The Penn's Grove record., 1900-04-13
THE PORTO RICO TARIFF.
A Monstrous Infamy.

"A MOnStrOuS lnfamy.
The bill which imposes 10 per cent.
tariff on all goods going into Porto
Rico and coming from Porto Rico into
the States passed the House of Repre-
sentatiyes on Wednesday. Armies Of Por-
to Ricans are half clothed and starving
for want of work, because those who
have property have no money toemploy
them.
The President last December in his
message said it was the plain duty Of
Congress to give the Porto Ricans free
trade, like has always been between all
territories belonging to the United
States. The influence that forced this
tariff bill on Congress and the Repub-
lican party in opposition to all former
presidents and contrary to a decision
OF the q. s. Supreme Court when Cali
fornia was a territory has been a mys-
terry to the general public, but the
Washington Star has solved the mys-
terry, by declaring that it is the sugar
trust and tobacco interest, the infu
ences of which neither the Republican
leaders in Congress nor the President
! can resist.
The Star says, sit appears that with
out being too exact as to mere phraseol-
ogy. MI. Oxnard. [of the sugar trust
is really entitled to the credit of the
authorship of the bill. It being done
by his inspiration, if not by his hand.
1.-THE action of the Iowa legislature
can not affect the situation in Congress.
The deal has been made. 1t is mat
ter of money for the campaign, and the
tariff measure will be carried through"
This statement was made by a Re.
publican member of the House who
supported the bill in the House by his
vote.
"Y0u may as well set it down that
the deal will be carried out" he added.
1.-THE carrying out of the recommends
ton of the President for free trade With
Puerto Rico would have deprived the
party of a very considerable contribu-
ton. The adoption of the reverse pol
icy insures a very large contribution.
1.-THE possible unpopularity Of the
Puerto Rican tariff was balanced against
the certainty of money to use in the
campaign, and the decision was in fav-
or of the campaign contribution. 1t
was not expected that the storm of pro.
test would be as strong as it is, but it
is now too late for a change"
The Washington Post another Re-
publican paper says:
1--WE have frequently wondered. and
as frequently asked, what there is be-
hind all this astonishing determination
in Congress to af1ict Puerto Rico with
a tariff. Unable to understand it our
selves, We have appealed to the country
at large for enlightenment-for ever a
suggestion. Every consideration of
honor and good faith and justice de-
mands that WE should treat Puerto
Rico as the President e%l0quently indi-
Gated in his message last December.
Almost without exception, the press
especially the Republican and the indie.
pendent press-has supported this de-
mand.
"And now comes the Evening Star.
as if to answer the almost passionate
anxiety of the country, explaining in
deliberate terms that the tariff a against
Puerto Rico has been devised, not for
any purpose of craftsmanship, not even
in mistaken loyalty to national honor,
not even to establish a precedent in the
public interest, but simply and solely
to placate certain corporations which
will contribute handsomely to a party
campaign treasury!
IF this be the case; if Puerto Rico is
to be sacrificed to the sordid uses of a
political contest: if these innocent and
trustful people. who welcomed us with
open arms and confided their destinies
to our honor and generosity, are to be
inundated on the altar Of a detestable
and mean party emergency; if it be true
that the Republican Congress, backed
by the Republican Administration, de-
liberately intend to trade upon the mis-
cry and the helplessness of a people
who have thrown themselves upon our
mercy, then we say-and we believe
that the country will make haste to de-
nounce and to condemn and to rebuke
an infamy SO moDstrous aud so indie
fensible.n
The Supreme Court of Kentucky has
decided 6 to l against the usurper Tay-
Tor, two of the six votes being cast by