Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-02-19

l '-NS SoSf - AIcCllOH
| snail have been overcom s mt in so
1ar as we assert in it w of our
power under the Ameri nstitution
-"All agree that the fl 1 most i'm.
portant duty we owe peonle Of
Porto Rico is to open up markets for
Them In no other way can we allay the
1eellng of discomfort likely to arise
among a people who have realized so
little in the change from Spanish oppres-
81! son OF 400 years to the prosperity and
Liberty os,,Ly Whlch follows the American flag.
The original bill introduced on the
19un day of January last, provided that
the customs laws of the United States
and the internal revenue laws be extend
ca TO Porto Rico. The idea was to give
the producer of sugar the free entrance
OF uhls staple into the United States.
saving duty of over $50 ton. Under
tnat Dill the duty saved upon tobacco
would be 30 cents per pound for the main
portion of the crop and for the wrapper
$l.S5 per pound.
After consultation with Gsneral Da-
VS. the present military governor, who
mas made careful study OF the condi- |
mons IN Puerto Rico, it was found that
this acton would not produce sufficient
revenue to meet the expenses of the gov
ernment. He estima ted that not more
man man million dollars could be collected
rlohn ooth customs duties and internal
revenue tax. This sum would not nav
tne pare expenses of the government
without the appropriation of a dn1- |
lar for the public schools ar
ROADS. The substitute was then brought
forward which imposes a duty equal TO
e'. ouI own tarlI1 upon all articles imported
from abroad, other than those of the
United States. into Purto Rico, and a
outy equal to fifteen per cent of the rates
VI our own tariff laws ON all articles inn
ported into Puerto Rico from the United
states ~ or from Puerto Rico into the Unit
eu states. The best estimates that can
De obtained show that this will produce
a revenue of 81. 750,0 from customs du-
cles' m Whlch added to the internal revenues
OF the islands will produce s., 500 600 a
81 sum suHlclent to pay all the expenses OF
.ne government including the postal SER
WE ana also $S25,oOO for the public
scnools. The total estimate of General
DAYS DAYS for the expenditures is 81 -95o ooo
me original bill, therefore, it would seem
means a bankruptcy treasury: the suh,
stltute surplus of $5OoOOO which vii,
meet some of the pressing needs for the
90; or common schools. The
felsslon of seventy-five per centun of 49,, .
duties on sugar and tobacco which are sre
NOW PAID, cans an annual increase of in
come 10 these people of S2,3OOOOO This
means the lifting of mortgage from ,
many small plantation, better wages 4.
ul tAe laoorers, more money in circula
lon ana greater general prosperity. It )
Encouragement to the other aericnltur;etS
q. Nho VIII De stimulated by the prosperjtv|
y ,ne1r ne1ghbors, to restore their ownI
broken fortunes. WV"
Ihat the income under this bill, IN. b
1onht i'1,l, thn year TO year there can be no Q
~ .oupl; tnat 1T will restore prosperity =
ana give new life and enterprise to The !
people ,.e. or this island is equally true '
lnls VII open UP new channels for direct r
,aoria "n NV M1.nouI proving burden to the c
,eopie ana the time will not be far dis n
ant when public improvements ali over
ne island Will be complete and school
ouse established in every community be-
ealn .sNnr the r,f fods las OF the American flag.
n the United States with sugar at *
er cent or the present duties, the beet
ugar industry will still grow and pros
e; er; forty thousand tons year ago, and
voo'ooo tons this year, it is destined in a
he near future to supply the place Of all fl
We import. AS / had occasion to say in il
losing the debate on the conference re. :,
ort on the Dngley bill with a beet "
ugar factory in every congressional dis 3
ugar trust.
Nor does the American tobacco grow
fear the importation of this four mil
on pounds of tobacco. 1T will furnish
new market for THE wrapper which he
reduces and will bring him gain In
tead OF loss. We believe that the best
lterests of the people of Puerto Rico and
he best interests of the people of the
,nited States are both subserved in this
i'll. u
"But our constitutional power is ques-
oned. I do not propose to go into a dis q
ussion of the dictum of the supreme
ourt Or any decision bearing on this
uestion. I find no case where the ques- j
ON was directly involved or which is
ecsive.
"It is now universally conceded that
e have the power to acquire territory Ii,
Y conquest or by treaty. I find no limit y
"In resnect ~ porta .'lz1 d. po"el' ,'sa er
by treaty stipulations or by al
ct of congress" al
u,