Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-04-02
sEYERAI YI /.

sen k4S LEW So
AS the senate will tomorrow begin
the final work OF disposing of the Porto
Rfcan bill, some of the reasons for
supporting the tariff measure are ms
Steresting at this time.
Congressman Albert j. Hopkins, of
the house committee on ways and.
means has an article in the April
Forum on The Porto Rican Relief
Bill. Some Of the facts he presents
can not be refuted Mr.. Hopkins main
tains that the Porto Ricon bill, which
passed the house of Representatives
early in March, has been much misun-g
darstood, and that it is a Just and meri-
,torius measure. He clearly demon
sstratcs in preparing the Porto Ricanl
bill the object vas to benefit the Porto
Ricans. He says, in part:
When Porto Rico was ceded to the
United States we took over6withit the
responsibility of providing a govern
ment for the people of the island; and.
the problem of how to raise the money
for this purpose was presented to the
ways and means committee of the
house of representatives. After a care
full investigation of the subject Gen.
Davis, the present military. governor,
has estimated that the expenditures for
the next fiscal year to administer the
affairs of the island. Will aggre gate ST.
94367S.Ii. OF this amount he proposes
to Use $30G.00O for the construction of
school houses AID in the establishment
os#schools. and $a00,0O0 for the com
struction and improvement of high
ways. The balance is to- be used in de-
fraying the expenses OF a civil govern
n1ent.
To start Porto Rico on the way to-
progress is not an easy matter, and will.
involve the outlay Of considerable
money. While the soil is rich and pro-
ductive, the people on the whole are
not prosperous. The total population.
at the present time. is estimated at
100000 souls-s2o.Oo0 whites, soO.ooo.
mulattoes and 10000 full-blooded me-
Island is estimated al 3.i50 to 1850
square miles. Porto Rico is clearly one,
of the most densely populated portions.
of the Globa. One-third Of the popula-
ton is made up of paupers. and the
great majority of the people are depen-
dent upon their daily wages for sup
port. The wages of the common field
hands range from thirty-five 10 fifty
cents a day, native money; j. e.. from.
twenty-one TO thirty cents a day.
American money.
OF the total population of Porto
Rico not more than l2i. per cent can
read and write the spanish language
and less than one tenthgof one percent
can read and write the English lan-
guage Prior to the cession of Porto
Rico TO the United States. not a single
building Vas ever constructed as a
school house. .nderEt.le Spanish rule.
there Were excuses for schools at va
rieus places; bu, they were in rented
buildings and the schools We're con-
Quoted liz a manner that made them Of
little benefit to the people.
To make matters worse. this beau
tiful island was visited. on Angus. S.
1899. by tropical terror. Which was
particularly destructiveson. the eastern
and southern coasts. and In the inter-
Tor. abucoa was made a heap of
ruins: the old port and town Of Arroyo
We're practically destroyed and great
damage was done 10 Ponce The coffee
and cane crops We're greatly damaged,
and in some parts of the island entire
Is ruined. Between 1000 and 1000 per-
sons lost their lives; and a great deal
of live stock was destroyed The great
damage caused by this hurricane Inn
paired the ability of tts Porto Ricans
Ricans to raise the revenue required Il
defray the expenses of the government.
either by direct taxation or otherwise.
The Washington Post, an indepen,
dent newspaper, which has been APP
proving good republican politics.. i.
strongly opposed 10 the tariff bill be
cause in unfolding II at present tn
party reverses its early position an,
goes contrary to President Mckinley
recommendation. The Post takes ii
4 some Of the explanations for support
& ing the tariff measure and says:
Let us be business-li like,
Explanation 1st. The republica
congress could net grant free trade I
Porto Rico without committing III
party to the principle that the consti
tuition follows the flag (Note: II
Legislation With reference to Port
Rico would effect the constitutions
question, one way Or another, pendin
a decision by the supreme court.)
Explanation 2nd. :Atariff on Port
Rican products was necessary so as /
create a fund which could be apple
to the necessities of the people lNote
"A bill was passed approprating $4,000
4 900 to relieve those necessities, thu
giving the Porto Ricans more relic
than would have been afforded in on
year by the proposed tariff
..Explanation Bird. 1t was indispens
able to uphold the principle of protef
ton. Labor-o1 ganized labor--was SUP
posed to demand such apology (Nott
This principle has already been abar
doned in the case of Hawaii, and n
evidence could be presented to sho
that organized labor cared three straw
about Porto Rico).
Explanation 4th. II we give fre
trade to Porto Rico. we must also civ
II to the Philippines. and-perhaps.
later-to Cuba. This would establish
dangerous precedent Moreover ii
idea OF giving Porto Rico a represent;
ton in congress was fraught with mi
chief and alarm. lNote: The prec,
~ dent had been Established In the rnatt,