The Republican journal., 1900-06-07
WASHINGTON LETTER.


postal frauds. Every agency OF the
Government has been set at work to
bring all the facts to the surface and all
the guilty parties to justice. The fact
that the men who are charged with
these crimes were, when selected, men
whose integrity had never been called in
question does not reduce in the slight
est degree the vigor with which the
investigation is being pushed or the
plans laid for the punishment of every
guilty man.
Senator Foraker had prepared an elab-
crate document relative to the levy and
collection of taxes in Porto RlcO trans
lated i'll the Division of Custom and
lnsular Affairs, War Department, to-
gether with translation of the Spanish
Porto Rican tariff and a statement of
the auditor for Porto Rico. The paper
gives verbatim copy OF the tax sched-
ule as levied by the Spanish Govern
ment, to be used as foundation for the
collection of receipts. The voluminous
list provides for taxes on everything and
everybody save educational and religi-
Gus institutions supported by the state.
The tariffs relating to the tax on in
dustry and commerce are five in num-
ber, having as a basis the scale of pop
ul;rtion of the several cities and towns
of the island.
An annual school tax of 81 per capita
is imposed ON various persons, classified
and specified in said orders.
The taxes required to be paid by
means of internal revenue stamps, are
as follows:
On certificates issued by any of the
bureaus, internal revenue offices, Gus
tomhouses, and courts of justice, 50
each.
A tax of one-tenth of cent is required
| on each box of matches.
a tax of 3 cents per liter i'll addition
to the consumption tax and licenses re-
quired by municipalities is required of
manufacturers of brandy, rum, or other
alcoholic liquors. to be paid by means of
internal revenue stamps, to be affixed
to each bottle, vessel, or package con-
tanning the class of liquor described.
All mines pay tariff according to the
class of metal extracted, gold paying
more than copper, iron and other metals.
A yearly tax of $40 was imposed for
each salt claim composed of 100000
square meters: according to the law of
1895, the tax now imposed is S24 for
80, 600 square meters.
| Under the general statutes Spanish
laws, August 21,lss4) fee of l 2 30 pes os
was required, in stamp duty for each
trade mark issued and registered. The
fee is now collected in money $50, the
stamp duty tax stamped paper being
! discontinued.
The metrical system of weights and
measures revenue is derived from the
| fine of $40 imposed for any infraction of
| regulations issued by the secretary of
finance, dated March Is, 1890
| There is a uniform consumption tax of
cents per pound on all ueomargarine
imported into or manufactured in Porto
Rico For the collection of this tax the
collectors of customs are appointed col
lectors of internal revenues, and it is
provided that the tax on oleomargarine
| imported into the island shall be col
lected at the cuStomhouseS at the time
of importation.
There is Il tax of 20 cents on every
pack of playing cards imported into
| Rico to be collected lv collectors of
customs acting in the capacity of i'll
ternal revenue collectors.
! The taxation of lands on the island
! is based upon various civilizations and
the quality of the land taxed. In ac-
cordance with the various civilizations,
there are taxes on cane lands, coffee
lands, tobacco lands, pasture lands.
minor produce lands, and forest lands.
In accordance with the quality Of the
/ land, there are taxes of the first, second,
and third classes; the first class com
prising the best land, the second class
the next best, the third class the poorest
Under the American administration
Of Porto Rico, the old Spanish taxes
are being discontinued In fact, the
consumption, landing and transporta-
ton charges have already been abolished
on: Petroleum, charcoal, frewood, fresh
beef, veal, fresh pork OF mutton, do
nestle fowls and eggs, fresh fruits, fresh
and green vegetables, flour. cornmeal
and bread, rice and beans, salt pork.
ham and bacon, fresh fish, cod fish and
herring, soup paste, dried beef sugar,
molasses and coffee
| La Correspondence de Puerto Rico
in its issue of May 3. 1900, said: "Unless
reports are false, MI Allen will walk
with slow PAGES until he becomes ac-
quainted with the path. He will then
do that which good govenorshould do.
He is not committing himself uncon
ditionally to any party, and is governing
with the aid of Porto Ricans of recog-