The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-02
THE PORTO RICAN TARIFF LAW.

Pending the discussion of the Porto
Rican tariff bill in the House Republican
members were urged TO vote for IL on the
ground that it was party measure. Even
IL 1t were party measure IL should be de-
feated. but 1t is not. No national Repub-
lican convention has ever declared in favor
of any such doctrine as that embodied in
this bill, nor has any Republican Presi-
dent Neither the ways and means COM
mittee of the House nor Republican eau
Gus can give the stamp of party approval
TO a measure that has never been before a
national convention nor passed upon by the
people. The Republican party by it's ma
tional conventions and platforms for many
years past is committed to the doctrine of
protection, but IL has never before been
asked to lay tariff duties on commerce be-
tween the United States and any of its ter
ritories possessions. The ST. Louis plat
form declared in favor of protection and
said: This true American policy taxes
foreign products and encourages home in
dustry; it puts the burden of revenue on
foreign goods" etc. Is Porto Rico to be
treated as a foreign country and must it's
products imported into the United States
bear their share of the burden of revenue ?
Worse yet, must the Porto Ricans, annexed
to the United States without any solicita-
ton on their part, be required to pay duties
on imports from the United States which,
as a Spanish colony, they received free of
duty? That is new doctrine and 1t is not
found in any Republican platform.
The Republican party is also fully COM
mitted to the doctrine of reciprocity by
which. in return for the free admission of
certain products of other countries to the
United States. free of duty, certain prod
ucts of the United States are admitted into
those countries free of duty. While Porto
Rico was Spanish colony an arrangement
with Spain established reciprocity between
the United States and the island. The
Cleveland administration abolished the ar
rangement and the Republicans very justly
condemned them for it. The st. Louis plat
form says: 1--WE believe the repeal of the
reciprocity arrangements negotiated by the
last Republican administration was a ma
tional calamity. and we demand their re-
newal and extension on such terms as will
remove the restrictions which now obstruct
the sale of American products in the ports
of other countries and secure enlarged
markets for the products of our farms, for
ests and factories" Now that Porto Rico
has come under the flag, instead Of giving
II complete reciprocity of trade with the
United States, 1t is proposed to lay hori-
zontal tariff on all its exports to and i'm
ports from the United States. including all
''the products of our farms, forests and
| factories" Under such a law what be-
| comes of reciprocity?
| The position taken by President McKin-
ley in his annual message OF last December
| in favor of unrestricted free trade between
| the United States and Porto Rico was
right. 1t was in harmony with Republican
| policies and with the best traditions and in
stincts of the party. The bill which has
passed the House is utterly at variance
with the Presidents original recommends.
| ton and ought not to become law. The
| plea that 1t is necessary in order to make
| the government of Porto Rico self-support-
| ing is not entitled to a moments considera-
| ton. The American people had better pay
| for the government of Porto Rico a hun
| dred times over than impose on the island
a law which, If not unconstitutional. I.
certainly unjust, and that will be as q
stone to people who are asking for bread