The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-07

WTeCkeO the COHee pidntatlOnb, WHICH
furnish the principal article Of export.
The people are poor, there is much
suffering, and at the same time II Is
very necessary that they should make
considerable public expenditures. II
free trade Is established they will be
themselves heavy direct taxes for pub
lie purposes, which would be a very
severe burden, as well as a work of
great difficulty. Free trade would de-
prive them, practically, of all the
revenues which they received from
customs under the Spanish govern
ment and thus increase the direct
taxes over anything known before.
"The problem before congress was
how to give them revenue in the least
burdensome way. To compel them to
resort to direct taxation was the most
burdensome, and would have crippled
the island at this time. Therefore,
this low revenue tariff. which Is in no
sense protective. was imposed. All
the revenue collected under 1t In the
ports OF the United states is to. be
paid into the island treasury, as we'll
as the revenue collected in ports of the
island itself. The Foraker bill also
provides that all the internal revenue
raised in the island shall go into the
island treasury. In this way the nec-
essary money is raised in easiest pos
sible manner for the people of the is
land. and the legislature will not be
obliged to impose single direct tax,
while all subjects of taxation are thus
let free for the municipality. The bill
passed in accordance with the presi-
dents wise recommendation, giving
Puerto Rico the revenue already coll
lected. merely makes the pending bill
retroactive. Yet many people who
praise our gift of revenue already coll
lectcd, denounce the bill which pro.
poses to continue giving. One is as
wise and right as the other, and both
are wise and right.
Those who in various parts Of the
country are earnestly protesting from
the best motives against the proposed
tariff, are really seeking to burden the
Puerto Ricans and make their position
worse than it is. Those who advocate
free trade for the island at this time
on the ground of sympathy with the
inhabitants, have not looked into the
case enough to see that what they pro-
pose is not relief to the people In the
way Of taxation as the tariff is, but an
increased and heavy burden. The
truth is that we have never treated
any people who have come under our
flag with such generosity and consid-
Grafton as we show in the proposed
legislation for Puerto Rico. The citizen
OF Arizona or New Mexico pays the
duties on every imported article which
he consumes. and all internal revenue
taxes, and what he pays goes into the
Treasury of the United States, while
he is left to tax himself in addition for
all the expenses Of the territorial gov
ernment. In the case of Puerto Rico
every dollar Of taxation raised by the
United States. directly or indirectly.
from the island or its products is paid
into the island treasury. The United
States under this bill will not take one
cent of revenue from the island Of
Puerto Rico, while it taxes the inha Bit
ants of all the other territories Just as
it taxes the inhabitants of the states.
1t is difficult to see how a more liberal
and generous arrangement could be de-
vised. and 1 am heartily in favor of 1t,
because want to show to Puerto Rico
the utmost liberality and generosity
possible.
But the agitation which has been
excited about the proposed tariff and
which has misled many people through
out the country is not the real question.
1t was all started to cover the consti-
tutional attack. The opponents of the
Puerto Rican bill knew very we'll what
they were about. They desired to es-
tablish congressional precedent de-
nying the right of congress to govern
territory outside the constitution. II
they had prevailed they would have
then gone before the people and de-
clared that We could not hold the
Philippines unless we brought all their
cheap labor within our tariff and made
all the Fflipinos part of our body
polite. TO this every one is opposed,
and it would render impossible any
proper government for the Philippines
or the maintenance of the open door
In the East. The opponents of the
Puerto Rican bill hoped to establish
precedent by which they could drive
lis from the Philippines. 1t was the
Philippines which We're aimed at in the
discussion, not Puerto Rico. I have
personally no doubt of our constitution.
al power to hold and govern territory
without extending the constitution to
such territory, but this is a question
which must go before the courts, and
the opponents of the Puerto Rican bill
have so little confidence in their own
view that they are aflaid, apparently
TO get @ judicial opinion on it. The
question of a tariff for Puerto Rico, so
far as ii is one of eXpediency, is very
clear if we consider solely the intere sts
OF the island, but the constitutional
question Is of a most vital Importance
to our entire policy in the Pacific and
in the East. The house has had the
courage and the wisdom to legislate
for Puerto Rico in a statesmanlike
manner. and they have correctly de.
cided the constitutional question. I
have no doubt that decisive majority
Of the senate will agree with them on
both points"
The country has not found the ad.
ministration of VIM. Mckinley wanting
in the troublesome times of the recent