New-York tribune., 1900-04-01
properly done until the general policy to be pur-
| sueo with respect to the future status Of Puerto

as Tree as possible with the United States ne clear
ly contemplated the necessity retention OF
some some customs duties and he SO advised Congress.
Tt Is recommended that the trade between the
united States and the island be left as free as
here be left to the island temporarily income
Gr na Oeal As 90 as new local inter
operation the custom house collections would inure
win Very dificuit to balance the budget without
The proposition is to make the island self-sup-
porting and to maintain ell services here including
to eNtend the existing Weson roads n
railroads; to build hospitals schools and asylums
fsstIities and to foster Sd and promote the general
resources as Wei as the Proceeds Of wisely VS. placed
| loans"
FREE TRADE WOULD BENEFIT TRUSTS.
The statement has been frequently made that the
of the sugar and tobacco trusts. Those on the op-
pos,,e side of the chamber have frequently referred
spired by some mysterious occult influence for an
Let US briefly anayss the the suson The
ed to the United States The Sugar Trust, as We
in the refining Of sugar Is i. Therefore interested
In In the question as to whether raw sugar purchased
States free or with tarlff Of lS cent Of the
ant mind must perceive that it is Interested in the
absolute free admission OF raw sugar and that it
position of any duty GPpasf Il is On
a1 that it. would advocate 60 the imposition Of duty
thereof to itself unless we attribute to it less
said With respec Sugar Trust
aGI' to the hs
sion of tobacco. The removal Of the entire duty
with its cordial and enthusiastic approval Can
there there be the remotest possible ground to doubt
The only legislation suggested in the present
senator from Arkansas (Mr jones' who introduced
paid the collected on 0 Imports To@
ment had been adopted, would be returned to the
sugar ana TOBACCO trusts and the other importers
,h Presde9t oh it has not escaped public attention
here during the o fS Of the been pending bi
IT It Is headed by British subject, who has been
the United States, and who is one of the largest
IN Of his In the hnns & oyer
that he Should desire that his product should reach
THE CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION.
tension Of the Constitution to Puerto Rico neces-
sarly carries with 1t our entire internal revenue
tenn R prove beneacis zig TO to the people of the island? nd
United States" The conditions existing In Puerto
IT would be unwise to say the least to impose
upon the Puerto Ricans the rates which are i'm I'm,
special severity. According to General Davis, the
upon which taxes are i now imposed in the island
would amount to confscation The wisdom OF re- re-
supreme control over subjects OF local taxation
must be manifest to those who give the subject
Furthermore. If the Constitution be now in Puerto
dustry will be seriously injured unless duty Is
mpGsed o coffee narog IN into
and value to It, and would be imported into the ISL
euded sha % by e suitable duty The PRESENT bill
duty upon coffee of cents per pound This is
FGse IN in me any we the free admission Of coe
from Puerto Rico and other coffee producing coun-
into he
From these obseryations it hD,,s will appear pc that
&c to Puerto Rico is problem Of grave and
practical an and the question Should receive
1t has been said that we impose no duties upon upon
States, and that different course should no. now
be pursued with respect to Puerto Rico 80
Puerto Rico. The former came to US with an
ernment. 1t had the requisite law and machinery
Treasury Of the United states There was no
wa In hang
the entire island In the one case IT was not 1 nee &C.
people, while in the other case it is neceAhry.
ALASKA AND PUERTO RICO.
There is essential difference IN the manner In
which treats Aaska and Pperf9 Rico
imposes taxes in that Territory different from those
teR No ohe has thought that the BY SO
doing violating the fundamental principles of
exercising the taxing power The Senate e recently
adopted amendment 10 the Alaskan Dill Which
imposes upon most of the industries and enter
prises in Alaska taxation without representation.
There was and is complete and absolute acques-
cence in the power to do this and in the wisdom
and justice of doing 1t.
spect from the retention Of the small duties
of Puerto Rico. In the case of Alaska 1t is the
fixed and permanent policy of Congress to levy d-
rect taxes for the support of the people there re
burden and not cast II upon the people or the
United States and there Is no more reason why tne
for Puerto Rico than they should for Alaska. What
is warranted by the laws in Alaska, what ts lawful
and equitable there. is none the less justified and
defensible in Puerto Rico. .- ,.- , ,,,o,
The people of Alaska since 1867 have been Obliged
to pay import duties which were imposed upon
them by Congress without representation. II Is
true they have paid no dqaies % upon sooos OF 'he
II VIII not have escaped attention that Congress
the last session enacted law req1rinE persons ms
Alaska to obtain licenses for the purpose and to
pay therefor specific amounts per annum ~ Among hs
license to be paid are the following: i S1
@ &c. h
power for sale $500: hotels $50; Jewellers, s25;
quartz mills 50 per stamp; meat markets. SO; rail-
mills 10 cents per thousand feet upon the lumber
sawed; theatres. 500.
stituon is in the Territory the taxes 20 are are
imposed in positive yoaon OF he or oa
throughout the United States, and are therefore u-
constitutional and void WI sa any ho one ppor De Of the
government OF Alaska violative of the rights
1f @ i inid that the exercise Of the same power in
Puerto Rico as mere enPOgagy s G TXecg XlectInn Of Of
II is not necessary to dwell upon similar legis,
other Territories belonging to the United States.
So far / advised no one upon this moor mas
present contention of friends in opposition to
the effect that the constlfut9n exnehqs pS lIs % p~