The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-03-31
THE PORTO RICAN BILL.
Text the Measure as Presented by the
House.


ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Washington, March 90-The conflict In
the Senate over the Puerto Rico bill Il
such that almost any result may be ex-
pectsd. The element among the Senator
who wish to pass the House bill verbal
tim Ia . very strong one. and such an
outcome Is we'll within tbs range OF
probabilities. Especially 10 this so II
the Presidents shall bring the pressure OF
executive influence to bear. OF oourss
t1s Houss leaders are exceedingly anx-
ious that their bill shall be enacted
without change. There are several good
reasons for this. In ths first place they
bslieve that the bill is right. Again. II
the Senate shall amend the bill extern
sively, 10 will be necessary for tho House
to consider those Senats amendments
Thus the whole Puerto Rico battle will
be opened up again In the House. There
are many reasons why this 10 NOT desira-
BILE. The situation is already much
mixed, and any action that the Senate
is likely to take will probably not leave
to the House chance for action that win
improve matters.
In view OF all the interest that has
arisen It may re we'll to review the exact
terms Of the House bill, which 10 now In
the Senate, and over the terms OF which
60 much Senatorial debate is arising.
The bill IL as followsi
An act temporarily to provide reve-
nues for the reIisf Of the Island OF Puerto
&c.
Whereas the peopls of Puerto Rico have
been Ceprived Of markets for o large por-
ton OF their products and have lost
propet ty and crops by severe and unusual
storms, whereby they are Impoverished
and are unable to pay internal revenue
and direct taxess and
whereas Temporary revenue 10 neces-
sary for their schools, their roads. and
thsir Internal improvements. and the ad-
ministratiou Of their government: Now,
therefore,
BIS ID enact ID by the Senate and House
OF Representatives Of tie United States
Of America In Congress assent led, Thas
the provisions OF the Act shall apply TO
the Island of Puerto Rico and to the ad-
jaoept Islands and wat-Ts Of the ISLANDS
lying east Of the seventy fourth meridian
Of lop q tude west OF Green ioh. which
were &c ed TO tie United States By the
Government Of Spain by treaty concluded
April eleventh, eighteen hundred and
mir ETY. nine and the name Puerto htoo,
as ussd 10 this ACT, shall be held to
include not only the island Of that name,
but all the ada ent Islands as afore said.
SIC. 3. That on and after the passage
OF this Act the same tariffs. customs, and
duties shall be levied, collected. and paid
upon ell articles imported into Puerto
Rioo from por:s other than those OF the
United States which are required BY law
10 lie collected upon articles imported
into the United States from foreign
countries.
SEQ. 8, That on and after the passage
# this Aet all merchandise coming into
the United States from Puerto Rico and
coming into Puerto Rico from the y United
States shall be ent.red at the several
ports OF entry upon payment OF fifteen
per centum OF the duties which are re-
ouired to be levied, collected, and paid
upon Ike articles OF merchandise I'M
ported from foreign countries; and In
addition thereto upon articles OF mer-
ohandife of Puerto Rioan manufacture
oomirg into tho Unitsd States and with
drawn for consumption or sale upon pay
ment OF tax equal to the Internal reve-
nue. tax I'm posed in the United States
upon the like articles Of merchandise Of
domestic manufacture, suoh tax to be
paid y internal revenue stamp or stamps
to be purchased and provided BY the
Commi ssioner OF Internal Revenue and
to be procured from the collector Of In
ternsI revenue at or most convenient to
the port of entry Of ssid merchandise
in the Un.tsd StsteA and to be affixed
under such regulations as the Commits
sioner If Internal Revenue, with the ap-
provaI OF the Secretary of the Treasury,
shalt pte s,rihe and on all artioles Of mer-
ahandise of United States man ufacture
coming into Puerto Rico In addi tion to
the duty above provided upon payment
Of tax equal In rate and amount to the
internal revenue tax imposed In Puerto
Rico upon the like ar ioles OF Puerto
RicAn manufacture.
SEC. 4. That the duties and taxes col :.
looted In Puerto Rico In pursuance Of
this Act less the cost of collecting the
same, and the gross amount Of all COL.
leotions Of duties and taxes In the United
States upon articles OF merchandise CON-
Ing from Puerto Rico, shall not be COW
cred into the general fund Of the Treas
ury, but shall be held - separate fund,
and shall be placed at the disposal Of the
President to be used for the government
and benefit of Puerto Rico until other
wise provided by law.
SEQ. 8. This Act shall be taken and
held to he provisional In Its purposes and
Intended to meet pressing present need
for revenue for the island Of Puerto Rico,
and shall not continue in force after the
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