The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-28

trade. which the President recommended to
Congress in his message. 1t was said that
in making that recommendation the Presi-
dent had taken into account all OF the fac
tors which entered into 1t, its great need
of schools. the provisions which must be
made for the suppression OF epidemic
diseases, the necessity for the construction
OF roads and bridges and the other neces-
sary improvements which the situation In
the island imperatively demands. He also
took into account, IL is said, the fact that
business on the island Is in a deplorable
situation and that the people are we'll
nigh helpless to meet the ordinary demands
OF government. In this situation IT was
the Presidents view that the United States
from its abundance should extend help
ing hand, and he had in preparation at one
time a message to Congress asking for an
appropriation of 100000 10 be expended
for the public schools of the island.
Another phase of the subject which has
occupied the attention of the administra-
ton is that involving the open-door policy.
This government having secured from the
European powers a pledge that the United
States shall have equal trade rights with
with any degree of consistency shut the
doors to their trade with the Philippines.
Although 1t is admitted that a declaration
In favor OF free trade with Porto Rico
might establish a precedent which would
be difficult to overcome in dealing with the
Philippines, yet IL was stated that a
declaration in the bill itself of the right
of Congress 10 deal with these two ques-
tiohs separately and in its judgment *
might deem best would simplify the prob
lem and leave this government free to treat
the Philippines as an entirely independent
proposition The one point in the deter
mination OF the Porto Rican problem
which the President, IT is believed, will
steadfastly insist upon is that the nomi-
nal duties collected by the Porto Ricans
and those collected in the ports or the
United States on Porto Rican goods shall
be expended for the sole benefit of the
islanders themselves.
PORTO RICANS AGAINST THE BILL.
The members of the several delegations
from Porto Rico now in Washington hav-
ing read the compromise measure adopted
at the Republican conference last night,
have united in statement to Congress
iu which they say that the idea and theory
Of a tariff Is repugnant TO them, and that
they are content to stand before their peo-
pie and the people OF the United States
on the general broad proposition that the
island Is entitled to receive absolutely free
commercial relations at once. They call
attention to the fact that the United States
government, through the State Depart
ment. recently negotiated a treaty with
the Island of Trinidad in the West Indies
which is British province and a direct
competitor of Porto Rico. by the terms OF
which treaty Trinidad is to receive from
the United States free of duty all articles
OF machinery and implements and articles
of husbandry and nearly all food supplies
the free list in this treaty being larger
than the list of the articles now admitted
free in Porto Rico by executive order, al
Of which 1t is proposed to tax under the
tarin bill now pending I'm Congress. The
delegations consider this unfair.