The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1900-04-05
RICO TARIFF
Senator Davis, Of Minnesota, OPP
poses the Pending Bill.
h Senator Advocates Free Trade, In a
Foricible Manner, With III Island.
He Proposes Establishment
of Internal Revenue. al

t.a..NT .H.t.a
Senator Davis in opposing the pas
sage ofathe. Puerto Rico tariff bill in
the United States senate, spoke as fol-
lows.
Mr.. President, l gave notice OF two
amendments which I intend to propose to
the pending bill i'm regard to the hous
measure. 7 shall only explain one Of
them at present and hat amendment is
this: y
THE creation of the Puerto Rico In
ternal revenue district; no stamp tax to
be levied in that district; IS per centum
of the Internal revenue tax to be laid in
that district, with the exception Of rum
or distilled spirits and tobacco, and the
manufactures thereof, Upon which only
internal revenue taxes shall be levied in
Puerto Rico; that there shall be free
trade between Puerto Rico and the
United States, and that the proposed law
shall continue until the first of March,
1907" 80 aE %F q
Whatever may be said as to the con-
tentions upon the other part of the sub
;ject, whether, considering Puerto Rico as
dependency or as a colony, or as a part
of the United States, we can or cannot
levy tariff duties as between that island
and the United States, there can be no
doubt whatever upon this general prin-
ciple that, SO. far as internal revenue
"a - Az e III IllCO, III
UGH question can arise under the distinct
and inherent power of this government to
levy them. Now, Mr.. President, why in
sist, I submit in all candor, that a tariff
shall be levied n nothing else?
The bill which passed the senate a few
days ago in respect to the government of
Hawaii imposed no tariff duties between
that, island, which we erected into asgov-
eminent, and the United States. 1t, too,
is a semi-tropical island. It has the
same range Of agricultural productions as
Puerto Rico. 4
If there is any reason whatever to i'm
pose a tariff upon the products of Puerto
Rico, there was the same reason for.im-
posing a tariff upon the products of Ha-
wall. Wherein lies the difference? Where
in on principle-both of them being out
lying possessions of the United States,
call them what you Willis the situation
as to Puerto Rico different from that of
Hawaii? .
why, Mr.. President, this whole project
and conception of imposing tariff duties
upon the dependency of Puerto Rico self
generates objections wherever it is con-
sidered, and they also spring from every
point Of contemporary history. I hold in
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain for a reciprocity treaty between the
British West Indies, six in number, n
same sea with Puerto Rico. raising the
same products and having in a great de-
gree the same character Of inhabitants,
country under peculiar circumstances 1t
cost the United States three millions Of
dollars to disarm the insurgent army in
cost US a dollar to disarm any army in
Puerto Rico, for there was none of the
natives, nor were we called upon to pay
It has been sail that his may be a
precedent as to the Philippines, and that
we must infiict injustice upon the inhab-
at some time, perhaps years or perhaps
shorter, when rebellion is crushed in
those Islands and the authority of the
be some difficult questions of that kind in
dealing with the Philippines. Mr.. Presi-
dent, sufficient; unto the day not only is
not wreak or work an injustice upon
Puerto Rico by any such contingent re-
mainder of apprehension as to the Phil
it is said that American labor and
American industry need protection by
this method Of legislation as against
But, Mr.. President, if it is needed, what
protection to American labor or Ameri-
can industry is Is per cent of the Dingley
tective tariff was ever framed? When.
the question of the Philippines comes to
be considered, I do not care by. what
can labor will be protected so far as any
apprehension can be ascertained from
that source.
the Philippines 5000. Puerto Rico is an
actual and geological dependency of the
American continent; the Philippines be-
long to Asia: Puerto Rico can enter our
It is said that this subject is not under
stood. Mr.: President, it is well UNDER
claim this. He need not Jay the fiatter-
ing JUNCTION to his soul that the editors
of the great journals throughout the
city which does not possess more than
one-do not understand the subject just
as well as we do: 1t is futile to pretend
country do not understand a subject so
simple as this: They understand, perfect
ly well the difference etwee building up
course between this country and one Of
its dependencies. and a system of AK
alton such as I shall propose which. with
Puerto Rico the same system, the same
principle, as that imposed, in the United
Distilled spirits and tobacco. In this
house bill there is not the imposition of
a 1.-THE of a mill upon either of those
articles while they remain in Puerto Rico.
fruitful subject Of taxation, while they
remain in Puerto Rico, are absolutely I'M
taxed, The subjects of taxation which
States and the municipal. governments,
there, of all places in this broad land, 60
absolutely scot free of any taxation
whatever. What is the exchange for it?
Fifteen per cent taxation on everything
else that goes to Puerto Rico from the
United States or comes to the United
States from Puerto Rico. 1t is so simple
and easy to reverse the entire policy and
way of doing things, and makes rum and
tobacco in Puerto Rico bear the weight
of taxation, as they do here and else
where throughout the civilized world, and
make communication between Puerto
Rico and the United States, as to all
goods exported or imported, free as it is
between the United States and Alaska. 1t
is SO easy to do it it would relieve the
situation so much in every way, that I
am surprised, and shall be surprised, If
the suggestion does not itself to
the calm and deliberate reflection of
everybody.
Mr.. President, what will the good peo-
pie of this country say, and what are
they saying, and what nave they a right
to say, under the bill of the house as it
Is presented in the body of the bill for the
civil government of Puerto Tico?
AS to Puerto Rico they say, Free rum.
but tax the flour out of which Is made the
bread that people eat
They say free rum, but tax their cloth
ing. -.. s-
They say free rum, but tax their boots
and shoes.
They say free rum, but tax the medi-
cines which minister to the sick.