New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-19

demand absolute free trade and authority for
the island to contract loan to paw Immediate
expenses and for the relief Of the planters
These merchants of San Juan appear to be
more sensible and logical than their free trade
friends In the United States. They know and
admit that with free trade 1t would be imme-
diately necessary to borrow money to meet cur
rent expenses OF government and for "the relief
OF the planters" The willingness of the mer-
chants to pay "a revenue tax in lieu of the
tariff" would seem more impressive and dsin-
terested If they not afterward to recoup
from their customers
ABLE TO PAY THE DUTY.
The statements in the dispatch referred to
appear to conflict with one another in several
respects and also with some Of the official
ports OF the United States Treasury Depart
ment. In place 1t is said that "the crops
are immovabe. the proposed duty under the
Foraker bill being prohibitive," and in another
place, that the expectations OF sugar from Octo-
Der Is, 1898. to December 81, 1899. amounted
in value to 500 4S6. The official reports of the
United States Treasury Bureau of Statistics
show that the importation of sugar from Puerto
Rico for the year 1899 under the Dingley tariff.
amounted to 1O7. 2O2, 5S7 pounds of total value
of 81. 495. 500. This was the heaviest importa-
any year, at least since 1SSS-heavier than in
any year when sugar admitted into the
United States free of duty under the tariff OF
1890 And yet by the pending bill Puerto Rico
sugar will be admitted at one-fourth of the rate
of duty collected that imported in 1899 In
another place the merchants say sugar cannot
pay the duty imposed" and in the same breath
they let the cat out of the bag by observing
that the planters are holding their products.
awaiting the action of Congress-
The merchants also say that there are now
100000 pounds of tobacco ready for shipment.
and by August there will be 100000 pounds
and that the best price obtainable for tobacco in
NewYork under the 50-Cent duty is about
81 So" The duty under the existing law filler
tobacco, if stemmed. is 30 cents and on the
same unstemmed it is 80 cents a pound. One
fourth of these rates will be 1917 cents and 81
cents a pound. respectively. The planters are
holding the tobacco for a rise, and, having
100000 pounds hand ready for shipment
worth in New-York about S6OOOOOO, according
to the San Juan merchants. the following condi-
ton of affairs prevails: There is no money to
plant new crops or to pay laborers thousands of
whom the point of starvation. being
able to obtain work. This is indeed a deplorable
state OF affairs. which. in the opinion Of the free
traders, cannot be remedied save by RENTING
all the duties on sugar. tobacco and other prod
ucts imported from Puerto Rico
FREE RAW MATERIALS.
The term free raw materials" has always
been a shibboleth OF the American free trader,
and the representatives of the few and strug-
Cling industries of Puerto Rico have been for
years demanding free raw materials and stiff
duties manufactured goods which competed
with them. These demands formed a prominent
feature Of the report made in the spring Of 1898
nv tba Ind oil If u-biO
was prepared in obedience to orders from Spain.
but first the light In print part Of the
report of Special Commissioner Carroll The
Commission recommended five general bases
for the revision and reform of the tariff then
existing
The first was: Declare free from duty all
raw material and machinery, from whatever
source"
The third was: Impose an additional tax of
80 per cent upon all goods similar to those
manufactured or which may be manufactured
in this island. from whatever country they may
be imported"
The committee also said: Protection. protec-
ton and protection in every sense of the word
in all its forms and in every measure-this is
what the industries of Puerto Rico need"
THE NEED OF PROTECTION.
More than one-fourth OF DR.. Carrolrs report
and accompanying documents is devoted to this
subject. and 1t is mighty interesting reading
even for that superior person. the American
free trader. 1t discusses the manufacture of
tobacco cigars and cigarettes soap, matches
soup paste chocolate. boots and shoes, hats,
crackers, ice, tinware clothing, and other enter
prises which had failed, or were languishng on
account OF the high duties imposed by Spain on
the raw materials. For example, take the soap
industry. The Puerto Rican manufacturers
showed that they paid in duties on the raw
materials to manufacture 100 boxes 10000
pounds Of soap. as follows:
Grease. $40 80: rosin, SO 90: caustic soda, 80 |
cents and transitory tax 50 9S making a total of
$50 80 This more than double the amount |