The Worthington advance., 1900-04-06
PUERTO.RICO TARIFF
Senator Davis, of Minnesota, 0p-
poses the Pending Bill.

poses the Pending Bill.
The Senator Advocates Free Trado, In .
Foricible Manner, With the Island.
He Proposes Establishment
of Internal Revenue.
Senator Davis in opposing the pas
sage of the Puerto Rico tariff bill in
the United States senate, spoke as fol-
lows:
Mr.. President, I gave notice of two
amendments which I intend to propose to
the pending bill in regard to the house
measure I shall only explain one OF
them at present and that amendment Is
this:
THE creation Of the Puerto Rico in
ternal revenue district: no stamp tax to
be levied in that district: Is per centum
OF the internal revenue tax to be laid IN
that district, with the exception of rum
or distilled spirits and tobacco, and the
manufactures thereof, upon which only
internal revenue taxes shall be levied in
Puerto Rico; that there shall be free
trade between Puerto Rico and the
United States. and that the proposed law
shall continue until the first Of March,
1902"
Whatever may be said as to the con-
tentions upon the other part of the SUBJ
ject, whether, considering Puerto Rico as
dependency or as a colony, or as q part
Of the United States, we can or cannot
levy tariff duties as between that island
and the United States, there can be no
doubt whatever upon this general prin-
c1ple that, so far as internal revenue
taxes are concerned in Puerto Rico, no
such question can arise under the distinct
and inherent power of this government to
levy them. Now, Mr.. President, why in
sist. submit in all candor, that a tarif1
shall be levied and nothing else?
The bill which passed the senate a few
days ago in respect to the government OF
Hawaii in posed no tariff duties between
that island, which we erected into a gov.
ernment, and the United States. 1t, too
Is n semi-tropical island. 1t has the
same range of agricultural productions as
Puerto Rico.
If there is any reason whatever to i'm
pose a tariff upon the products Of Puerto
Rico, there was the same reason for i'm
posing a tarin upon the products of Ha-
wall. Wherein lies the difference? Where
in on principle-both of them being out
lying possessions of the United States
call them what you Willis the situation
as to Puerto Rico different from that OF
Hawaii?
Why, Mr.. President. this whole project
and conception of imposing tariff duties
upon the dependency Of Puerto Rico self
generates objections wherever it is con.
sidered,. and they also spring from every
my hand the convention entered into be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain for q reciprocity treaty between the
the United States. islands lying in the
same sea with Puerto Rico, raising the
same products and having in great de-
gree the same character Of Inhabitants.
MIR. President, Puerto Rico came to thi:
country under peculiar circumstances II
cost the United States three millions Of
Cuba and to buy their guns. It did no.
cost us a dollar to disarm any army II
Puerto Rico, for there was none of the
q dollar for any army whatever.
1t has been said that this may be 6
precedent, as to the Philippines, and tha
itants Of Puerto Rico because, forsooth
at some time. perhaps years or perhaps
shorter. when rebellion is crushed II
United States is established, there ma,
be some difficult questions of that kind II
dealing with the Philippines: Mr.. Presi
the evil but the good thereof. I woult
not wreak or work an injustice upor
Puerto Rico by any such contingent re
nainder of apprehension as to the Phil
It IS said that American labor ant
American industry need protection b!
Puerto Rico. It is too small to consider
But Mr.. President, if it is needed, wha
protection to American laber or Amsri
sa nry was IN
the question Of the Philippines comes est tf
party in power, the interests of Ameri
can labor will be protected SO far as any
apprehension can be ascertained iron
Puerto Rico is 700 miles from our coast
the Philippines 5000. Puerto Rico is al
actual and t%ep OF b
long to Asia: Puerto Rico can enter ou
political system.
stood: L. Mr. President It is well under
stood. 1t is in vain that any man SHOULD
claim this. He need not lay the fatter
ing pnction to MS SOU thae the editGr or
land, in many cities-yes, there ts not I
city which does not possess more thai
oned9 not understa1d the subject jus
that the mass of people throughout tn
country do not understand subject 81
simple thts They UNDERSTAND RerfeGt
: wall which bars commercial inter
course between this country and one e. o
ntoa a11 s9c% as Shall propose Witch, vii
no difference except in degree, imposes O.
Puerto Rico the same system, the sam
principle. as that imposed in the Unite
Distilled spirits and tobacco. In thi
house bill there is not the: imposition Q
a 1.-THE Of a mill upon either of thos
articles while they remain IN puerto Rict
Tobacco and rum, the greatest and mos
fruitful subject of taxation. while the
remain in Puerto Rico, are absolutely un
taxed. The subjects of taxation whic
bear the heaviest burdens of our Unite
States and the municipal government:
there, of all places in this broad land, 6
absolutely scot free of any taxatio
whatever What is the exchange for it
Fifteen per cent taxation on everythin
States from Puerto Rico. 1t is SO simpl
and easy to reverse the entire policy an
way of doing things. and makes rum an
Of taxation, as they do here and else
make communication between Puert
Rico and the United States, as to a
Between the United States md Alaska j
is so easy to do it it would relieve tn
situation so much In every way, that
am surprised, and shall be surprised,
the calm and deliberate reflection
Mr.. President, what will the good pei
pie of this country say, and what al
they saying, and what have they rigt
to say, under the bill of the house as
is presented in the body of the bill for tn
civil government of Puerto Rico?
AS to Puerto Rico they say, Free run
but tax the flour out of which is made th
they say say free f rum, but tax their clotl
They say free rum, but tax their boot
They say free rum, but tax the med