The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22
PORTO RICO.
The Actual Condition Of That
American Island.
AMERICAN ACCUMULATION WAKING
THINGS BOOx THERE.


THINGS BOOM THERE.
lAbsrsrs' Wages win Nearly Double with The
Change Of the Currency 10 the Americas
Geld Basis In August ana Taxes Are Gems
DoWn-Comparisons Between the Old And
he New system-Ne Opposition to the
Tariff, which Was Necessary to Raise the
Money Needed to Garry On the Isiand-Ths
Only Criticism Made Of American Rsle ID
OF This Nations Too Great Generosity
n the Democratic party expects 10 get any
campaign material out OF the island OF Porto
Rico this year it Is doomed to bitter disappoint-
mont.
Sun reporter has Just returned from q trip
over the island. which included visits 10 oil oil
the chief towns and rides through the country
from ono side Of the island near the west end to
tho other side near the cast end. He was sent
there 10 nnd out from personal observation
10 conditions that exist now. and Just how
The United States are caring for tho ward that
came 10 them with the fortunes Of war. OF
tho things that are written here. the reporter
Knows from personal observation and per.
sonal experience.
No mar who did not rec the island imme-
diately after the war and who does not know
something Of the conditions that existed then
can realize now the extent OF what has been
done since the American occupation. What
ever mistakes have been made, II any have
been made. have been on the side Of gener-
osity to the people. 1t Is said there Of the mil
itary government that It Is altogether too
cnient Ii was not q military government
IN fact for there was the largest measure Of
personal freedom always. The thrifty peo-
pie OF the island say:
TOO MUCH CHARITY.
you have give, away TOO much food.
Wherever you found want and distress you
lea. perhaps, but our people are improvident
and they will not work when they can get food.
You have relieved distress. but the more you
have relieved the more YOU have found 10
relieve. so with tho orders suspendine the
foreclosure Of mortgages. You have been
too generous with the planters. They have
taken advantage Of your generosity. Had
you let the law take its course they would
have been forced either 70 sell or TO work their
plantations to tho limit OF their capacity. In
either case, labor would have benefited. For,
n the plantations were cold, they would have
been bought by men who would have worked
them. Instead Of that the planters with mort
gagged lands no longer fearing tho day Of set
tlement. have worked their plantations only
Is they felt like it
These instances Of generosity are spoken
OF by the thrifty people Of the island as the
mistakes Of the United states, but II mistakes
they are. they are certainly on the right side
Of the ledger. The purpose Of this article Is
to tell particularly about the sources Of rev.
enue Of the island and the operation Of the tar
IN. the imposition OF which made Democratic
politicians looking for political capital fosm
at tho mouth and shed crocodile tears over
The wrongs Of Porto Rico.
TRUTH ABOUT THE TARIFF.
Right here at the beginning 10 may
BE- said. that there never was any hon
est opposition in Porto Rico to the impo-
sition Of Is per cent. Of the Dinsley tariff rates
on imports into the island or on imports Of
the Islands products into the United States.
Everywhere that THE SIN reporter went this
statement was made TO him. Men like Andres
Croesus, one Of the biggest importers and ex-
porters on the island; Henry Luce Of the bank
ing firm Of De Ford 4 Co., and a big sugar
planter as well: Mr.. Dooley Of Dooley 4 Smith,
the biggest American grocery firm Of the ISL
and; DR.. Collay Tosta. probably the best in
formed man In Porto Rico on all island mat
tiers and island needs. these men and fifty
others with whom the reporter talkedy VOL
unteered the statement that there was never
any honest opposition on the island to the tariff
and the reason for that Is easily explained.
Two-thlrds Of the revenue Of the island como
from duties on imports. Al II requires ell OF
the revenues Of the island to pay thu running
expenses. II there were no tariff the money
now raised by the tariff would have to be raised
by internal taxes. The burden not being
scientifically distributed would have been felt
tenfold. A tariff was absolutely necessary
to raise money to pay the public expenses OF
tho island until such time as q scientific sys-
tenn OF internal taxation could b. devised
70 take the place Of the system IN vogue under
Spanish rule. which included a tax on every
thing that was eaten everything that was
drunk. a tax on every industry, taxes on Ak
ports. a tax on skill, a tax on education and
even a tax on brains. Tax gatherers stood
ct the gates OF the cities and practically every
article that came into q city paid Its tax. II
was a system under which. by the way, the
influential escaped all tax and tho poor and
the uninhuential paid Il all
The new tariff in Porto Rico went into OPERA
don on May 1. Under its provisions the duty
on all imports from countries other than the
United States is the same as tho duty on like
Imports here. On all imports from the United
States the duty Is is per cent. OF the Dinglsy
tariff rates. For instances: II the Dingley tariff
imposes a duty Of 81 on an article, the duty
on the same article going from tho United
States TO Porto Rico Is only is cents. On all
articles entering the United States from Porto
Rico the rule Is the same. The money col
hcted in Porto Rico. exclusive OF the actual
cost Of collection. goes into tia Treasury for
the benefit Of the island. and the money col
kcted here on imports from Porto Rico. not
sven deducting the cost Of collection, IL sen,
10 Porto Rico and Ia all used for the benefit
OF the island. So Porto Rico gets not only
The tariff tax that her own people pay, but
~ Gets also tho tariff tax that the American
people pay on her productions. But further
than this, many articles taxed under the Ding
Icy law are absolutely exempt in Porto Rico,
Thes" are articles Of universal use, articles of
food chiefly. such as -four, Goldfish. rice. beans
and sailed meats. Articles needed by tho
Porto Ricans in their business. such as agri-
cultural implements. are also free.
Such In brief Is the much abused and much
denounced Tarir bill, This bill la operating.
according to the merchants and according
to the officials, with q minimum OF hardship.
Se only complaints that are made about tho