New-York tribune., 1900-03-14
THE PUERTO RICAN PETITION.

Some of the planters, merchants and manu-
facturers of Puerto Rico have concluded that
after ali thew do not wish their island to be
made part and parcel of the United States
That is the meaning of their latest petition ask
ing for the entire abolition of customs duties
between this country and Puerto Rico and the
raising of revenue by an internal tax equal to
one-third of the internal revenue tax levied in
the United States. They have been demanding
the extension of the tariff laws of the United
States as a constitutional right, but they have
retired from that position and left in sorry
plight the Congressman and editors who have
been tearing passions to tatters the out
rage of governing them except under the Con-
stitution Are these statesmen who weep about
the Administrations intention to oppress Puerto
Rico still going TO insist on extending the Con-
stitution TO the island in face of evidence that
the people do not want ii, and that its extension
would lay upon them a burden of internal taxa
ton three times heavy as they think they
ought to bear? What becomes of their pity for
the Puerto Ricans then? They would make
themselves much oppressors with their con-
stitutional revenue laws they complain the
Republicans would with nominal customs duties.
The estimate of the Committee of Ways and
Means was that 25 per cent of the Dingley tariff
rates would produce revenue of S23O0O00. If
that Is correct, 10 per cent of those rates ought
to produce 81, $50, 900. The Puerto Rican petition
estimates that the taxes levied by the United
States internal revenue laws would amount to
50 237 900. 1t would therefore cost the people of
Puerto Rico nearly S1,000,000 more a year, all
coming out of their own pockets right at home
10 live under the Constitution than would be
raised for their benefit from both the Puerto
Rican and American traders in the custom
houses here well as on the island. That
would be q queer way Of extending the bless
ings of prosperity and q protecting Constitution
The Puerto Ricans think this constitutional
internal revenue tax is too much for them to
pay, and quite naturally In a country where
living is cheap and wages low the stamp
and other internal taxes which we pay
might be serious hardship. For instance, 81 10
a gallon might put rum TO a prohibitive price,
discouraging production or encouraging Illicit
manufacture. Other leyies might operate in the
same way on industries much more worthy Of
encouragement. Imposts become oppressive as
the selling price of articles taxed at fixed rate
decreases and the taxes suited 10 probably
would be onerous TO people who live well in a
tropical climate on incomes utterly inadequate
TO tie demands of our more complex life. So
rbe Puerto Ricans perhaps right in thinking
one-thrd of internal revenue rates would
about suit them They are applying exactly the
mittee OF Ways and Means, which concluded that
a small fraction of our tariff duties would suit
their industrial condition and provide a reason
able amount Of revenue Both favor special tax
laws for Puerto Rico differing only about the
way of applying them. The Puerto Rican pro
posaI is just as incompatible with the extension
of the Constitution 10 the island as that of the
Committee of Ways and Means.
Wherever under the Constitution our customs