The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-04
POLITICS AND PORTO RICO.

fOliIcS IS playing very large part IN
the legislation for the adjustment. OF the
relations which Porto Rico is to sustain
to this country. The action of the Presi-
dent in sending to the House on Friday a
message recommending that of all of the
duties collected on Porto Rican products
shipped 10 our markets since the signing
of the treaty with Spain be used for the
betterment of the condition of the people
of Porto Rico and the prompt compli-
ance of the House with the recommenda-
ton, took the country. as we'll as che Dem
ocrats in Congress, by surprise. The Re
publicans were not moved to take this
extraordinary course by sympathy for the
suffering Porto Ricans, though they would
like to have the people think so. They
became alarmed by the protests that were
made in ali parts of the country, by Re
pubIcans as well as Democrats, against
the Porto Ricsn tariff bIl, which the
House passed day OF Two ago, and
which is now pending in the Senate.
That bill as is well known, taxes the
products of Porto Rico coming to this
country and American products going 20
Porto Rico Is per cent. of the Dingley
rates Ii was the intention of the Presi-
dent originally that there should oe free
trade between Porto Rico and the United
States just as there is free trade between
the states of the Union. He said in his
message to Congress in December that 1t
was Our plain duty" to give the Porto
Ricans the benefit of free trade with the
Union, and there is reason for thinking
that the majority of the Republican lead
ers held that view.
But The extreme protecuonists of the
party would not have it that way. They
became afraid that If free trade with
Porto Rico were allowed the whole pro
tecuye system would come tumbling down.
To pacify this element of the Republican
party bin was framed taxing the Por-
to Ricans % per cent. off the Dinelev
rat les. This was the first appearance of
politics in Porto Rican legisla ton, but
the Republican majority in the House
could moi be held together on the bill. and
SO the tax was reduced to Is per cent,
and the bill was limited in its operations
to Two years Even this compromise
measure failed TO command the support
of all of the Republicans of the House.
Enough were whipped into line, however,
to pass it,
But it's passage did not bring joy to the
hearts of the Republican leaders. The
President and his advisers saw that a
mistake had been made. Many of the
leading Republican papers condemned the
bill. Such dissatisfaction on the eve of
a presidential campaign made the outlook
for the success of the Republican party
anything but promising. To enable that
party to regain the ground il had lost,
the bin to use the duties already paid on
Porto Rican products coming into our
markets was devised. II was dictated by
politics.
But will this bill cure the blunder which
the Republicans have made? 1t is very
doubtful. The whole country understands
now that the Republicans, in all they are
doing in respect to Porto Rico, are guild
ed by political considerations. They are
not trying to assist the pover,y-stricken
people of Porto Rico. they are trying to
re-elect Mr.. Mckinley.
The playing of politics in Porto Rican
legisla ton promises to cost the country a
vast amount of money. 1t is yet a ques-
ton whether the $2OOOOOO or more that has
been collected on imports from Porto
belongs TO the government or to those who
paid 1t. New York importers have begun
a suit In the United States Courts for
the money, their claim being based on the
ground that Porto Rico became a part of
this country when the treaty of peace
with Spain was signed. The chances are
they will win their suit. If they do the
government viii be out not only the 81. OOO.-
600 appropriated 10 the use of the Porto
Ricans, but also 100000 more 10 tine
New York importers.
But what do the Republicans care about
the expense to which they put the govern
ment in their efforts to keep their party
in power? Have they not been loading
down the treasury with pension claims for
more than quarter of a century for the
purpose of controlling the soldier vote?
More patriotism and less politics is needed
in Washington