The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-27
IN A new DRESS.
The Same Old Porto Rican Bill
Is Offered
By Senator Foraker In the Up
per House.
1T STICKS TO TARIFF.
Former Proposed Concessions
Are Abandoned.
Trade Must Be Taxed at Both
Ends of the Line.

Washington, March Ex-senator For
aker today introduced the amendments
to the Porto Rico governmental bill
which were read to the senatorial eau
Gus yesterday and some of which were
agreed to by it. The amendments We're
incorporated in a new print of the bill
and the bill as thus amended introduced
as a new measure.
The first important change is made
in section 3, in which the inhabitants
are described as citizens of Porto Rico
and as such entitled to the protection of
the United States whereas in the old
bill they were described as "citizens of
the United States.''
The following provision is substituted
for section in regard to articles i'm
ported into Porto Rico from ports other
than of the United States
That on and after the passage of this
act, the. same tariffs customs and du-
ties shall be levied, collected and paid
upon all articles imported into Porto
Rico, from ports other than those of
the United States, which are required
by law to be collected upon articles i'm
ported into the United States from for
eign countries:
Provided that on all coffee in the
beam or ground imported into Porto
Rico there shall be levied and collected
a duty of cents per pound, any law
or part OF law to the contrary notWith-
standing; and provided further that all
Spanish scientific, literary and artistic
works, not subversive of public order in
Porto Rico, shall be admitted free of
duty into Porto Rico for a period of 10
years, reckoning from the 18th day of
April, 1899, as provided in said treaty of
peace between the United States and
Spain:
And provided further. that all books
ana pamphlets published in the Eng
llsh language shall be imported into
Porto Rico free of duty when imported
from the United States
The new provision in regard to com
merce between the United States and
Porto Ricnais- as follows:
That on and after the passage of
this act all merchandise coming into
the United 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 Is per
centum of the duties which are required
10 be levied, collected, and paid upon
ike articles of merchandise imported
from foreign countries; and in addition
thereto upon articles of merchandise of
Porto R1can manufacture coming into
the United 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 commits
SlOner of internal revenue and to be
procured from the collector of internal
revenue at place most convenient to
the port of entry of said merchandise in
the United States and to be affixed un-
der such regulations as the commission
er Of internal revenue, with the approv-
al of the secretary Of the treasury, shall
prescribe; and on all articles of mer-
fod f1f co<
coming into Porto Rico in addition to
the duty above provided upon payment
OF tax equal in rate and amount to
the internal revenue tax imposed 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 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 i'm
ported from the United States free of
duty, all laws or parts of laws to the
contrary Notwithstanding; and when
ever the legislative assembly of Porto
Rico shall enact and put into operation
a system of local taxation to meet the
necessities of the government of Porto
Rico, by this act established and shall
by resolution duly passed so notify the
thereof, and thereon all tariff duties on
merchandise and articles going into
Porto Rico from the United States or
coming into the United States from
Porto Rico shall cease, and from and
after such date all such merchandise
and articles shall be entered at the sew
eral ports of entry free of duty; and
in no event shall any duties be collected
after the 1st day of March, 1902 .
There is a substitute for section 10
concerning disposal of the Porto Rican
revenues It provides that the duties
and taxes in the United States upon
articles of merchandise coming from
Porto Rico shall not be covered into the
general fund of the treasury but shall
be held as a separate fund and placed
at the disposal of the president, to be
used for the government and benefit of
Porto Rico
The secretary of the treasury is also
to designate the several ports and sub
ports of entry in Porto Rico and make
such rules and regulations and appoint
ments as may be necessary to collect
the duties and taxes.
He is also to fix the compensation and
provide for the payment of all such Off
GERS, as he may find it necessary to en-
ploy-
The internal revenue laws are exemrt-
ed from the provision that the laws of
the United States shall have full force
and effect in Porto Rico.
Instead of a delegate in congress from
Porto Rico, there is to be a resident
commissioner to the United States"
who shall be entitled to official recogni-
tion as such by all departments upon
presentation to the department of state
of a certificate of election of the COVER
onr of Porto Rico, and who shall be en-
titled to a salary, payable monthly by
the United States at the rate of $4,000
per annum.
The only other change in the admins
trative feature of the bill is one requir-
ing the approval of the president of the
United States in the matter of the Por-