The Topeka state journal., 1900-03-31

ton in the hope of winning some pos
sible political advantage to assume an
proposed for the welfare of the people
of the islands We should not be mis-
led by the hysterical assault on the
policies which they oppose.
FACTS ABOUT PORTO RICO.
Mr. Fairbanks then presented in de-
tail interesting information regarding
Porto Rico, its people, it's trade aud
commerce and its productions. He
showed that the estimated revenue
from the Is per cent. duty on the basis
of last years commerce would be $307.-
756 Discussing the proposed tariff, he
said:
According to the best estimates thus
far made it will require $2,O00O00 for
the ordinary civil administration of
the island for the current year. The
necessity for the construction of houses,
the inauguration of comprehensive
system of education and the conStruc-
ton and improvement of public roads,
all appeal strongly FOR the appropria-
ton of money and more than $2000.000
could be judiciously spent The COM
mittee thought it wise and Just with
out going into any comprehensive tax
ing system that some measure should
be provided for supplying the island
with some portion of the revenue so
badly needed. 1t seemed to it that one
method of providing a part of the rev.
enue was through the customs officers.
1t recommended, therefore, a reduction
in the existing tariff duties of 80 per
cent, leaving in operation a duty of 10
per cent. The committee did not re-
gard this as protective. but purely and
simply a revenue duty. The amount
to be collected at this rate is to be
turned over to the Porto Rican treasury
for the support of the insular govern
ment-
Some criticism is INDUCED In because
the present measure does not COM
pletely abolish the existing duties, but
merely makes a reduction of S5 per
cent. The committee regard the rates
as protective, as excessive, and the 10
per cent. to which they are reduced as
purely and simply q very moderate rate
revenue duty. The amount realized is
to be used for the support of the IN
sular government. Every dollar is to be
faithfully dedicated to the benefit of
the Porto Rieans, not cent is to be
retained and used for the benefit of the
United States. And yet there are those
on the opposite side of the chamber who
challenge the imposition as if it We're
conceived in an ungenerous spirit and
for unholy purpose
NECESSITY OF REVENUE.
1.-THE necessity Of providing revenue
for the support of the island was more
manifest the more familiar we became
with the actual conditions prevailing,
and with what was needed to reha bill
tate it, Upon a closer and more minute
inquiry it seemed impossible, or at least
inadvisab BILE, to attempt to raise the en-
tire amount required to support the in
suIar administration by d direct tax
upon the people
How are the revenues required for
the support of the insular adIniuistra-
ton to be obtained? Obviously in one
Of fos1r WAYS First. by a direct appr0-
priat1on from the treas IA y OF the-5SEas-
ted States; second, by a loan; third, by
direct taxation in the island; fourth, by
the imposition of tariff duties. As to
the first method proposed the people of
Tinted States have already liberal
ly contributed from their treasury for
the benefit of the Porto Ricans. They
have done it with a generous hand, but
in working out the Porto Rlcan prob
lem it must not be understood that the
Porto Ricans are to be treated as men
dicants. They must bear their full
share of the burdens of civil govern
uaent, according to their capacity.
1.-The second method of supplying the
insuiar treasury, namely by a loan, can
not be made effective until an insular
government is erected upon the island.
1.-The third plan which has been pro-
posed is impracticable for the reasons
heretofore indicated. The imposition of
additional direct taxes would, in the
language of Gen. Davis amoupt practi-
ca1ly to confscation.
.s,Fhe fourth plan which has been pro-
posed is that which for more than a
century has been the most acceptable
method in the United States, and that
is through the imposition of tariff du-
ties
SUGAR AND TOBACCO.
Adverting to the provisions of the
pending bill Mr.. Fairbanks said: THE
statement frequently has been made
that the duties were modified and i'm
posed at the discretion of the sugar and
tobacco trusts. Those on the opposite
side of the chamber have frequently re-
ferred to the action of the committee as
having been inspired by some myster-
ious, occult influence for an obvious
purpose. Let us briefly anaiyze the sit
uation. The interest of the trust-jf In
terest they have-is limited to the two
articles-sugar and tobaccO-which are
exported to the United States. The su-
gar trust as we are advised is interested
chiefly if not exclusively, in the refining
of sugar. Is it, therefore, interested in
the question as to whether raw sugar
purchased in Porto Rico shall be ad-
mitted into the United States free or
with a tariff of Is per cent of the Ding
ley rates imposed upon it? The least
observation the mind must perceive
that it is interested in the absolute free
admission of raw sugar, and that it is
in the very nature of things, opposed to
the imposition of any duty whatever.
It is inconCeivable that it would advo-
cate the imposition of a duty upon its
raw product, so as to increase the price
thereof to itself, unless we attribute to
it less sagacity than it is supposed to
possess. It is estimated that there is
in Porto Rico some ten thousand tons
or more of raw sugar awaiting ship
ment to the United States upon the re-
duction or entire removal of the Ding
ley rates.
s.If a duty of Is per cent of the Ding
ley duties is paid upon this sugar and
other sugars which are purchased by
the trust and those in like interests who
viii be the beneficiary; that is to say,
for whose benefit is the money paid at
the custom house? 1t will not go into
the treasury of the United States but
will be used for the exclusive benefit of
Porto Rico.
TRUSTS WILL PAY IT.
This contribution for the support of
the insular government will not be
made by the masses of the people but
will be contributed, in a large measure,
by the sugar trust, or by the wealthy
Spanish importers. Gen. Davis informs
US that "A large part of the mercantile
and exporting houses are owned and
conducted by Spaniards, men who, un-
der the treaty, preserve their Spanish