The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-13
PORTO RICAN BILL MADE LAW.
PRESIDENTS SIGNATURE ATTACH
ED TO THE MEASURE.


"The People of Porto RicO"-PIan
for Islands Government.
Washington, April 12.-The President at
r o'clock this evening signed the Porto
Risan tariff and civil government bill,
inns making it law. Following is a
summary of its provisions;
If applies to the island of Porto Rico
and 10 the adjacent islands lying east of
tbe seventy-fourth meridian, which are
designated Porto Rico.
From the date of the passage of the act
tre same customs duties are levied on all
Goods entering Porto Rico from foreign
countries as are levied on the same
goods entering the United States, save
that coffee, which has free entry into the
United States, is to pay
duty Of five cents per pound on
and artistic works ana books and pam
pblets printed in the English language
may enter Porto Rico free of duty. The
tariff section of the bill relating to du-
ties between the United States and Porto
Rico is as follows:
The Tariff Section.
That on and after the passage of this
act all merchandise coming into the Unit
ed States from Porto Rico and coming into
Porto Rico from the United States shah
be entered al the several ports of entry
upon payment of 10 per cent. of the duties
which are required TO be levied, collected
and paid upon like articles of merchandise
imported from foreign countries; and in
addition thereto upon articles of merchan-
disc Of Porto Rican manufacture coming
into the United States and withdrawn for
consumption or sale upon payment of a
tax equal to the internal revenue tax i'm
posed in the United States upon the like
articles of merchandise of domestic man
ufacture; such tax to be paid by internal
revenue stamp or stamps to be purchased
and provided by the commissioner of in
ternal revenue and to be procured from the
collector of internal revenues at
or most convenient to the port
OF entry of said merchandise into
the United States and to be affixed under
such regulatio as the commissioner of
internal revenue with the approval of the
secretary of the Treasury shall prescribe;
ana on all articles of merchandise of Unit
Cd states manufacture coming into Porto
klco in addition to the duty above pro-
Yl1ed upon payment of a tax equal in rate
ana amount TO the Internal revenue tax
imposed IN Porto Rico upon the like arri-
c-es Of Porto Rican manufacture: provid-
ed, tnat on and after the date when thi
aeI shall take effect all merchandise ard
articles except coffee, not dutiable under
the tariff laws of the United States. and
an merchandise and articles entered into
Forto RICO free of duty under orders here
loioie made by the Secretary of War shall
DE- admitted into the several ports there
o. "hen imported from the United STA es
Hte OF duty, all laws or parts of laws to
ue contrary Notwithstanding; and when
I'S' l4e legislative assembly Of Porto
I'l1V ShaH nave enacted and put into
operation a system of local taxation to
meet IN necessities of the government of
LoIto klco by this act established and
sltA by resolution duly passed so rOtffNy
tae PRESIDENT he shall make proclamation
DeIeot and thereupon all tariff duties on
me eH ahdlse and articles going into Porto
ii-o from the United States or coming
mo the United States from Porto Rico.
ana from and after such date all mer-
clandise and articles shall be entered at
"e several ports. Of eutry free of duty;
gnu ID no event shall any duties be COL
Ncted after The first day of March 1902.
vi msreDand!se ana articles going into
!oilo Rico from the United States or com
las into tho United States from Porto
Rico
ne duties collected under the above
Ss''ion shall be placed at the disposal of
d'' 4Iss Mt TO be used for the govern
l."i ana benefit Of Porto Rico until the
government Of Porto Rico shall have been
~ d. when the moneys collected
ai o. turn d into the lccal treasury Of
GRO Rico. Goods imported from Porto
tc' ana under bond shall pay only the
0'iS lmncs by III act"
Government OF the Island.
ine governmental provisions of the bill
IAe capital shall be at San Juan. Per
w. VINO We're Spanish subjects AprIl II
l9s', and who have not elected to preserve
,H a'e glance to Spain, are held 10 be
i'.4'Ns oi Porto Rico. and entitled to the
GHoh of the United States The des-
station OF the body polite is under the
'-9IIe' me The People OF Porto Rico.
me laws and ordinances of Porto Rico
a+ III Iorce shall continue in full force
~ e"ect, except as altered by this act,
DE military orders. and which are not
States. avs % 'Ao O''i'eu
"e Old law forbdding the marriage of
Sls ana ministers is repealed.
Ne vessels of Porto Rico are to be ma
t.'.Ized and admitted to the benefits of
'tduons are to be established
'i'o kican coins are TO be retired,
peso being rated as 60 cents in the ex-
"se Three months after the act takes
Porto Rican coins are not 10 be
legal tender
i5perty usually under the control of
hted States will so continue and
J'T properties acquired from Spain will
er,' 1.linlnlstered by the Porto Rlcan gov
p Nt Governor is TO be appointed by the
,,.'2ent and hold his Office for four
lI9' having the powers conferred on
In3rs OF territories of the United
,'',s' nut les 10 make his reports through
dsut. '''o S'"'o " 'ne IeSl-
p'H executive council appointed by the
s'etnt and confirmed by the Senate,
''sllhg OF a secretary, attorney gem
49, treasurer, auditor commissioners Of
interior and education and five other
c'.ohs' to hold office for four years The
i..u u the upper branch of she Leg
p'a.ure five OF whom shall be natives OF
'' hlco. The other branch shall be a
t'.'' OF delegates. 20 consist Of thirty