Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-31
Senator Fairbanks Supports the Porto
R:can Bill.
BEST METHOD OF RAISING REVENUE
Declares That Sugar Trust Wants
Free Trade.
THE ISLANDS FUTURE


| ing on the Porto Rico bill in the Senate to-
| day:
"Mr. President, there are two principal
questions which lie at the very foundation
of the pending bill. One is question of
| congressional power and the other a ques-
| ton OF national policy. So much attention
has been devoted to the constitutional ques-
tion that scant consideration has been given
to the question Of policy, and the urgency
of the situation as respects relief for the
Porto Ricans has been very largely over
| looked
Mr.. Fairbanks presented some generaliza-
tions with respect to the power of Congress
over Porto Rico based upon what he re-
garded as "the overwhelming weight of au-
thority and sound reason"
Tine necessity of providing revenue for
the support of the island was more mani
fest the more familiar We became with the
actual conditions prevailing, and with what
was needed to rehabilitate it, Upon
closer and more minute inquiry it seemed
impossible, or at least inadvSable, to at
tempt to raise the entire amount required
to support the insular administration by
direct tax upon the people
Adverting to the provisions of the pend
ing bill, Mr.. Fairbanks said:
Inc statement has been frequently made
that the duties were modified and imposed
| at the dictation of the sugar and tobacco
trusts. Those on the opposite side of the
chamber have frequently referred to the
action of the committee as having been
inspired by some mysterious, occult infiu-
ence for an obvious purpose.
Let us briefly analyze the situation. The
| interest of the trusts-if interest they have
lis limited to the two articIes-sugar and
| tobaco-wh:ch are exported to the United
States.
Interest of the Sugar Trust.
1.-THE sugar trust, as we are advised. is
| int crested chiefly if NOT 1ycJusiyalv In the
efining of sugar
rs 1t, therefore, interested in the ques-
! ton as to whether raw sugar purchased in
Porto Rico shall be admitted into the
United States free with a tariff of 10 per
| cent of the Dingley rates imposed upon il?
1.-The least observant mind must perceive
! that 1t Is interested in the absolute free ad-
| mission of raw sugar, and that it is, in the
very nature of things, opposed to the i'm
position of any duty whatever. 1t is incon-
ceivable that it would advocate the impo-
! sition OF duty upon its raw product, so as
| to increase the price thereof to itself, unless
we attribute to it less sagacity than it is
| supposed to possess.
1T is estimated that there is at present
| in Porto Rico some ten thousand tons or
| more OF raw sugar awaiting shipment to
the United States upon the reduction or
| entire removal of the Dirgley rates.
| If a duty of 10 per cent of the Dingiey
| duties Is paid uron this sugar and other
! sugars which. are purchased by the trust
and those in like interest who will be the
| beneficiary; that is to say. for whose bene-
| fit is the money paid at the custom house?
1t Will not go into the treasury of the
| United States, but will be used for the ex-
| elusive benefit of Porto Rico This contri-
| button for the support of the insular gov
eminent will rot be made by the masses of
| the people, but will be contributed, in a
very large measure. by the sugar trust, or
| by the wealthy Spanish importers. Gen.
Davis informs us that: A large part of the
mercantile and exporting houses are owned
and conducted by Spaniards men who, I'M
der the treaty, preserve their Spanish ma
| tionality..
What is said with respect to the sugar
trust applies with equal force to the to-
bacco trust. 1t is interested, il at all, in
the absolute free admission of tobacco The
removal of the entire duty and unrestricted
free trade would undoubtedly meet with It's
cordial and enthusiastic approval Can
there be the remotest possible ground to
doubt this?
Sugar Trust a Plaintiff.
"A few weeks ago u suit was brought
against the collector of customs in the city
of New York to recover some s2OOoOUo col
lected on imports from Porto Rico, upon
| the ground that the Constitution extended
| to Porto Rico and that the duties could not
be lawfully collected. The plaintiffs suing
| are Lawrence, Turnure & Co., American
Sugar Refining Company, L. W. & P. Arm
| strong, Muller. Schall & Co., John Farr and
| Melchor, Armstrong & Dessau One of
| the principal parties, it will be seen, is the
| American Sugar Refining Company, which
IL the corporate name of the sugar trust
| OF the amount collected, 30 per cent or
| some $1,SOO,OU0, represent the duties paid
| on sugar and tobacco.
ITO maintain the suit, the sugar trust de-
MES the constitutional power of the United
| states to collect any duty whatever. The
opposition would have us believe that while
| the trust was in the courts denying the
l cf oil of
any duties upon the raw sugars imported
| by it at New York it was in Washington
advocating before Congress the imposition
| Of a duty upon sugar. l do not believe that
any one will fail to understand how utterly
contradictory and absurd the proposition is.
'Ths only legislation suggested in the
present Congress which was in the interest
of the sugar and tobacco trusts was pro-
posed by the senior senator from Arkansas
(Mr. Jones). who introduced an amendment
proposing to refund to those who had paid
| 1t the $2,OO0.00 collected on imports from
Porto Rico The money, II the senator's
amendment had been adopted, would be
returned to the sugar and tobacco trusts
and other importers now suing the gov
ernment.
Interests of Porto Ricans.
1.-THE money collected from the trusts and
importers in New York has recently been
| appropriated by act of Congress and will
| in few days be sent to Porto Rico, to be
| expended In public works, in the cause Of
education and in granting relief to the poor
people requiring 1t.
"For one, would regard myself recreant
| to the trust committed to me and false to
l the best interests of the people of the
United States II did not by my vote COM
| pei these trusts and their allied interests
| to pay some part Of maintaining the Porto
| Rican government, which they do pay un-
| der the duty upon their raw products,
| rather than increase the direct taxes upon
| the people in the island, or, in the alterna-
| tive appropriate 1t from the treasury of
| the United States.
| "Mr. President, 1t has not escaped public
| attention that lobby from Porto Rico
| has been maintained here during the con-
| sidsration of the pending bill. It is headed
| by a British subject who has been insistent
| for free trade between Porto Rico and the
United States and who is one Of the largest
| producers of sugar in the island, having
| over 100000 invested In his sugar enter
| prises. 1t is quite natural that he should
| desire that his product should reach the
American market without any duty what
| ever"
| The Ialnnd,n