The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1900-03-09
FRIDAY, MARCH 8, 1900.
THE PORTO RICO TARIFF.

Some of the leading republican pap
ers OF the country are severely CRITICS.
ing the administration for the passage
of the Porto Rico tariff bill by the
lower house Of congress-, and the demo.
cratic papers, Of course, are claiming
that the republicans have made a great
mistake. But, like all other public
questions. there are two sides to this
one.
In the first place, the constitutional
right to levy tariff duties on goods pass.
ing between Porto Rico and the United
States hinges upon the question wheth.
or or not the Porto Rioans are citizens
Of this country. Strictly speaking,
they are not. The tIeuy with Spain,
by which we acquired the islands, did
not provide for the naturalization Of
the Porto Ricans or give them any
rights of citizenship; it merely placed
them under the protection Of this gov.
eminent, whose sovereignty they
recognized. Congress alone can con.
fer citizenship to the Porto Ricans and,
as they have not yet beon naturalized,
the republican contention il that it is
perfectly lawful for a tariff between
the two countries to be maintained.
But it is doubtful whether it is ex-
pedient to levy a tariff, although all
the money it yields is to 90 to the Porto
Rioans for the purpose Of maintaining
their government, which needs the
revenue and which cannot be properly
supported BY it's internal taxes alone.
President Mckinley, at first, was in
favor Of free trade between the United
States and Porto Rico, but seems to
have yielded to the desire Of congress
for a tariff after the rate was reduced
from 90 to 10 per cent and the provis.
ion was incorporated in the bill that all
the revenue should 90 to the Porto
Rican government. And since the
passage Of the bill in this form by the
house. the president has sent a special
message to congress and a bill has
passed the lower branch, putting all
the revenue to be derived form the tar.
if into the hands Of the president tor
him to expend for relief of Porto Rico.
The vote in the house upon the tariff
bill was so close-only eleven majority
that II has accustomed some uneasi.
mass among the friends Of the measure
regarding its chances III the senate. It
Is probable that the bill will be amend.
cd in the senate, In fact, a bill has
been reported in the form of a substi.
tute, which provides for free trade after
March !, 1902, and establishes a com.
plete system Of government for the
island. Upon this bill the administra-
ton leaders hope to secure favorable
action in the senate, aud subsequently
in conference with representatives of
the house. The matter is thus OK
planned at length in these columns be.
cause it il one Of vast Importance. It
Is a subject of Which the people may
hear a great deal during the coming
campaign, as the democrats will prob.
ably try to make it appear that the re.
pubiicans have violated the constitu-
tion, imposed a grent burden on the
Porto Ricans aud illegally exacted tar
if duties from citizens Of this country.
1t is possible, we will admit, that a
mistake hns been made, but il it has it
Is not too late to mend it and the pres.
emit administration can be depended
upon to do the right thing.
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