The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-30
FREE TRADE WITH PORTO RICO
Text of the Substitute for the Porto
Rico Bill. Introduced by Senator Da-
Wis.

Washington, March Ex-senator Da-
Wis, of Minnesota, has introduced a
substitute for the Porto Rican bill,
which provides for free trade between
the United States and Porto Rico and
extends the internal revenue laws,
with amendments, over the island.
The act is declared provisional n
shall not continue longer than March
1, 1902. The bill in full is as follows:
Section 1. That Porto Rico is here
by made an internal revenue district;
thu the laws of the United States pro-
viding for internal revenue taxation
and collection, not locally inapplica-
BILE, are hereby extended to and shall
remain in force in Porto Rico, except
ing as herein otherwise provided, for
the term stated in this act. The pres
ident, by and with the advice n con-
sent of the senate, shall appoint a col
lector of internal revenue for said dis
trict who shall receive an annual sal
airy of $4,000 and whose office shall be
at San Juan.
Sec. 2 That, excepting as herein
otherwise provided, 10 per cent. OF all
the internal revenue X imposed by
the laws of the United States shall be
collected in said district. No stamp
taxes imposed by said laws upon writ
ten or printed documents shall be col
lected in said district. The secretary
of the treasury is hereby authorized
and directed to make all needful regu-
lations to carry this act into effect,
and to prescribe the compensation of
all officers and agents necessary for
that purpose.
Sec. 8. The amount of all taxes so
collected, less the necessary expenses
of collection, are hereby appropriated
and placed at the disposal of the pres
sl@-t 70 ha ovDav1n1 rndnr hic 6iraN-
ton, for the government of Porto Rico
now existing and hereafter to be es-
tablished and for public education,
public works and other governmental
and public purposes therein.
Sec. 4. Upon tobacco not grown in
Porto Rico and upon all manufactures
thereof and upon rum, or other distill-
not grown in Porto Rico, the full tax
| provided by the internal revenue laws
of the United States shall be collected
Upon tobacco grown in Porto Rico and
manufactures thereof and upon rum
and other spirits distilled or made
from can or other ~cui
product grown in Porto Rico or from
the product of such sugar cane or 9TH
er agricultural product the said tax OF
Is per cent. shall be imposed the same
as upon other objects of internal taxa.
ton.
Sec. 5. That the president, whenever
| he shall be satisfied that a local self
government has been established in
Porto Rico adequate to raise n col
lect taxes by its w legislation, shall
have the power from time to time BY
| proclamation to decrease the said per
centum of taxation, or to whOlly abol-
ish the same.
Sec. 6. That no duties On imports Oh
exports shall, after the passage of thi:
act, be levied or collected on any ar.
ticles imported from the United State:
into Porto Rico or from Porto Rico il
to the United States.
Sec. Z. This act shall be taken anC
held to be provisional in its purpose:
and intended to meet a pressing pres
ent need for venue for the island o
Porto Rico and shall not continue il
force after the first day of March 1902.