The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-01
Theory and Condition.


\N/ said that the free admis-
sion of Puerto Rican
products into the United
States was plain duty he spoke
from the standpoint of the welfare Of
the people Of that island and he spoke
the truth. But later developments
came into consideration and forced Il
temporary postponement of free trade.
One of these was the need of an easy
means of obtaining revenue for paying
the islands current expenses until a
systematic revenue plan can be worked
out. The easiest way known to man Is
to put revenue tax on imports. That
was why the Republican leaders in
congress, with the presidents full as
sent, proposed to charge upon Ameri-
can products imported into Puerto
Rico and upon Puerto Rican products
imported,into the United States duty
equal to 25 per cent. of the rates laid
down in the Dingley tariff. This was
subsequently reduced to Is per cent.
The money thus. raised goes into the
Puerto Rican treasury; not penny Of
it. barring the expense of collecting
the part taken in at our custom houses,
remains in the federal possession. 1t
is calculated that during the two years
which this arrangement is to run Puer-
to Rico will thus receive 1880, 900 in
cash per annum, or enough to pay all
her political expenses, with something
over for internal improvements. The
duty is so small as to represent no
hindrance to trade between the island
and the mainland; except for this rev.
enue feature, of which Puerto Rico
reaps the entire benefit. it is equivalent
to free trade.
The other development, not foreseen
by the president when he wrote his
regular message, was the discovery
that if congressional assent should be
given, or should even seem to be given,
to the doctrine that every bit Of terri
tory newly acquired by the United
States Immediately falls under the
constitutional decree that "all duties,
imposts and excises shall be uniform
throughout the United States" and not
under the article of the constitution
which clothes congress with power to
make all needful rules and regula-
tions respecting the territory or other
property belonging to the United
States" it would be seized upon by the
Democratic leaders as an opportunity
to hold before native labor the peril of
Malay competition in the Philippines
on free trade basis, and probably re-
suit in the defeat of the entire expan-
sion programme. When the president
and his advisers discovered this cum
ningly laid trap of the opposition, they
very naturally took steps to avoid it,
Under the bill passed yesterday in
the lower house Of congress. Puerto
Rico, the first new territory to call for
congressional action, receives all the
substantial benefits of free trade with
good revenue feature thrown in, but
the question of it's constitutional status
Is passed upon In a manner to leave
congress free to enact for Hawaii,
Guam or the Philippines, similar or
different regulations as the future may
make wise. Congress, in other words,
does not indorse the Democratic con-
tention that free trade necessarily fol-
lows the flag: it lends its weight to
the view that territory Is property"
In the language Of the constitution, to
be regulated either on a free trade. a
low or high tariff basis. depending
upon the peculiar circumstances OF
each case. Free trade with Puerto
Rico will come. Free trade with the
Philippines may never come; certainly
1t will not come at the expense of the
home workingman.
The president in his message outlined
the ideal theory; the Republican ma
jority yesterday, with his fullest as
sent, fitted the theory to the practical
condition.