The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-06


.fon:.it is evident that much
misapprelrensinn Of the pending legis-
lation for Puerto Rico still exists. The
Chicago FINES Herald has been looked
upon as an administration organ
it's editor was. one of the men who
made Mr.. Mckinley president. let
that outspoken journal does not hesi-
tate to say. and many other Republican
papers in the middle west are Sd. Ing
in substance the same:
"No two million dollar sop OF GUS
toms rcbated for the use and beneht
of distressed Puerto Ricans can drug
the conscience of the American people
or lull to sleep the suspicious that in
sist that gross injustice is being done
to Puerto Ricans because the sugar
and tobacco trusts dread Cuba and
the Philippines looming in the future.
President McKinley's mistake Is big
with the possibilities of serious disas-
ter for his party in this years elec-
tions. 1t may not leopard his own re.
nomination and election, but it puts
whip in the hands of every Demo-
cratic speaker with which to scourge
Republican congressman wherever they
appear for reelection. What answer,
for instance, can Congressman Mann,
Boutell and Foss make to the charge
that they preferred to serve the utter
ior interests of the sugar and tobacco
trusts than to obey the dictates of
our plain duty as pointed out by the
president last December"
The Times Herald is undoubtedly
honest in it's opinions; but it has thus
far failed to explain to its readers just
what the gross injustice" consists Of
Is it gross injustice to Puerto Rico to
give her the s2,000,O00 Of revenue col
lected while she was being held under
military rule? No sensible man can
say yes. Is it gross injustice to levy
upon her exports to the United States
a revenue tax equal to Is per cent. of
the duties in the Dingley bill and then
to give her this revenue to apply to the
expenses of her government and to
start her educational development and
public improvements? If so, where
Rico cannot be governed without pay
ment Of taxation. Most of her people
are so poor now that they cannot pay
direct tax. What easier way has
the ingenuity of man devised FOR the
raising of revenues than by putting a
small charge on goods passing through
the custom house-a tax paid in TIE
first instance by the wealthy impo: tcrs
and, if charged back at all by them
upon the consuming public, chargel
back in such n manner as to make thc
charge almost imperceptible to the in
dividual consumer:
Now as to the sugar and tobacco
husts-what are the facts? In the
warehouses of Puerto Rico these trusts
have during the past few months ac-
cumulated stocks of sugar ami tobacco
in anticipation of the opening Of our
ports on a free trade basis which, un-
der the provisions of the bill passed
by the house on Wednesday last, cam
not get in without the payment of
$23OOOO customs duties. Where do you
suppose the trusts stand on this uu.s-
tion? Are they in favor of a bi'l thet
assesses them a quarter of million
dollars when they had figured upon
getting these accumulated stocks into
the United states duty free?
1t is one thing to cry gross injust-
Ice; 1t is another thing to show a
warrant for that cry. The Republican
aSSa ATLANTIS of the PAYNE Puertn Rican N
tariff bill are piling up lot of cam
paign thunder for the Democratic
spellbinders this year, bur they have
not yet disclosed a scint.lla Of justih-
cation for their attitude OF alarm.
"A Harrison presidential boom is re-
ported from indianapolis, but the p OBJ
abilities are that the Mckinley boom
,yill not retire.