New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-03
PUERTO RICO'S TARIFF.
SUBSTITUTE FOR FREE TRADE
BILL REPORTED.
UNITED STATES CONSTITUTION AND
LAWS HELD NOT TO EXTEND
OVER NEW POSSESSIONS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]


Washington. Feb. BY party vote the
Committee on Ways and Means to-day took the
position that the Constitution and laws of the
United States do not extend over Puerto Rico
and the Philippine archipelago, and will not
become operative therein unless until Con-
gress shall so provide by legislative action. This
decision of the majority of the Ways and Means
Committee a necessary preliminary 10 the
consideration of tariff and internal revenue
bill for Puerto Rico.
The committee then decided by party vote TO
report a substitute for the bill offered by Chair
man Payne some time ago, providing for the
extension of the tariff and internal revenue laws
of the United States the island, and it radi-
Cally differs from the original bill. The rates
OF duty on Puerto Tican products are to be equal
to 25 per cent Of the rates imposed by the exist
ing United States tariff upon like goods inn
ported from other countries, and the Puerto
Rican duties imports from the United States
shall be % per cent of the rates imposed on the
imports of like products from other countries
An important proviso is that the duty on any
Puerto Rcan product imported into the United
States shall not be less than the internal tax on
like product when manufactured or produced in
the United States. This proviso will apply
chiefly to tobacco and distilled spirits. All reVe-
nues derived from the duties Puerto Rtcan
products imported into the United States are
the revenues of Puerto Rico from customs
duties. In other words. the island is to have
the benefit Of the customs revenue on her prod
ucts exported to the United States, we'll as
the duties received from all her imports whether
from the United States other foreign coun-
tries. The rates # duty the foreign imports
will he equal to the rates imposed such i'm
ports into the United States.
ESTIMATE OF ISLANDS REVENUES.
1t is estimated that the revenues of the island
will amount 10 about 81 800. 900 the first year af-
ter the bill becomes law. While the natural effect
of the measure will be greatly to increase the
trade between the United States and the island
account of the preferential rates of duty i'm
posed by both II is to be expected that Puerto
Rico will continue to import a considerable
amount of commodities from Europe Wine. for
example will continue to be imported from
Spain and Italy. 1t is estimated that the aver
age rate of duty the bulk OF the Puerto
RiCan imports from the United States will
amount to about ~ per cent ad valorem. On
breadstuffs and provisions the average rate
viii amount to about > per cent ad valorem.
and on cOarser grades OF cotton manufactures.
which form the bulk of the importations OF
textiles. the average rate will amount to about
10 per cent ~ valorruc.
1t is expected that the written report on the
substitute bill Will be ready to submit to the
House by the middle of next week, and Chair
man Payne hopes to have the measure consid-
cred and passed by The House before the ex-
piraton of the following week. II will thus
reach the Senate and be referred to the Finance
Committee before action is had on the Senate
bin to provide a form OF government for Puerto
Rico This bill is still pending in the Senate
committee. and when reported it will probably
be found to contain tariff and revenue provi-
sions similar TO those embodied in the substitute
for the Payne BILL which the Ways and Means
Committee to-day ordered to be favorably
ported