Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1900-04-18
CLARKE COURIER
WEDNESDAY, APRIL IS, 1900.
The Porto Rican Tariff Bill.

The Porto Rican Tariff Bill passed
the Senate last week BY q vote Of Al
to 25. Many of the amendments
made to the bill by the Senate are
very Objectionable to the House, but
they will in all probability be con-
CURED in by that body when it comes
up this week for final passage.
By the Porto Rico bill it is propos-
ed to establish 9 civil government for
the island, as we'll as to provide tariff
taxes.
Residents of Porto Rico who were
formerly Spanish subjects, except
such as shall have elected to remain
subjects of Spain, are made citizens
of Porto Rico.
The navigation and quarantine
laws of the United States are extend.
ed to the island.
Provision is made for recoining
Porto Riczn into United States coin.
The statutory laws of the United
States, except as otherwise provided
In the bill, are to be extended TO Por-
TO Rico.
The chief executive of Porto Rico
is to be Governor appointed by the
President and confirmed by the Sen.
ate, to hold Office for four years, st
salary of $4,000 a year.
There is to be an executive coun
Gil, consisting of secretary, an at
torney general, treasurer, an audi
tor, commissioner of interior and =
commissioner of education, together
with five other persons. all to be ap
pointed by the President and confirm
ed by the Senste-at least i've mem
bers of the council to be native Porto
RicSns.
The executive council lie to consti
tute one house of the legislative as.
sembly. The other house is TO be q
house of 35 delegates elected bien
nially from seven districts.
All citizens of Porto Rico are to be
allowed to vote who have been bona
fde residents for one year.
The Governor is to have the veto
power, but bills may be passed over
his veto by two thirds vote of each
house.
all legislation is to be subject to
approval by Congress, which reserves
the power to annul alllsws passed by
the Legislature.
Local and United States courts are
TO be established.
The island is TO lie represented in
Washington by q resident commits
sioner, to be elected by the voters of
the island.
A commission of three 10 to be ap
pointed by the President to compile
aud revise the laws of Porto Rico.
Section s of the bill, in regard to
articles imported into Porto Rico
from ports outside the United States.
provides that the same duties shall be
paid upon them as are paid upon
those imported into the L nited States,
provided that on all coffee, in the
bean or ground, imported into Porto
Rico there shall be levied and col.
lected duty of five cents a pound.
The new provision in regard TO
commerce between the United States
and Porto Rico is that ali merchan-
disc coming into the United States
from Porto Rico, and coming into
Porto Rico from the United States
shall be entered upon payment of Is
per cent. of the duties that are re
quired upon like merchandise i'm
ported from foreign countries. until
the Legislative assembly of Porto Rico
shall have put into operation system
of local taxation to meet the necessi
ties of government, when all tariff
duties shall cease, but IN no event
shall any duties be collected after
March l, 1902.
Section % provides that the duties
collected in Porto Rico shall be plsc
ed at the disposal of the President,
to be used for the benefit of Porto
Rico.
J. / Carson Prothono.ary Wash;o