The Sauk Centre herald., 1900-03-08
THE PORTO RICAN BILL.
Defended and Explained by
Frank M. Eddy of the
Seventh

q statement 10 the people ot MS uis-
trict concerning his support OF the
Porto Rican tariff bill. Mr.. Eddy
says, among other things:
81 donot believe there has ever been
a piece of legislation offered or intro
duced in congress over which there has
been SO much misunderstanding and
misrepresentation.
SIT is true that the president in his
message made his statement: 1t Is the
plan of congress to establishfree trade
between the island of Porto Rico and
the United States, and it is also true
that Mr.. Payne, chairman of the ways
and means committee, in accordance
with the recommendation, introduced
bill to that effect.
Numerous hearings were given
officers who had carefully examined
the conditions of Porto Rico, especi-
ally Gen. Davis, military governor of
the island, who stated before the com
mittee that the conditions Of the is
land were deplorable as result OF a
hurricane that had passed over it: that
in one day two-thirds of all the cur
rent wealth was obllterated, and that
represented Sc, 900, 600 or 81, 900, 900 in
American money! that it's industrial
and financial condition was paralyzed
and that unless it has financial as
sistance from some source continual
paralysis must characterize the future
''He stated further that in order to
provide decently for the island S., 0OO,-
600 must be raised, and the utmost
that could be raised on the island in
the way of direct taxes otherwise was
only 81, 600, 900, and that means must
be got from somewhere to make up
this deficiency. .@ .
at was perfectly manifest to the
ways and means committe- and to the
president and his cabinet that free
trade, while it would improve the is
land to certain extent, would not in
CEcdSc buc fcSCuuCss
ssrhat being the case the committee
began to cast about for expedients for
raising money, and the result was the
bill in question.
''This bill was not drawn by the
ways and means committee, but by
Elihu Root, secretary of war. The
president himself is in favor of the
measure and thinks it preferable, un-
der the existing conditions, to free
trade. - -
? "The president has assured me per.
sonally that he>is in favor of the
measure. and he considers it would be
a misfortune to the inhabitants OF
Porto Rico and disastrous to the in
terests of the Republican party, if it
should fail. So much for standing by
the president. ..... 49,
"Now in regard to the expediency
of the measure: Neither myself or the
general public possess sufficient knowl-
edge of the condition of the Porto Ri
can peop.e to form an accurate judge
ment. ...,.... .. ~.
'sIt should be borne in mind, at all
times, that not dollar of revenue so
raised goes into the treasury of the
United States, but every single cent is
to be expended for the benefit of the
Porto Ricans in building school houses,
roads, bridges and other internal i'm
provements, that they may be lifted
out of their present deplorable condi-
tion and lifted up until they become
able to establish an intelligent local
government, so that they can make
the necessary legislation and care for
themselves the same as any other Amer
ican state or territory.
"It should also be borne in mind
that not one cent of this money will
ever be paid by any man who works
for living, either in Porto Rico or
the United States.
SNOW, where does this opposition
come from? Practically allthe exports
for Porto Rico from the United States
consist of canned meats, -four, rough
lumber agricultural implements and
cotton cloth.
''Under Spanish rule these imports
had to pay practically prohibitive
duty before they were landed in Porto
Rico; for instance, -four had to pay q
duty OF 6 per cent barrel; under this
law 1t has to pay 30 cents, yet the -four
manufacturers cry out that 1t is uncon-
stitutional and that the poor people in
Porto Rico are being uniustly imposed
upon while the manufacturers Of
canned meats raise their voices in lam
entation, declaring that 1t is not only
but grossly immortal
to pass the law.
''They may be earnest In these mat
ters and their statments may represent
their honest opinions, but until the
great milling interests manifest a