The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-12
his promotion and predict great things

Dill, anu II WAS lulIlGQldlCly 6GlL
to the senate for the signature Of |
President pro tempore Frye.
SIGNED IN SENATE.
Washington, April 1.-THE president |
announced his signature to the Porto |
Rican bill at 1:05 p. m.
SUMMARY OF THE LAW.
Washington, April 12.-Following is a |
summary of the provisions of the Porto |
Rico bill which becomes a law today:
It applies to the island of Porto Rico
and to the adjacent islands lying east OF
the 74th meridian, which are designated
Porto Rico.
From the date of the passage of the
act the same custom duties are levied
on all goods entering Porto Rico from
foreign countries as are levied on the
same goods entering the United States
save that coffee, which has free entry
into the United States is to pay a duty
of cents per pound on entering Porte
Rico. Scientific, literary and statistical
works and books and pamphlets, PRINT
ed in the English language may enter
Porto Rico free of duty. The tariff sec
tion of the bill relating to duties be-
tween the United States and Porto Rico
is as follows:
That on and after the passage Of this
act all merchandise coming into the
United States from Porto Rico, and
coming into Porto Rico from the United
States shall be entered at the several
ports of entry upon payment Of 10 per
cent of the duties which are required
to be levied, collected and paid upon ike
articles of merchandise imported from
foreign countries and in addition there
upon articles of merchandise or Porto
Rican manufacture coming into the
United States and Withdrawn for con-
sumption or sale on payment OF a tax
equal to the internal revenue tax I'M
posed in the United States upon the ike
articles of merchandise of domestic
manufacture. Such tax to be paid by
internal revenue stamp or stamps TO De
purchased and provided by the conmiS-
SiOner of internal revenue ana TO pe
procured from the collector of internal
revenue at or most convenient to the
port of entry of said merchandise in the
United States and to be afnxed unuer
such regulations as the commissioner OF
internal revenue, with the approval OF
the secretary of the treasury shall pre-
scribe and on all articles of merchandise
of United States manufacture coming
into Porto Rico in addition to the DUTY
above provided upon payment of tax
equal in rate and amount to the inter-
nal revenue tax imposed in Porto Rico
upon the like articles of Porto R1can
manufacture: Provided, that on and
after the date when this act shall take
effect, all merchandise and articles ex-
cept coffee, not dutiable under the tariff
laws of the United States and all mer-
| chandise and articles entered into Porto
Rico free of duty under orders hereto
fore made by the secretary OF war ShalI
| be admitted into the several ports there
! Of when imported from the United
| States free of duty all laws or parts OF
laws, to the contrary Notwithstanding;
! and whenever the legislative assembly
/ of Porto Rico shall have enacted and
put into operation system OF
| local taxation to meet the
necessities of the government of
Porto Rico by this act established and
| shall by resolution, duly passed, so no
| tffy. the president. he shall make proc
lamation thereof, and thereupon all
4 tariff duties on merchandise and ar
| ticles going into Porto Rico from the
| United States or coming into the Unit
| ed States from Porto Rico and from
and after such date all such merchan-
| disc and articles shall be entered at the
| several ports of entry free of duty. and
| in no event shall any duties be collect
ed after the first day of March, 1902. on
| merchandise and articles going into
Porto Rico from the United States or
| coming into the United States from
| Porto Rico. All moneys collected under
the above section shall be placed at the
| disposal of the president to be used for
| the government and benefit of Porto
Rico until the government of Porto
| Rico shall have been organized, when
| the moneys collected shall be turned
into the local treasury of Porto Rico.
| Goods imported from Porto Rico and
under bond shall pay only the duty i'm
posed by this act.
The governmental provisions of the
bill are:
The capital shall be at San Juan.
Persons who were Spanish subjects
April IL 1899. and who have not since
/ elected to preserve their allegiance to
Spain are held to be citizens of Porto
Rico and entitled to the protection OF
the United States. The designation of
the body polite is under the name THE
People of Porto Rico
The laws and ordinances of Porto
Rico now in force shall continue in full
force and effect except as altered by
,1oy-, nd
which are not 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
nationalized and admitted to the bene-
fits of the United States coasting laws
Quarantine stations are to be estab-
| lished. Porto Rico coin to be recoined,
the peso being rated at so cents in the
exchange. Three months after the act
takes effect Porto Rico coins are not
to be legal tender. Property usually
under control of the United States will
so continue and other properties ac-
quired from Spain will be administered
by the Porto Rican government The
governor is to be appointed by the
president and hold his Office for -four
years, having the powers conferred or
governors of territories of the United
States but is to make his reports
through the secretary of state to the
president.
An executive council appointed by the
: president and affirmed by the senate
: consisting of a secretary. attorney gen
! eral, treasurer auditor, commissioner:
of interior and education and five othel
persons to hold Office for four years.
The council is the upper branch of tbs
: legislature five of whom shall be ma,
tives of Porto Rico. The other brancl
shall be a house of delegates, to consis
= of 35 members elected bienially by th'
5 qualified electors. Porto Rico is divid
| ed into seven districts each with fiv'
5 delegates. The qualifications for voter
are s'at such elections all citizens o
= Porto Rico shall be allowed to vote VIII
n have been bona fide residents for tn
n year and who possess the other quail
1 fications of voters under the laws an
r military orders in force on March ]
q 10nn s11liact n S11ch randifica finr1s an