The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-04-11

her toll; by those who are far removed
from the ignorance and the suffering
and the squalor of her population. The
tariff money taken from them goes
really to the people of Porto Rico who
never before received any benefit. 1t
will 20 for school houses and school
teachers, which will make the next
generation worthier of citizenship and
self. government; it will 60 for roads,
which will give employment and op-
portunities for other industries than
merely agricultural; it will go for those
ordinary functions of government
| which must be maintained or you have
anarchy, and they will be maintained
| by this process without those burdens
of direct taxation, which, in the pres
ent condition of Porto Rico, would be
such terrific brake upon her prog.
| ress.
EFFECT ON INDUSTRIES.
"Now as to the change that will stihe
the industries of Porto Rico. Porto
Rico coffee, representing five-eights of
her product and of her labor, will come
in free: Porto Rican sugar and tobac-
co will come into our ports in COMPETE
ton with the sugar and tobacco of
Cube Porto Rico sugar and tobacco,
when the Dingley tariff applied equally
to both of them, found ready and re-
munerative market in this country.
Under the operations of this bill, by
which full tariff duties are paid by all
others and only Is per cent of them by
will pay in Dingley tariff duties SLIGO
for every 100 pounds, while the Porto
Rican sugar man will pay "a cents.
The price of sugar, because of the
enormous demand in this country,
which is in excess of the supply, will
be maintained. The Cuban sugar deal
er will make profit after paying SLIGO
duty, and the Porto Rican sugar man
will make the same profit with an adj
dition, on account of the concession of
So per cent. to him of o S1.35 on every
hundred pounds. This will practically
give the controllers of the sugar
product of Porto Rico return of from
30 to so per cent on their investment.
Precisely the same conditions and pre-
csely the same excess of profit will be
the good fortune of the Porto Rcan
tobacco dealer under this concession of
IS per cent. from the Dingley tariff as
| against his Cuban competitor. There
can be but one result of this concession
| of So per cent. to Porto Rico as against
! Cuba, and that is an enormous stimu-
lus, on account of the enormous profit,
to both sugar and tobacco areas and
productions in the island of Porto Rico.
THE PEOPLES LAW.
"Under this bill this tariff lasts only
two years, and may be ended by the
| Porto Rican legislature at any time.
1t is tentative measure; it is wholly
for the benefit of the people of Porto
Rico; its proceeds are used for no other
purpose than to improve their condi-
tions and enlarge their opportunities.
Congress is always in session, and two
years will be an object lesson in the ex-
pertinent of caring for and governing
the Porto Ricans. This bill is the peo-
ple's law. 1t restricts, as for as Gamble
done, the power of trusts or cOmbina-
tions or concentration of industries. 1t
puts upon the free list these products
going from the United States into Por-
20 Rico-the food products from the
American farmer-so that the Ameri-
can farmer has this market free as
against the agriculture of other coun-
tries, whose imports must pay Dingley
tariff rates. 1t gives to the Porto Ri
cans the fullest opportunity for cheap
food. Agricultural implements, which
are so necessary for the resurrection of
island cultivation, and the adoption of
modern machinery to aid in lower cost
and larger crops, are free. Rough lum-
Der for mills, coopers' materials for
| on1 haoo
for coffee, are free. Carriages to
cheaper transportation and trees and
plants to give variety in crops by rails
ing large and small fruits, for which
the island is peculiarly adapted, are
free, as are all drugs which are used in
the malarial diseases of tropical coun-
tries. In word, every product of the
farm or factory in the United States
which will help Porto Rico, enable her
to rise triumphant from her ruins and
give remunerative use for capital
and employment and wages to her peo-
pie, is on the free list. The luxuries
consumed by the prosperous are, as
they ought to be, taxed for the support
of the government.
PORTO RICANs TO DECIDE.
"The whole question OF taxation is
remitted by this bill to the people and
government of Porto Rico. Here is
, the charter of Porto Rican self-govern
ment. 1t is the spear which punctures
the huge and swaying balloon OF tyr
amy, oppression and violations of the
Constitution and Declaration of indie
, pendence 80 laboriously blown out ant
, expanded in the past few weeks
I While standing on the collapsed can
.. vas, and viewing its tragic notices
listen to the plain and passionlesl
words of this bill:
, "Sect. o. And whenever the Legislstiv,
Assembly OF Porto Rico shall have enacted
. and put into operation system OF loca
l taxation to meet the necessities Of the gov
: eminent OF Porto Rico by this act establish
Q ed and shall by resolution duly passed 81
\ notify the President, he shall make procls
= nation thereof, and thereupon all tariff du
. ties on merchandise and articles going int
!. Porto Rico from the United States or com