New-York tribune., 1900-03-19

will become law this week The expenditure OF
the g appropriated will do much toward the
speedy relief of the inhabitants by providing work
for the unemployed and In other ways. Two
things however. ought to be remembered FIRST
that the fund derived from indirect taxation,
customs duties; and second. that 1t is not an IN
exhaustble amount source OF relief. After II
shall have been expended. money will be re-
quired to carry public improvements build
school houses. maintain public schools. and pay
the other expenses OF the existing government, or
whatever other form OF government Congress IN
its wisdom may see ft to provide for the island
If the experience of the past or, indeed, of the
present is safe guide direct taxation alone cam
not be depended to produce sufficient revenue
for these purposes.
There is reasonable prospect. either. that the
duties on imports into Puerto Rico from all coun-
tries other than the United States will be suicient
to supply the deficit. 1t should be remembered
that the duties on all imports into Puerto Rico
a colony Of Spain were higher goods from
all countries other than Spain than the eirates i'm
posed by the Dingley tariff, and from Spain itself
after the year 1895, they were higher on most ar
tices than Is per of the Dingey rates of duty
imposing only Is per cent OF the DIngiey rates
Puerto Rico will import more goods from the
and great deal more, proportionately. than she
did from other Indeed dee Of nTce
in the United States. the cost OF freight trans
Rco Fndred suSeos
pressed the opinion that large share of Puerto
Ricos European trade will be quickly diverted TO
the United States
THE DUTIES ON RICE.
In conversation several days ago Mr. Finlay. OF
San Juan, who has been In this country for more
than two months. and has made some careful in
vestigatOns relating this subject expressed the
opinion that hereafter New England would furnish
the Puerto Ricans their boots and shoes, and
California their wines. which cheap and good
they formerly bought from Spain and France
He expressed some doubts to the trade in the
cheaper grades of cotton fabrics but said he
had not yet obtained prices from any the South
ern cotton mills whose goods successfully compete
with those of Manchester in the markets of the
East Mr. Finlay also remarked that the laboring
and poorer classes of Puerto Rico consume large
quantities of the cheaper kinds of rice and broken
rice, and expressed the opinion that the duty of
two cents a pound would bear heavily on them
He said he did not know that broken rice was i'm
ported into the United States under a duty of one
quarter of cent pound, and when he was in
FORMED OF the fact he remarked that 10 per cent
would amount TO less than four cents on the hum
dred pounds while the duty on the finest grade
or cleaned rice would be only so cents on the hun
dred pounds, and that on unceaned rice rice freed
Gle on. would amount 10 only 1sa. cents on the hum
dred pounds These facts appeared to be in the
nature OF revelation to him. as well some
facts which were mentioned relating to the proiuc-
uon OF rice In the United States.
Mr.. flnlay, however. adhered to the opinion that
Ior some years to come Puerto Rico would continue
imports from countries other than the United
states, especially after the coffee fields of the
island should have been restored to the former
hurricane of 1899