The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-28
A new PORTO RICAN BILL
Mr.. Foraker Reports the Caucus
Amendment TO the Senate.
The Natives Of the Island TO he Ac-
corded the Protection of the United
states-t Proposed Revision of the
Customs Duty CIausc-The Pro-
visions for Civil Government.

Senator Foraker. in accordance with the
tacit understanding reached during the
Republican caucus held Monday afternoon
yesterday reported from the Committee on
Pacific Islands and Porto Rico an
amendment to the pending Porto Rico
Civil Government Tariff bill which refers
TO the natives Of the island as citizens
OF Porto Rico and as such entitled TO the
protection Of the United States"
AS substitute for the section leyyine
for two years a custom duty OF 10 per
cent on merchandise imported into Porto
Rico from the United States. the FOLLOW
ing was offered:
Section S. That on and after the pas
sage of the act the same tariff customs
and duties shall be levied, collected. and
paid upon all articles imported into Porte
Rico, from ports other than those of the
United states which are required by law
to be. collected upon articles imported into
the United States from foreign countries
Provided That on all coffee in the bear
or ground imported into Porto Rico there
shall be levied and collected a duty of
cents per pound any law or part of law to
the contrary Notwithstanding; and pro-
vided, further, that all Spanish scientific,
literary, and artistic works, not subversive
OF public order in Porto Rico. shall be ad-
mitted free Of duty into Porto Rico for a
period of ten years. reckoning from the
nth day of April, 1899, as provided in
&c H., \
States and Spain: and provided further.
the English language shall be admitted
into Porto Rico free of duty when import
ed from the United States"
In lieu of the section extending the in
teTnel revenue laws of the United States
TO the island, this section is inserted:
Section 9. That on and after the pas
sage 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 sew
eral ports of entry upon payment of Is
per centum Of the duties which are requir-
ed 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 manufacture 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States and withdrawn for consumption or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 Unit
ed States upon the like articles of mer-
chandise of domestic manufacture;
such tax to be paid by internal
revenue stamp or stamps to be purchased
and provided by the Commissioner of In
ternal Revenue and TO be procured from
the collector of internal revenue at or
most convenient TO the port of entry of
cot ara7s ea ssa b.. ysr al L
10 be affixed under such regulations as
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
with the approval of the Secretary of the
Treasury. shall prescribe, and on all ar
ticles Of merchandise of United States man
ufacture coming into Porto Rico in addi-
tion to the duty above provided. upon pay
ment of tax equal in rate and amount TO
the internal revenue tax imposed In Porto
Rico upon 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 in Porto Rico free of duty
under orders heretofore made by the Sec
rotary of War. shall be admitted into
the several ports thereof. when i'm
ported from the United States.
OF laws to the contrary notwithstanding
and whenever the legislative assembly of
Porto Rico shall have enacted and put into
operation a system of local taxation to
meet the necessities of the government of
Porto Rico, by this act and established.
and shall by resolution duly passed so no.
tify the President, he shall make procla-
nation thereof, and thereupon all tariff
duties on merchandise and articles going
into Porto Rico from the United States or
coming into the United States from Porto
Rico shall cease, and from and after such
date all such merchandise and articles
shall be entered at the several ports Of en-
Try free of duty; and in no event shall
any such duties be collected after March
/, 1902"
Section 10 provides: That the duties and
taxes collected in Porto Rico In pursuance
Of this act, less the cost of collecting the
same. and the gross amount of all collec-
tons Of duties and taxes in the United
States upon articles OF merchandise coming
from Porto Rico shall not be covered into
the general fund Of the Treasury. but shall
be held as a separate fund, and shall be
placed at the disposal of the President to
be used for the government and benefit
OF Porto Rico until otherwise provided by
the law; and the Secretary of the Treasury
shall designate the several ports aud sub
ports Of entry in Porto Rico and shall
make such rules and regulations and APP
point such agents as may be necessary to
collect the duties and taxes authorized to
be levied, collected. and paid in Porto Rico
by the provisions Of this act, and he shall
fx the compensation and provide for the
payment thereof OF all such officers. agents
and assistants as he may find it necessary
10 employ TO carry out the provisions here
Of"
The provision for representation of the
leland IN the United States House of Rep
resentatives by a territorial delegate ie
90 amended that they shall be represented
by "a resident commissioner TO the United
States, who shall be entitled TO official
recognition as such b. all departments
upon presentation TO the Department OF
State OF certificate of election of the
Governor OF Porto Rico. and who shall be
entitled TO salary. payable monthly by
the United States, at the rate Of five thou
sand dollars per annum.'