Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-03-23
PORTO RIcANs PROTEST.
4 Strong Petition for Free Trade and
Revenue from Internal
Taxation.

A petition, prepared by leading
business men, manufacturers and
planters of the island sent to congress
as follows:
1--WE beg to submit TO oyur earnest
consideration the following views as
% the financial policy of Porto Rico:
Eve note with regret that the prin-
iple enunciated by certain speakers
n the lower house of congress, that
tariff between Porto Rico and the
United States is the proper method of
:aising revenue for this island. To
his we are unchangeably opposed,
.or the following reasons:
81. Because taxation on our exports
means an embargo on our foreign
commerce.
SO. Because. curtailment of our COM
merce with the United States would
lock up our products here and pre-
vent US from gaining our legitimate
proportion of pront on our produc-
tons.
s'We can never become independent
financially if forced to trade solely
among ourselves. We must have a
market other than Porto Rico or else
we cannot gain wealth.
do not mistake the proposed IS
per cent. of the Dingley rates for a
reasonable rate. It is fact that no
class of goods produced here from
Leaf tobacco will be taxed less than
rs per cent, ad valorem, while one of
the most important of this class will
be take 16O per cent. ad valorem I'M
der the bill adopted by the house of
representatives. If this is not an en-
barge on our trade, what can it be
called?
''We earnestly ask for free trade,
believing that with a mutual inter
change of products between the two
Stries the United States will be
more than gamer. The United States
will for many years supply our 1,000,-
600 people with their manufactured
products.
''In general we recognize the fact
shat a revenue to support the insular
government would be necessary, but
we are decidedly of opinion that the
better method for raising that rev.
enue will be by internal taxation, and
for the following reasons:
al. Because by that system no re-
striction will be placed on our COM
merce with the United States.
''2. Because the adoption of that
system will be as simple in operation
here as it is in the United States.
''In considering the amount of rev.
enue needed for the island, we beg to
submit the following calculations,
which, after due consideration, we be-
lieve can be realized: Rum, 1900, 900
gallons, which at $1.1O per gallon
works out at 81 900; cigarettes,
25o,ooO,O0O, which at $3.50 per 1000
works out at 1915, 900; cigars, 100000
600, which at $3.50 per 1 ,OOO works out
at $4,000. Total, $2.237,0 900.
eve estimate the entire special IL
cense tax as, nominally, $4,000. This
will give us a total revenue of $2,252,-
900. One-third of that equals about
$750,666. A fair estimate of the an,
nual cost of administration is $780,
600. Add for interest and sinking
fund on bonds to be issued $3.50, 900.
Total required, $750,oOO.
even with free trade with the
United States there would be addi-
tiona1 revenue of at least $2oO 900 an
nually from customs duties on goods
coming here from foreign countries.
eff congress will authorize Porto
Rico to issue So 100000 of 40-year five
per cent. bonds, the above will pro-
vide for them-viz., for interest, $780,
600, and for sinking fund, $50 1000;
total, $15O,OOO.
Therefore we infer that it will be
unnecessary to adopt for this island
the full revenue rates of the United
States. One-third of those rates will
give ample receipts to cover all the
above. Porto Rico has no bonded or
other debts. Therefore S., 900 900 OF
bonds to be issued for internal i'm.
provements would be conservative.
I'VE call your attention to the fact
that it has been the custom for all
countries to make internal improve.
ments by the system of bonded in,
debtedness, which divides the ex,
penses among succeeding generations
We DO not desire to have the burden
of internal improvements placed on
US solely. If it must be so, then we
ask that it be done by a system of in
ternal taxation that will not prevent
the increase of our commerce with
the states of the American union and
that will not starve us.
"The fact cannot be disputed that
our people are in sore distress. All
commerce is now hampered. The in
vestment of capital is stopped. Our
farmers have not the means to plant
or to gather their crops. Building
and improving are impeded. Capital
refuses to come here for investment
in either manufacturing or agricul-
tural pursuits, for the reason that the
sovereignty of the United States over
this island has deprived us of free
trade with Spain and with Cuba,
which formerly took our exports at
fair prices and enabled us to live.