The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-20
PORTO RICANS PROTEST.
Delegates Ames and Larrigana Talk
of The Tariff Measure.
They Declare That the Island Has
Gained Nothing Through Ameri-
can Control-Bnrred From Spanish
Markcts-The Agricultural Condi-
tions - Evils of the Pending Bill.

DR.. Azel Ames and Senior Tulio Lar
rinaga, delegates from Porto Rico. who are
in this city. endeavoring to have Congress
adopt legislation for that island which
will be received with satisfaction by its
people. in speaking on the question to a
Times reporter yesterday. said:
THE discussion of the Porto Rican
tariff is involving not alone a question Of
policy on that one point, but is going deep
into the broad question OF how big
America really is under the Constitution.
That is. whether new territory, taken on
as Porto Rico was. is made an integral
part OF the nation or whether it is merely
an appendage. a bit Of property or
colony
Industrial conditions in Porto Rico de-
mand relief at once" said Senior Larrinaga,
who is one OF the best known civil en-
gineers Of that island Continuing, he
said: 1t is clearly shown by reports OF
United States officials that the island is
worse off under American rule than il
was under Spanish Its products. OF which
coffee and sugar are the principal ones,
found a Spanish market under favorable
tariff conditions while il was a province
Of Spain Now il is on the same basis as
other foreign countries. and is subject to
the same tariff. which bars her out of
Spanish markets..
Porto Rico has gained absolutely moth
ing from the United States" interjected
DIR. Ames, as the regular tariff is still in
operation against her. Therefore, the agri-
cultural interests are suffering vastly, and
this means financial distress to the whole
population OF the island. A policy which
would open the ports OF this country free
to her products would wholly change This
condition. Once remove the tariff bars and
her soil and climate would do the rest
Senior Larrinaga said that by the Span
sh-American Peace Treaty Porto Rico
came into the possession of the United
States. and ii had been supposed by most
people that she was TO come into all the
rights and privileges belonging to any |
other portion of the country. But bill |
has been reported by the majority OF the |
Ways and Means Committee Of the House |
which is now being discussed. establish |
ing tariff of 25 per cent of the regular |
tariff on AL the articles imported into the
United States from Porto Rico. This
policy is upheld on the ground that it is |
absolutely necessary to make some differ
ence between the labor of the two coun-
tries. 1t is opposed by those who do not |
believe in the need or policy of placing |
restrictions on the trade of Porto Rico and |
by those who insist that Porto Rico is an !
actual part Of the United States and that |
the Constitution prevents any discrimina
ton in tariff between different sections of |
the Union.
The argument" continued Senior Lar
rinags, comes finally TO this: Is Porto
Rico a part OF the United States or does
she belong TO the United States? Is 1t a
partner and subject when proper condi
lions are fulfilled to statehood, or is it
property"
The Constitution itself affords no
mes.s by which this question can surely
be decided said Dr. Ames. The makers
of the Constitution cannot be appealed TO.
1t must be settled by broad minded men,
according TO the true spirit of the Con-
stitution, ana its settlement will affect
the position likewise of others of the new
possessions But Porto Rico should not be
left to suffer, at any rate. under present
conditions. II came to US peaceably and
readily, and ii would be a disgrace to have
harm rather than great benefit come to
1t because Of change from Spanish control
TO American.
Whether as territory or colony. it
should be given every possible benefit
which comes from connection with
America"