The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-23
PORTO RICO L
Threaten Division Between the Presi-
dent and Congress-.
washington POST


The problem of the government for
Porto Rico has already led to a serious
division OF sentiment between the ad-
m~inistration and the leaders OF the
senate and house committees having
the matter in charge.
Senator Foraker, chairman Of the
senate committee, and Representative
Cooper, at the head of the house COM
mittee on insular affairs, believe in
~affording to the qualified voters of the
Island the largest measure of local suf-
frage, while the president is not yet
inclined TO give TO the people the right
to elect the members OF their genur-.
assembly, as = proposed in the meas
ures which Mr.. Foraker and Mr.. Coop
er have submitted. General Davis,
governor general OF the island, who is
the most important witness who has
yet been examined, takes the admins
tration side of the question. He be-
leves that the government of the
Island should be intrusted entirely 10
n governor general and a council ap-
pointed by h president. Under the
bills already mentioned, there would
be, in addition to this council, an as
sembly of thirty-five members, elected
by the citizens entitled to vote. The
qualifications are ability to read and
write and the annual payment of at
least $1.50 in taxes. 1T is sal that even
these considerations will diSQualify all
but $4,000 of the 1000, 900 people on the
island, and the advocates of local Suf-
frage claim that there can be no posi-
Bile danger where only 6 per cent. of the
population is allowed to vote. One OF
the arguments used by General Davis
in opposition to the extension of suf-
frage is that the municipal elections
which have already been held in thirty
towns have developed a bitterness and
strife that threaten serious results.
The tariff question is also leading to
divisions. The president has declar-
ed in favor of an absolute free trade
between the United States and Porto
Rico, a position which many senators
and representatives indOrSe, but which
is, nevertheless leading to vigorous op-
position from the sugar and tobacco
growers of the United States, inaSmuch
as it brings those principal Porto Ricar
products into direct competition with
the American article. The opposition
is bringing to pear upon the n and
house committees argument to prove
that the admission of Porto Rican su-
gar free of duty is detrimental to the
home producer, besides which, it is
claimed, it is an abandonment, of the
republican principle of protection. This
argument is met with the statement
Ulldl IOl SuOuSH sugar UT pODdccO Is
raised in Porto Rico to affect the Amer
lean producers unfavorably.
AT present the senate committee Is
also giving it's attention to the question
of revenue fir the islands. This is also
affected by the tariff, inasmuch as free
trade from the United States into h
island will decrease the revenu at
least 81, 500, 600. This amount will have
to be met by a and tax, and it is said
hat the Porto RicanS are in no condi-
ton to meet increased taxation of any
nature. The extension of American
laws will ais compel the Porto Rican
tobacco n rum manufacturers to pay
the Internal revenue taxes, a burden
which they have not hitherto been COM
PEELED to bear. General Davis favors
free trade as promptly as it can be au-
thorized, remarking yesterday that the
condition of the island ait present is
worse than when under Spanish rule,
business being paralyzed and the peo-
pie being without either money or mar
kets for their products.