OF free
trade with Puerto Rico. To claim 9TH
erwise il to assert that the sugar trust
has such a high and holy regard for
the welfare OF che Puerto Ricans that
II IL anxious TO pay cut OF It's own
pocket a large share Of the running
expenses of their government, and tina;
IL sxerte6 strong influence with con-
pecaniary sacrifice.
rn measure the same condition 90
Affairs exists with regard 20 the tobacco
trust The tobacco trus; buys leaf To-
bacrs and sells the manufactured art
icle It has an interest In having the
manufactured article taxed at che Gus
torn house. and an equally strong tn
tsress In having the raw leaf come ga
free The smallest importations from
Puerto Rico are Of raw tobacco TO as
sert that the tobacco trust desires 20 pay
import duties on raw tob@cco which 8,
bGys in Puerto Rico, 10 snsuri.
These arguments Of the Democrats
az to the Puerto Rican tariff ana It's
seneaeiaries. are typscal In that they
are addressed 20 ignorance and pFeja-
dice solely; and that they not only de-
tberateiy ignore the facts. eu, can be
aisproved b. the mere exercise of orsiin-
airy common sense.
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