The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-13
PRESIDENT SIGNS G
P0RTO]. .RIC0. BILL Ill.
The HARDLY ugllttNleas-
u1e Now a Law.
PROVISIONS OF BILL
Same Tax Levied on Foreign Imports
as is in Force Here.
THE GOVERNMENT PROVISION.
The Laws Now in Force Shall Continue.
Except Such as Are Altered by the
Act, by Military Orders or All
inconsistent with Laws OF
the United Statcs-Pricsts
May marry.
l. i a E
PROVISIONS OF BILL. !.
Same Tax Levied on Foreign Imports
as is in Force Here.
THE GOVERNMENT PROVISION.

WASHINGTON, April 12=-The :Presi-
dent at o'clock this evening signed the
Porto Rico tariff and civil government
bill, thus making it a law. Following IS
a summary of its provisions:
1T applies to the Island OF Porto sRicOs
and to the adjacent islands lying east OF
the seyenty-fourth meridian, which are
designated Porto Rico.
From the date of the passage OF the
act the same custom duties are leVleu
on all goods entering Porto Rico from
foreign countries as are levied on the
same goods entering the United States.
save that coffee, which has free entry
into the United States, is to pay q duty
Of cents per pound on entering Por.o
Rico. Scientific, literary and artistic
works and books and pamphlets printed
in the English language may enter forto
Rico free of duty.
The tariff section of the bill, Felatlng - -
duties between the United states anu
Porto Rico, is as follows:
TARIFF'% PROVISIONS.
That on and after the passage OF TINS
act all merchandise coming into the
United States from Porto Rico and COM
ing into Porto Rico from the United
States shall be entered at the several
ports Of entry upon payment OF 10 pei
cent. of the duties which are required 10
be levied, collected and paid upon like
articles of merchandise imported from
foreign countries; and in addition thereto
upon articles of merchandise OF Porto
Rico manufa cture coming into the United
States and Withdrawn for consumption or
sale upon payment of a tax equal 10
the internal revenue tax Imposed IN tne
United States upon the like articles OF
merchandise Of domestic manufacture;
such tax to be paid by internal revenue
stamp or stamps to be purchased ana
provided by the Commissioner Of Hnternal
Revenue. and to be procured from the
collector of internal revenue at or most
convenient to the port of entry OF said
mercha ndise into the United States, and
to 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
manufacture coming into Porto Rico IN
addition to the duty above provided upon
nayment Of a tax equal in rate and amount
s to the internal revenue tax imposed IN
Porto Rico unon the like articles of Porto
Rico manufacture.
LOCAL TAXATION.
Provided, that on and after the date
when this act shall take effect all mer-
chandise and articles except coffee not
dutiable under the tariff laws OF the
United States and all merchandise anu
articles entered into Porto Rico free OIL
duty under orders heretofore made by
the Secretary of War, shall be admitted
into the several ports thereof, when I'M
ported from the United States, free or
duty, all laws or parts Of laws TO the
contrary Notwithstanding. and whenever
the legislative assembly of Porto Rico
shall have enacted and put into operation
system of local taxation to meet the
necessities of the government OF Porto
Rico by this act established, and shan by
resolution be duly passed. SO notify the
President, and he shall make proclamation
thereof; and thereupon all tariff dities
on merchandise and articles going into
Porto Rico from the United States or
coming into the United States from
Porto Rico and from and after such date
all such merchandise and articles snail
be entered at the several ports OF entry
free of duty; and in no event shall any
duties be collected after the 1st day OF
March, 1902, on merchandise and articles
going into Porto Rico from the United
States or coming into the United States
from Porto Rico. 5ze5
FOR BENEFIr= OF ISLAND.
.aThe duties collected under the above
section shall be placed at the disposal OF
the President, to be used for the govern
ment and benefit of Porto Rico until tine
Government of Porto Rico shall have
been organized. when the moneys coll
lected shall be turned into the local treas
ury 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:
S The capital shall be at San Juan. The
persons who were Spanish subjects April
ii, 1890, and who have not elected to
preserve their allegiance to Spain, are
held to be citizens of Porto Rico and are
states. The designation of the body
politic* is under the name of the people
of Porto Rico. The laws and ordinances
Of Porto Rico row in force shall cons
t;nua in full force and effect except as
altered 4by this act orEby mil litar ry orders,
and which are not inconsistent with the
laws of the United Sta ties,
The old law forhidding the marriage
Of priests and ministers Is repealed. The
,,assels of Porto Rico are to be national-
ized and admitted to the benefits of the
Inter states coasting laws. Quarantine
stations are to be esta blished. Porto
Rico coins are to be retired, the peso
being rated a t SIX ty cents in he ex-
change. Three months a fter the act
takes effect Porto Rico coins are not to
be legal tender. = Property usual under
tfe council Of the United States wiIls.so
coetin,Ie and other properties acquired
from Spain will be administered by the
Porto Rico Governne The Governor
is to he appointed by the President and
hold mis- Office for four years, having the
powers conferred on Governors ofsterri-
tories nf ne United States fbu t is e
make his reports throllg h the Secretary