The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-15
THE PORTO RIcAN TARIFF.

The abrogaiion Of the Porto Ricar
tariff is being seriously discussed by the
press Of Porto Rico. The Porto Rican
tariff act Il will be remembered pro-
vides that whenever the legislative
assembly Of Porto Rico shall have en-
acted and put into operation a system
of local taxation 10 meet the necessities
Of the government Of Porto Rico. by
this act established. and shall by resO-
luton duly passed so notify the presl-
dent. he shall make proclamation there
Of. 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 sew
eral ports OF entry free Of duty" The
Porto Rican legislature elected on Nov
ember Sth. the date Of the general cleo
ton In the United States. Is to meet
shortly and viii. under the provisions OF
the Porto Rican act above quoted. have
the power to Immediately terminate the
Porto Rican tariff by enacting iegisla-
tion which win provide funds for the
necessities OF the government Of Porto
Rico. and the question whether this ac-
tion shan be taken and the IS per cent
tariff thus terminated is being discussed
by the press and public Of that island
as is shown Oy the following leading
editorial taken from the San Juan (Por-
to Ricol Daily News OF November l3,
1880. just received by the treasury bu-
reau OF statistics:
we have lived now for six months
under the IS per cent preferential tariff.
The question now ISIS it good or
bad? Has IT helped or injured US? The
Legislature win have these questions to |
decide.
we now have the question 70 deal
with aside and apart from politics. Its
use as a campaign club is past and
gone. The burden Of deciding this very |
important question is solely upon the
legislature. As it DEGREES, so shall it
be. II it desires to abolish the tariff !
and operate the island upon a free
trade basis. 1t can be so ordered.
II the people Of Porto Rico through
the Legislature desire to continue the
tariff it can be lone. A precedent has
been established which will permit this
class OF taxation. 1t has been legally
decreed that such action is constitu-
tional.
IL the tariff is abolished. it is at once
evident that a more burdensome and
higher rate Of internal taxation must
be imposed Where and upon what
shall this be levied. is indeed a per-
picking question.
ASIDE from all the difficulties that
may or will lrise from the abolition Of
the tariff. let US glance at the tariff
Itself and see what 1t has done. In the
last six months the Is per cent tariff
has afforded the island as much. II not
more. revenue than the 100 per cent
tariff. The theory that the way TO in
crease revenue is by lowering the tax
es' Is proven to BE- true for Porto Rico.
This revenue will he constantly in
creasing as our trade increases, as It
Is sure to do. 1t has helped the con-
sumer. for It has lowered the taxes he
has to pay. not only on American
goods, but upon all goods that enter
our market in competition with them.
This results in an increase Of importa-
tions This helps the producer by con-
stantly providing him a means to carry
his goods to the great American mar
ket which is alway so hungry for the
products this island has to dispose Of.
Again, unless We have tariff both
ways, the steamers must make one trip
without a cargo and the freight is
thereby doubled.
"a tariff helps us as borrowers; it will
give our securities stand in the Unit
ed States, which they could not have
without a permanent revenue like the
tariff revenue. The argument SO often
advanced in favor Of tariff tax as
against other means Of raising revenue,
that 1t is easily collected, is especially
torcible in Porto Rico. We would ad-
x.fea t,oE L.. r.