The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1900-04-17
THE MEASURE SIGNED.
The Porto Rico Tariff and Govern
ment Bill a Law Of the Land.
An Epitome OF the Customs ReE1-
IatiOnS and the scheme &C the
civil Government for the
Island.

civil government bill. Only Secretary
Root and Mr.. CortelyOu, the assistant
secretary TO the president, were pres
en- when the bill became a law.
The bin provides that from the date
OF the passage Of the act the same
customs dut;es are levied on all goods
entering Porto Rico from foreign
countries as are levied on the same
goods entering the United States, save
1hat coffee. which has free entry into
the United State is 10 pay a duty Of
9 cents per pound on entering Porto
Rico.
Scientific, literary and artistic
works and books and pamphlets print
ed in the Eaglish language MAJ enter
Porto Rico free of duty. The tariff
section OF The bill relating TO duties
between the United States and Porto
Rico provides that all merchandise
coming into the United States from
Porto Rico and coming into Porto
Rico from she United States. shall be
entered at the several ports of entry
upon payment Of j. per cent. of the
duties which are required to be levied.
collected and paid upon like articles
OF merchandise imported from for
eigu countries
The duties collected under this sec
zion shall he placed al the disposal Of
the president TO be used for the good
and benefit of Porto Rico until the
government of Porto Rico shall have
been organized, when the moneys col
lected shall be turned into the local
treasury of Porto Rico.
The governmental provisions of the
bill are: The capital shall be At san
Juan Persons who were Spanish
subjects April IL. 1893. and who have
not elected 10 preserve the allegiance
10 Spain are held 10 be citizens OF
Porto Rico and entitled TO the pro-
lection Of the United States. The
designation of the body politics is
under the name 1.-The People Of Porto
Rico"
The laws and ordinances of Porto
Rico now I'm force shall continue i'm
full force ard effect. except as altered
by this act. or by military orders and
which are Tot inconsistent with the
laws Of the United States.
The old law fOrbidding the marriage
OF priests and ministers is repealed.
The vessels Of Porto Rico are to be
naturalized and admitted to the ben
Ell of the United States coasting
laws Porto Rico coin 10 be rated.
the peso being rated at 60 cents in the
exchange. Three months after the
act takes effect Porto Rico coins are
nor TO be legal tender. The governor
IS 10 be appointed by the president
and hold his Office for four years. hay-
ing the powers conferred on govern
orr OF territories of the United States.
but is 10 make his reports through
the secretary Of stale 10 the president.
An executive council is 10 be appoint
81 by the president and confirmed by
the senate. consisting Of secretary.
attorney general. treasurer. auditor
commissioners Of interior and educa.
lion and five other persons. TO hold
Office for four years. The council
- the upper branch OF the legislature
five Of whom shall be natives of Porto
Rico. The other branch shall be a
house of delegates. 10 consist Of IS
members elected bienniaily by the
qualified electors. Porto Rico is di-
nided into seven districts. each with
five delegates. The qualifications for
voters are at ~such elections all cit
izens OF Porto Rice shall be allowed
10 vote who have been bona fide resi-
denis for one wear and who possess
the other qualifications Of voters m
der the laws and military orders in
force on March ]. 1900. subject 10
such notifications and additional
qualifications and such regulations
and restrictions as 10 registration as
MAY be prescribed by the executive
council
The judicial power is vested in
courts already established. the chief
Justice and associate justices and mar
shals 10 be appointed by the presi-
dent. Judges of the district courts.
and other officers by the governor of
Porto Rico. There Is also a United
States district court established sim
slar 10 other territories.
The salaries Of all officers appoint
ed ~ the president are Governor.
$1,000 secretary. attorney general
auditor. commissioner Of the interior.
5000 each: treasurer. 5000: com
missioner Of education. $1,000: chief
justice supreme court and United
States district Judge. 5000 each: as
s0ciate justices. 400 each; two mar
khals. each $1,000: district attorney.
$1,000. No export duties are TO he
collected. but taxes and licenses may
le levied. On the regular election day
in November and every two years
thereafter Porto Rico may choose a
commissioner 70 represent the island
81 Washington. salary. 5000.
KILLED Ills Wife and Himself.
Baskerville. Tenn, April 14.-Joe
Sfringer killed his wife b. choking