The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-02-10
INSULAR TARIFFS.
Disposition to Treat Porto Rico
Literally.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 27.-The Ad-
ministration believes it scents a grow
ing disposition in Congress to treat
Puerto Rico literally, so far as the tar
if is concerned, and in doing so, to as
sure the extreme protectionists, who
fear tropical competition, that this will
not be taken as precedent for the rest
of the recently acquired islands. Puerto
Rico alone does not constitute a large
problem, and to admit it's products
free would not seriously disturb our
domestic market. The opposition to
this policy has been largely due to the
fear that if Puerto Rico were thus in
cluded within our tariff walls every
thing else would have to come. too.
This is not what the Republican lead
ers want. They believe each island,
each bit of newly acquired territory
now and hencefOrth, should be consid-
cred as question by itself They be-
lieve Congress ought to have the DOW
er to make such arrangements and to
extend what may be called American
privileges to as much or as little of
| these outlying possessions as it sees
fit. The Philippine Islands, they be-
lieve, should never be included within
our tariff walls. Every consideration,
| domestic and international alike, de-
mands Philippine tariff system un-
! like that which applies to New York
or to Arizona or to Puerto Rico. 1t
would be absurd, they maintain, to tie
up the Philippines to American mar
kets half world away. 1t ought also
/ to be the policy of our Government to
maintain the open door in those ISL
ands, a policy from which we profit sc
much whenever adopted by other cOun-
tries. The Hawaiian Islands, it is now
believed, may be safely included with.
in the American continental tariff sys.
TEN, just as Puerto Rico Cuba viii
be another matter. 1t might become
a big producer of the connecting ar.
ticles in which Puerto Rico and the
Hawaiian Islands can at most yielC
only a small supply. Therefore, thu
Republican leaders believe that Cuba
like the Philippines, will have to b,
treated by itself, but obviously not il
the same way as the Philippines.
1t Will not be long before the cues
ton OF Cuban annexation will brin!
to the front a discussion of this tariff
question. Just now the disposition
seems to be to let things drift alon
naturally, awaiting developments, al
I, though somewhat sensational repor
| has lately been started as to a precon
certed plan in the Senate to force Gu
ban annexation at an early date. Thi
much seems certain: The RepubIica
leaders do not intend to let the foreig
relations of Cuba ever get out of tn
guardianship of the United States.
the Spanish Government, for exampl,
should stop paying interest on the sc
called Cuban debt and turn the creC
itors over to Independent Cuba, as tn
alleged beneficiary of the loan. an e1
cuse would be readily furnished to cor
tinental nations for acquiring contrt
OF the island. In the interest of the
Cuban bOndhOlders they might fir:
take charge of the custom houses an
. later, with that as an entering wedg
gradually absorb full control. Again!
such contingencies the United STATE
will guard.
The other questions Of the future
the island, whether it is to be al
EeXed TO the United States or to renal
quasi-independent, will depend upC
the way the cards are stacked. Su
frage upon restricted basis, wit
property and educational tests, woul
according to all accounts, give cOntr
to that element of the population
the island which is friendly to Il
United States, and which would, as