Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-09
EXPLAINING THE
NEW TARIFF BILL
How It Cuts of Fiye-Slxths Of the
Present Custom Dues,
MARKED AID TO PUERTO RICO
Member OF Cabinet Clears Up Wide
Apprehension Concerning the
Puerto Rican Tariff Bill.
GEarly Dlspatches.]

tEarly Dispatched
Washington, March S-A member OF
the cabinet tonight gave out the fol-
lowing authoritative statement: There
has been a wide Misrepresentation Of the
Puerto Rican tariff bill, Of the attitude
OF the President, OF the action OF Con-
gress and Of their relations to each 9th.
er. The criticism and the concern which
have come from some well-meanins
quarters are due almost entirely TO
OF the real facts.
The attempt to represent that there
has been a disagreement between the
President and Congress is wholly UNI
founded. There has been no essential
difference between them. Both have
sought the same object. The recon-
mendatlon Of the President and the
House bill in their purpose and effect
amount to the same thing. As a con-
sequence each rightly sustalns the
other.
The President, in his annual mes
sage Of December 4th, urged that the
customs duties on trade between
Puerto Rico and the United States be
removed Imports from Puerto Rico in
to the United states have been and are
now paying the Dingley rates, The Pres.
ident felt that Puerto Rico should be re-
lleved OF this burden. He urged that II
should be removed, not as a matter OF
legal right. but OF liberal and humane
public policy.
his argument indicated his reasons
ana suggested his view as 10 the ques-
ton OF constitutional obligation. Puerto
Rico, severed from Spain, had lost her
OLD markets and had gained none In
their place. She had been devastated by
hurricane and left destitute Humanity
dictated every effort to lift her up and
70 give her new market. This was
the Presidents plan and what need OF
such a plea If the Constitution OF itself
carried free trade 10 Puerto Rico? In
that case free trade goes TO her, wheth-
er right or not.
What the President proposed was
that the United States should offer the
largest and most generous measure Of
help to the distressed and suffering
island, and he has never wavered a sim
gle instant In the object he sought. Had
his suggestion been adopted and fol-
lowed by ell in his spirit and as he
meant IT, with the limitations he in
tended, all would have been WE'LL But,
when the time came for action In Con-
gress two tendencies We're seen. ON the
one hand there We're good men and
some business and agricultural inter-
ests that, while not Directing or little
Directing TO free trade with Puerto Rico
alone. feared that free trade with Puerto
Rico would be made precedent for
free trade with the Philippines. They
felt there should be a distinct asser-
ton and exercise Of the power to impose
duties however small, as an assurance
that this power was reserved for other
cases.
ION the other hand, what the Presi-
dent proposed as a worthy act OF ma
tional generosity and liberal policy was
seized by political opponents and
claimed as a necessary and inevitable
measure Of inherent constitutional
right. They insisted that the Constitu-
tlon by It's own force extends TO Puerto
Rico ami all the island possessions and
spreads all its provisions over them.
including uniform taxation. They were
eager to commit Republican Congress
to the adoption Of a free trade with
Puerto Rico. not as measure Of gen.
erous expediency, but because they
could then claim that Il had rveted a
hard and fast principle. which would tie
the hands Of the government every
where, In the Philippines, as well as in
Puerto Rico, without sgard to varying
conditions and which would expose the
administration and its party TO all the
criticisms and attacks that would be
made on such a position.
1T was cunning game but II aid
not succeed. The apprehension OF the
honest directors. who feared that the
concessions OF full free trade with Puer-
TO Rico would lead TO mistakes, and the
designs OF the crafty partisans who
meant that II should, were both met
and frustrated by the bill which passed
the House. and which levied Is per cent
or less than one-slxth OF the Dinglcy
rates. That low rate involves no pos
slble hardship. II has the advantage
OF producing needed revenue. which un-
til ciyil government and law are fully
organized In Puerto Rico cannot be
raised as well from any other source.
There was another point which was
not generally understood. The bill pro-
yides that the whole amount Of duties
on goods coming from Puerto Rico shall
be paid back 10 Puerto Rico for the
benefit OF the island. Thus Il fully
harmonizes with the object at which
the President aimed Of relieving the
people OF Puerto Rico, and when IL was
crowned by the Presidents special
message promptly carried out by the
House providing not only that the
duties hereafter collected, but that
those heretofore collected 10 the
amount OF 5000. 600 should be appropri-
ated, to be expended wholly In Puerto
Rico for her development and improve
ment. absolutely no ground was left
for any pretense that the policy Of the
President and Congress was In the
slightest degree harsh and oppressive.
Nobody can understandlngly object
to tho 10 per cent duty, all paid back
TO Puerto Rico. on the ground that II Is
uIlNll anu INtN AFN w wi W lAiAUs nc
can understandlngly object on the
claim that there Is no power 20 levy
any DUTY at all. and such a claim
would leave the President and Congress
powerless and helpless In the Philip
pines rs well as IN Puerto Rico.
Between a IS per cent duty as pro-
vided by the congressional bill, every
cent OF which Is TO be returned 20 Puer-
TO Rico. that is not also getting all coll
lected al the other end, and the renewal
OF customs duties as suggested by the
President for humanlty's sake. there Is
absolutely no difference whatever In
practical results In both everything Is
for humanity. Congress was aiming az
the same results. and the President
rlghtfully accepts the act Of Congress
The representation that each was not
In accord with the other disregards
every essential element IN the case.
"But between a Is per cent duty and
free trade ms a constitutional right go-
ing necessarily and instantly wherever
new land NAV be acquired there Is the
world wide difference between reserv-
lng full discretionary power 10 deal
with the new possessions rs their
varying interests and ours may re-