Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-04-02


ssiief on the government OF the United
States = Ike care OF them From
his can.sftt Il there must he an awsk
MIN r1sde- too. il may have To be
md them a hest II will become effect
we only gradually as generations pass
away.
Tie selection Of Gen Davis as mill
AIRY governor has been duly justified
| by the results He has enlisted the
| cooperation Of the Porto Ricans
more ard more in administering the
| affairs Of the island He appreciates
| the desirabsliry of establishing a sys-
TEN of government In which the ma
tives shall participate in the fullest
| possible measure He has not been
a military autocrat. but at all times a
| wise and conservative executive. The
| reports Of the governor general as te
| the conditions and needs OF the island
| have been ample. although the report
| a. the results OF the hurricane
| mede on rhe 9th OF last September
was found by his subsequent and more
careful investigation TO be incom-
| plete- Tho deficiencies OF that report
We're supplemented by his report TO the
| secretary Of war on the 18th OF De
| -enber. after the presidents annual
| message TO congress. In his latter re-
| port he shows that the results OF the
| h.rrica ne were more destructive than
he had at frsr believed.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
TIE president has desired that
| the Porto Hicans should be Civ
III the arnplest possible meas
ire Of local self government. In
| Is annual message of Dec. 3. 1899. he
nought the subject earnestly and dis
! ,nctly 10 the attention OF congress.
IT is des!ra bic" he said. that the
government of the island under the
Jaw of belliyerent right. now main
aimed through the executive depart
aent. should he superseded by an ad
ninistration entirely e:ril In it's nature.
For present purposes l recommend
that congress pass a law for the or
ganiZation Of a temporary government.
which shall provide for the appoint
ment. by the president. subject to CON
firmation by the senate. of a governor
md such other officers as the general
administration of the island may re-
Iuire. and that for legislative purposes
upon subjects of local nature not
IL n
Legislative council. composed partly of
Porto Ricans and partly of citizens OF
the United States. shall be nominated
and appointed 10y the president, sub
iect to confirmation of the senate.
their acts tn he subject to the approval
Of the congress or the president prior
to going into effect. In the municipali-
ties and other local subdivisions l rec
Ommepd that the principle of local
self government he applied at once. so
as TO enable the intelligent citizens of
the island TO participate In their own
government and TO learn by practical
experience the duties and requirements
If n self contained and self govern
ing people. | have not thought 1t wise
% commit the entire government Of
he island to officers selected by the
,eople. because l doubt whether in
habits. training and experience they
are such to fit them to exercise at
,nce SO large a degree of self govern
nent: but it is my judgment and
Expectation that they will soon arrive
u an attainment of experience and
wisdom and self control that will justi-
y comforting upon them a much larger
participation in the choice of their in
siilar officers
According to the best estimates thus
FAR made it will require S2.OOO.OOO for
he ordinary civil administration of the
sland for the current year. The COM
inittee thought 1t wise and entirely
just. without going into any compre
hensfve taxing system. that some
measure should be providing for sup
plying the island with some portion
of the revenue so obviously needed. 1t
seemed to it that one method of pro-
viding a part of the revenue was
through the customs offices. 1t rec
ommends. therefore. n reduction in the
existing tariff duties of So per cent,
leaving in operation a duty Of Is per
cent. The amount to be collected at
this rate is to be turned over to the
Porto Rican treasury for the support
If the insular government. Every dol
lar is to be faithfully dedicated to the
benefit of Porto Rico: not cent Is to
be retained and used for the benefit
OF the United States Their commerce
is not restricted in any wise for our
benefit. but IL is to all intents and pur
poses absolutely unrestricted so far as
we are concerned. the small duties be-
ing imposed for the purpose of rails
ing needed revenue for the benefit Of
the people of the island. On the basis
of last years coInmerce reduction of
the Dingley rates to 10 per cent would
yield as | have heretofore observed
a total sum OF about $4S9, 271 80. or an
average of less than 80 cents per
capita of the people of Porto Rico.
And yet there are those on the oppo-
site side OF the chamber who challenge
the imposition as if it were conceived
in an ungenerous spirit and for an I'M
holy purpose.
The necessity for providing revenue
for the support OF the island was more
with the actual conditions prevailing.
and with what was needed TO rehab-
ilitate IL. Upon a closer and more
minute inquiry it seemed impossible.
or, at least. inadyisable. to attempt
70 raise the entire amount required |
to support the insular administration
by direct tax upon the people. The |
president recommended unrestricted |
free trade, leaving it, Of course. to
congress. whose duty ii Is under the |
constitution, TO provide revenue for
the support of the administration of |
the island. 1t was deemed just and
equitable by the committee charged |
with the responsibility in the premises !
TO retain a slight duty upon imports. |
and exports until a temporary gov
eminent could be established COM |
petent to deal locally with the subject |
and to hold the entire revenue collect !
ed for the sole and exclusive benefit |
of Porto Rico.
This conclusion was not arrived at |
hastily and without the amplest and |
most deliberate consideration. The
were at particular pains to /
ascertain from Gen. Davis what reve- /
nueS could be derived for the support /