Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-02
Porto Rico Is All Riqht.

Inc Soou reports from Porto kico
are very gratifying to all patriotic
citizens, and very embarrassing to
having SO much to say about the tur
bulence and poverty of the island.
These reports also disarm completely
the Democratic managers who hoped
to get material for the campaign out
of the workings of the new tariff. Two
Americans who can speak with au
thority, and whose words command
respect, have just returned from the
island. One is Judge Joseph F. DAILY
of New York. of the commission to re-
wise and compile the Porto Rican
statutes, and the other is Prof. Jacob
II. Hollander of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity, whom the government sent to
Porto Rico to revise the laws relative
to taxation. Under Governor Allen,
Prof. Hollander has been the treasurer
of the island.
| AS to Porto Rico, Judge DAILY says:
1T is only necessary to visit the
| island to see that it is rich country.
merely needing development in order
to enjoy sound prosperity AS to the
Porto Rican people, they are bright,
acute and intelligent race, good
natured. peaceable and law abiding"
AS to the American administration
and the feeling toward it, Justice DAILY
adds: Il found no complaint respect
ing the government instituted by the
United States and administered by the
appointees from this country in con-
junction with the natives of the island,
among whom are to be found men
with the highest qualifications for the
public service. The present civil gov
eminent instituted by Congress is an
honest government. honestly admins
| tered"
Here are a few extracts from the
testimony of Prof Hollander: Porto
Rico" DR.. Hollander says. lis now
beginning. slowly but surely. to enter
upon a new life of economic and social
prosperity" Everything that ! have
seen and experienced in Porto Rico
| makes me hopeful of the future OF the
island 1t is rich in natural resources
beyond measure" The dreadful hurri-
cane Of August. 1899, has been a griev-
Gus blow to the island, but, in spite
of this. Dr. Hollander says, every
where there is hopefulness. Political
agitators are being discounted. and
demagogues are being relegated to
their proper position. The best ele-
ments are rallying to the support OF
American institutions, and gradual
but growing influx Of American capital
is. after all. the most potent arSu-
ment.'
Prof. Hollander makes a significant
statement as to the practical effect of
the new Porto Rican tariff. He says
that the government of the island de-
mands a minimum expenditure OF
| 80 900 900 a wear. In the 10 months
before the new tariff was adopted the
Porto Rican revenues from other
sources than customs We're only $2o'Ooo
a month. Even now. with improved
conditions and an economical govern
ment. it will not be possible, under ex-
listing laws, to raise in year, from
sources other than customs duties,
more than $500 900 out of the $2,Ooo,o0o
required The Porto Ricans see this.
and the Is per cent. tariff which was
so savagely attacked in Congress has
turned out to be the salvation Of the
island Prof. Hollander says:
THE best commentary on the whole
situation is the fact that few Porto
Ricans whose position and cisinter-
estedness makes their opinion valuable
would now regard with anything but
strong disfavor any reduction OF the
customs rates until a system of direct
taxation has been gradually intro
duced. The tariff is working bene-
ficially and easily, and no person, be
he student or publicist can study the
situation and not realize that 1t was
wise and expedent fiscal device
These men know what they are
talking about and their word can be
relied upon Their approval of the new
tariff and its effect upon Porto Rico
oo,,,o ord industry should be ac-
cepted as final by all fair-mlnded
Americans. There is no issue in
Porto Rico for the enemies Of the ad-
ministratiOn.
partisanship appears to have run