Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-03-16
PORTO RICO'S PLEA.


SAN JUAN. Porto Rico. March 13.--
The planters. merchants and mauufactur-
crs Of Porto Rico have mailed to con-
gross by the steamer Philadelphia the
following statement:
"Wc the undersigned. beg to submit to
Nour earnest cons 'cration the following
views as to the financial policy of Porto
Rico. We note with regret the principle
"nunciatod by certain speakers in the
lower house Of congress that tariff be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States
is the proper method of raising revenue
for this island. To this we are unchange-
ably opposed for the following reasons:
"filSt.-Bccausc taxation ON our ex-
ports means an embargo on our foreign
commerce.
"Sccond.-Bccause curtaihnent Of our
commerce with the United States would
lock up our products here and prevent us
from gaining our legitimate proportion of
profit on our productions.
I'VE can never become independent
financially if forced to trade solely among
ourselves We must have market other
than Porto Rico or elise wo cannot gain
wealth. 10 not mistake the propo-cd Is
per cent of the Dngoy rates for q rca-
eonahlc rate. Il j. a fact that no class IT
goods produced here from leaf tobacco
will be taxed less than - per cent ad va.
loron. while one of the most important Of
this class will be taxed 100 per cent nd
Valorem under the bill adopted by the
house Of representatives. If This is not
an embargo on our trade. what can it be
called?
I've earnestly ask for free trade be-
l:eving that with mutual interchange Of
products between the two countries the
| nited States will he moro than gamer.
The United States viii for many wears
supply our 1.unnJOO people with their
manufactured products In general we
+" ognzc the fact that Il revenue to sup
port the insular government would he
necessary. but We are decidedly of opin-
ion that the better method for raising
that revenue will bc by internal taxation,
ana for the following reasons:
"First.-Because 10y that system no re-
striction will be placed on our commerce
with the United States.
Second Because the adoption of that
system will be ~ simple in operation here
is it is in the United States.
Eve call your attention to the fact that
it has been the custom for all countries
to make internal improvements 10y the
system of bonded indebtedness which di-
videS the expenses among succeeding gen
erations. We do not desire to have the
burden of Internal improvements. placed
on lis solely. Ii it must be so then we
ask that il be done by a system of inter-
nal taxation that will not prevent the in
crease of our commerce with the states
Of the American Union and that will not
StarVe lis.
"The fact cannot be disputed that our
people are in sore distress All COM
mcrcc is now hampcred. The investment
of capital Is stopped. Our farmers have
not the means to plant or to gather their
crops. Building and improving are inn
pedcd. Capital refuses to come here for
investment in either manufacturing or
agricultural pursuits for the reason that
the sovereignty of the United States over
this island has deprived us of free trade
with Spain and Cuba. which formerly
took orr exports at fair prices and ena-
BLEED Us to live.
I'VE now ask as right in equity that
free trade with the United States he
given us. We ask bread as Il right from
our mother. DO not. we pray, give MS a
stone. We ask for an immediate deci-
sion "