The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-17
PROVINCE OF PORTO RICO
THE BILL FOR ITS ESTABLISHMENT
BECOMES LAW.
1T Is SIGNED BY THE PRESIDENT

The Chief Features of the Measure.
IN with the United States
Tariffs ~Imposed-The Executive. Leg
isIative and judicial Branches of the
Governmental Have Commissioner
as Representative at Washington.
Washington. April 1.-The President
at Z o'clock this evening signed the
Porto Rican tariff and civil govern
ment bill, thus making il a law. Fol-
lowing is a summary of it's provisions:
1t applies 10 the island of Porto Rico
and to the adjacent islands, lying east
of the seventy-fourth meridian which
are designated Porto Rico.
From the date of the passage of the
act, the same custom duties are levied
on all goods entering Porto Rico from
foreign countries as are levied OF the
same goods entering the United States,
save that coffee, which has free entry
into the United States, is to pay a duty
of ) cents per pound on entering Porto
Rico Scientific, literary and artistic
works and books and pamphlets print
ed in the English language may enter
Porto Rico free of duty. The tariff
section of the bill relating TO duties
between the United States and Porto
Rico is as follows:
That on and after the passage Of
this act all merchandise coming into
the United States from Porto Rico
and coming into Porto Rico from the
United States shall be entered at the
several. ports of entry upon payment
of 10 per cent. of the duties which are
required to be levied, collected, and
paid upon like articles of merchandise
imported from foreign countries; and
in addition thereto upon articles Of
merchandise of Porto Rican manufac-
ture coming into the United States
and withdrawn for consumption or sale
upon payment of a tax equal to the
internal revenue tax imposed in the
United States upon the like articles of
merchandise OF domestic manufacture;
and on all articles of merchandise of
United States manufacture coming in
to Porto Rico in addition to the duty
above provided upon payment of a
tax, equal in rate and amount to the
internal revenu tax imposed in Porto
Rico upon the like articles of Porto
Rican manufacture: Provided, that
on and after the date when this act
shall take effect all merchandise and
articles except coffee, not dutiable
under the tariff laws of the United
States, and all merchandise and ar
ticleS entered into Porto Rico free of
duty under orders heretofore made by
the secretary of war, shall be admitted
into the several ports thereof, when
imported from the United States free
of duty, all laws or parts of laws to
the contrary Notwithstanding; and
whenever the legislative assembly of
Porto Rico shall lave enacted and put
into operation a system of local taxa
ton to meet the necessities of the
government of Porto Rico by this act
established n shall by resolution
duly passed so notify the president, he
shall make proclamation thereof, and
thereupon all tariff duties on merchan-
disc and articles going into Porto Rice
from the United States or coming into
the United States from Porto Rice
and from and after such date, all such
merchandise articles shall be entered
at the several ports of entry free OF
duty; and in no event shall any duties
be collected after the 1St day o.
Marc 1902, IN merchandise and ar.
ticles going into Porto Rico from thu
United States or coming into thu
United States from Porto Rico.
The duties collected under the above
section shall be placed at the dispose
of the president to be used for thu
government and benefit of Porto Rice
until the government shall have beer
OTSdIlZeu, WHeH Iue moneys COlltCIet
shall be turned into the local treasury
of Porto Rico. Goods imported from
Porto Rico and under bond shall pay
only the duty imposed by this act"
= The government provisions of the bill
are:
The capital shall be at San Juan
Persons who were Spanish subject
; April II, 1899, and who have not elect
: ed or preserved their allegiance t
Spain are held to be citizens of Port,
Rico n entitled to the protection o
r the United States.The designation o
the body polite Is under the nam
, THE People of Porto Rico"
+ The laws and ordinances of Port
Rico now in force shall continue in ful
force and effect, except as altered b
= this act, or by military rders an
o which are not inconsistent with tn
4 laws of the United States. The oil
q law %forbidding the marriage of priest
T and ministers is repealed.
The vessels of Porto Rico are to b
t nationaliZed and admitted to the bene
fits of the United States coasting law!
q Quarantine stations are to be eStablish
ed.
i The governor is TO be appointed b
+ the president and hold his office fc
u four years, having the powers confer
o red on governors of territories of til
! United States, but is to make his re
ports through the secretary of stat
Il to the president.
e An executive council, appointed b
V the president and confirmed by til
2 senate, consisting of a secretary, SCI
e rotary general, treasurer, auditor, con
l. miSSionerS of the interior and educe
= ton and five other persons to hold Oi
|. flee for four years. The counci is tt
5. upper braunch of the legislature. fI
s of whom shall be natives of Port
.e Rico. The other branch shall be
g hnISa of dQlopatQS tn consist of thi
l. ty-fve members, elected ~biennially b
the qualified electors. Porto Rico
divided into seven districts, a c wit
five delegates.
Provision is made for enacting legi.
- lation, similar to that in other teri
&c tories.
!. The judicial power is vested in cour
already established, the chief justi'
~ and associate justices and marshal
= De appointed by the president. judg'
of the district courts and other office
by the governor of Porto Ri
&c -