Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1900-04-02


our constitutional or moral obl.gaftonA.
continue q slight tariff duty under
which a part Of the revenue may be
raiseds And II we do IL. who can call
In question the integrity OF our pur-
pose. or hold the act to be un-Ameri-
can or as wanting in the fundamental
elments OF justice and right, No one.
can question the fact that such an act
Is founded In equity
HON To SECURE REVENUE
How are the revenues required for
the support OF the insular administra-
ton TO be obtained? Obviously, In
one OF four ways; First. by a direct
appropriation from the treasury OF
the United States: second. by q loan
third by direct taxation In the island:
fourth. by the imposition of tariff
duties
The first method proposed. namely.
a direct appropriation by the United
States. Is TO be adopted only In the
event there is no other just and eQuit-
able means of providing the requisite
revenue The people Of the United
States have already literally con-
tributed from their treasury for the
benefit OF the Porto Ricans, They have
done II with generous hand. as
they always do when mercy requires
it, They are willing to do more when
occasion demands. but In working out
the Porto Rican problem il must not
be understood that the Porto Ricans
are TO be treated as mendicants, rs
mere helpless wards. always depend
emf upon the bounty and the charity
OF the people OF the United States.
They must bear their full share OF the
burdens OF civil government according
to their capacity. be that great or
small and there is every reason to be-
lieve that they are perfectly ready
and willing to do this.
The second method Of supplying the
insular treasury. namely. by a loan.
can net be made effective until An in
sular government Is erected upon the
island Until such a government II
created there viii be no power TO au-
thorize an issue or sale Of bonds to
meet the present urgent necessities.
The third plan which has been pro-
posed Is impracticable for the reason
heretofore indicated. The imposition
of additional direct taxes would
amount practically to confiscation.
Then there is wanting the necessary
local machinery for devising a scien-
tific and just system of direct tax
alton.
The fourth plan which has been pro-
posed Is that which for more than q
century has been the most acceptable
method in the United States, and that
is through the imposition of tariff
duties. This Is known as the Indirect
method. This revenue is collected at
the custom houses upon goods and
passing through them.
l will not pause to consider the Ques-
ton as to whether the exporter or
the consumer pays the tax The
Dingiey law WAS enacted before the
war; and has been
in full force since then and IL In force
to-day with respect to imports from
Porto Rico. The duties collected I'M
der this law since the evacuation of
the Spanish forces on the 18th Of DC
tober. 1898, to the LIST of January,
1900, amount to $2.O95. 455. SO. Under
q law recently enacted this sum has
been placed at the disposal of the
president, to be used for the govern
ment now existing and which may
hereafter be established In Porto Rico,
and for the aid and relief Of the peo-
pie thereof. Further duties collected
are to be placed at the disposal Of
The president in the manner as. above. !
1t has been ungenerously charged
elsewhere, for political purposes. that
the amount appropriated is to be used
In the payment of large salaries to
American officials. The
charge is scarcely worth the answer
The history OF the administration Of
the island is sharp reputation OF
the charge. Under Spanish rule there |
were twenty-One officers in the island
drawing salary OF $4,000 year.
Cnder the present administration there
are but two drawing this salary. The |
Spanish governor Of the island re-
ceived a salary Of $4,000 per year. |
which was paid by the people. Gen. |
Davis. the present military governor.
Is paid out of the treasury Of the |
Omitted States Other military officers |
in the civil administration |
ire likewise paid out OF the treasury
If the United States
Small duties have been imposed |
1pon many articles imported into |
Porto Rico for the benefit OF the in |
sular administration. In order that !
he necessities of life might be Sc |
cured as cheaply as possible the |
president directed that the following. |
lmong other articles. should, for the |
benefit OF the poor be admitted into |
he island free: Flour rice, Goldfish, |
York, bacon. fresh beef and mutton. /
L is obvious at the present time that |
he duty upon the existing stocks OF /
'ugar and tobacco In Porto Rico |
will he paid by the large planters and |
" the sugar and tobacco trusts Of |
he United States: that the burden will |
lot in anywise fall upon the mass Of /
he people of Porto Rico.
The statement has been made that
he existing duties have resulted In
he reduction OF the wages Of the
aborers on the plantations In Porto |
Rico. Such a statement has been re-
,eatedly made upon the floor Of the |
enate. II is not supported. however.
" the testimony before the committee
a charge OF the pending bin.
The statement has been frequently
made that the duties were modified
nd imposed at the dic:ation Of the
agar and tobacco trusts. Those on
he opposite side Of the chamber have
referred to the action of
he committee az having been inspired
~ some mysterious. occult influence
or an obvious purpose. In what way
would they be Interested: They can
lot be concerned certainly in the i'm
position of duties upon eommodities-
the island. for they neither
hip sugar nor tobacco nor any otherI
into II so far as we arf
ADVISED. Therefore whether a duf-
le impOSed or not upau such article, |