The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-04-13
BILL IN ITS FINAL FORM
United States Senators by Direct Vote
of the People.
THE QUESTION DISCUS Ed IN THE HOUSE
Resolution by Committee on Election For Con-
stitutional Amendment Empowering Leg
isatures 10 Decide How Senators
Shall be Voted For
lBy the Associated Press.l

Washington. April 12.-The President
a o'clock this evening signed the Porte
Rican Tariff and Civil Government Bill,
thus making il a law. Following is a
summary of its provisions:
1t applies to the Island of Porto Rico
and to the adjacent islands lying east
of the seventy fourth meridian, which
are designated Porto Itico
From the date of the passage of the
act the same custom duties are levied on
all goods entering Porto Rico from for
eign countries as are levied on the same
goods entering the United States, save
that of coffee, which has free entry into
the United States is to pay a duty of
FIVE cents per pound on entering Porto
Rico. Scientific. literary and artistic
works and books and pamphlets printed
in the English language may enter Porto
Rico free of duty.
The tariff section of the bill relating
to duties between the United States and
Porto Rico is as follows:
THAT on and after the passage of this
act all merchandise coming into the Uni
ted States from Porto Rico and coming
into Porto Rico from the United States
shall be entered at the several ports
of entry upon payment of 10 per cent of
the duties which are required to be lev
led, collected, and paid upon like arti-
cles of merchandise imported from for
eign countries; and in addition thereto
upon articles of merchandise of Porto
Rican manufacture coming into the Uni
ted States and withdrawn for consumption
or sale upon payment of a tax equal to
the internal revenue tax imposed in the
United States upon the like articles OF
merchandise of domestic manufacture;
such tax to be paid by internal revenue
stamp or stamps TO be purchased and
provided by the Commissioner of, Inter-
nal Revenue and to be procured from the
Collector of Internal Revenue at or most
convenient to the port of entry of said
merchandise into the United States and
to be affixed under such regulations as
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
with the approval of the Secretary of the
Treasury shall prescribe; and on all ar
ticles of merchandise of United States
manufacture coming into Porto Rico in
addition to the duty above provided upon
payment of a tax equal in rate and
amount to the internal revenue tax i'm
posed in Porto Rico upon the like articles
Of Porto Rican manufacture: Provided,
that on and after the date when this act
shall take effect, all merchandise and all
articles except coffee not dutiable under
the tariff laws of the United States and
all merchandise and articles entered into
Porto Rico free of duty under orders
heretofore made by the Secretary of War
shall be admitted into the several ports
thereof. when imported from the United
states, free OF duty, all laws or parts
of laws TO the contrary notwithst aiding
and whenever the legislative assembly
of Porto Rico shall have enacted and
put into operation a system of local tax
atlCn TO meet the necessities of the gov.
ernmeHt of Porto Rico, by this act estab-
lished. and shall by resolution duly
passed so notify the President he shall
make proclamation thereof, and there.
upon all tariff duties on merchandise and
articles going into Porto Rico from the
United States or coming into the United
states from Porto Rico and from and af-
ter such date all such merchandise and
articles shall be entered at the several
ports CT entry free of duty: and in no
event shall any duties be collected after
the hrst day of March, 1902, on merchan-
dlse ana articles going into Porto Rico
from the United States or coming into
the United States from Porto Rico
the duties collected under the above
section shall be placed at th4 disposal of
the President to be used for the gov
ernment and benefit of Porto Rico until
the government of Porto Rico shall have
been organized when the moneys collect
ed shall be turned into the local treasury
Of Porto Rico. Goods imported from
Porto Rico and under bond shall pay ONLY
the duty imposed by this act"
The governmental provisions of the bill
are:
The capital shall be at San Juan. Per
sons who were Spanish subjects April IL,
1899, and who have not elected to pre-
serve their allegiance to Spain are held
to be citizens of Porto Rico and entitled
to the protection@of the United States.
The designation of the body polite is
under the name The People of Porto
Rico.
The laws and ordinances of Porto Rico
now in force shall continue in full force
and effect. except as altered by this act,
or by military orders and which are not
inconsistent with the laws of the United
States.
The old law forbidding the marriage of
priests and ministers is repealed
The vessels of Porto Rico are TO be
nationaliZed and admitted to the bene