Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-04-04
That Porto Rico Tariff Bill.

There has been 80 much discussion
pro and con concerning the Porto Rico
Tariff bill, that we publish the follow
ing letter from Speaker ID. B. Hender-
son to u. 8. Marshall Ed. Knott, Of
Waverly, which at least justifies the
House In their position:
Ny Dear Knott: Yours of the oath about
Porto Rico is received. cannot gather fr 'm
your letter what you personally think Of our
action in the house, or what you think of
the president, who thoroughly agreed with
US, and worked with might and main to get
the house bill passed, aud has been SO work.
ing In the senate. The question for me to
tie, as an Individual representative is,
what is my dutyf That question asked and
answered when worked with my associates
to pass the Porto Rcan bill. Now let me get
4, this matter clearly In your mind, Mr. Knott
for sooner or later the country will understand
our position.
| First-There are large quantities of tobacco
aud sugar in Porto Rico, bought up by trust
and syndicates. They want to get that into
the United States free of duty and when once
in, of course, it will sell in the markets at the
same rates as the tobacco and sugar which
have to pay full duty fbeen NH mhm Inn
minimum pay full tariff rates. thus giving
hundreds of thousands of dollars profit 10
are fighting the bill, and ha We given you the
reason why. There has not BEEN nor Is there
now,t to my knowledge, a lobby here working
for the Porto Rican bill. but these syndicates
and the Goldfish interests of New England and
Epta 20 ;,.oI f,,t.
are all trying to get into Porto Rico without
paying the Is per cent duty on their products
as proposed In the bill. While under the
Dingley law tax of 81, to illustrate. is i'm
posed upon certain article, under the house
bill, it would only pay is cents
Second-Now, why have we imposed this
10 per cent Of the Dingley tariff. Let me an
swer this and fix 1t in your mind Porto Rico
is poor and has been swept by devastating
and destructive floods. Her people are not al
this time, and in their present condition, able
to pay the expenses oftheir government. No
one wants the United States to pay the ex
penses of running the governments Of any OF
our several new possessions the people them
selves in each of the islands or groups should
pay their own expenses How is Porto Rico
to do this, now that she has no local govern
ment7 We must first give her local govern
ment and both houses of congress are az work
upon the problem and, in my opinion that
problem will be wisely solved when 1t Is done
But 1t will take year and half or two years
to formulate government for her, and to pu,
IL in running order, SO that those people, with
| their own government machinery may raiss
money TO run their own government. In the
meantime. what should we dor FOLLOW the
advice of the syndicates and trusts and ia,
this desolate island, or their lands, or theil
limited productions, or do as we propose and
put this trifiing duty upon their exports and
imports and give every dollar of 1t back Il
| them TO run their governments This will b,
felt by none except the syndicates and trusts
| and rich interests that will be buying Their,
and those shipping to Porto'Rico Indirectly
| of course some of this will be paid by tn,
consumers, but it will fall lightly upon them
and the burden win be imperceptible while Q
direct tax would be simply brutal aud in
human. The bill also provides that the Ia,
shall expire in two years. which is time enough
| to allow the government machinery OF Ports
Rico to get in running order.
There is no proposition to put permanen
burden upon Porto Rico, but it is merely
! temporary expedient for her own interest
My friend, never was a bill so misrepresent
ed and misunderstood as our Porto Rican bill
| and the day will come in the near future wher
those who propose a direct tax, which
would result from absolute free trade, viii
suffer in every possible way for thei
misguided conduct, for their selfish act. VIVA
the senate Is going to do is problematical
Ii has its share of cowardice. The senate is al
ways the body upon which the great Interest,"
concentrate their efforts to defeat proper leg
islation. But this fact remains, that hav,
the knowledge that have done my smpl
duty, and have done it in consultation and II
| cooperation with the president of the United
States, whose heart is quick to feel the afiiict
ions of this little island; have done 1t In con
fdence with such men as Allison, Forake
and the earnest patriots of the senate who
| defying special interests and combinations
are trying to map out plan for the presen
needs of Porto Rico, and to keep our countr,
SO that it will be unfettered and fitted for TIN
wise treatment needed for all of these new
possessions
am, my friend, yours truly,
ID. b. HENDERSON
III