Willmar tribune., 1900-04-04
PUERTO RICO TARIFF
Senator Davis, of Minnesota, OPP.
poses the Pending Bill.
Ihe Senator Advocates Free Trade, In q
Foricible Manner, With the Island.
He Proposes Establishment
of Internal Revenue.

~~~~ oCA0CO1 <1uVOCaC0B r T0O, 1T8ueS IN u
Foricible Manner, With the Island
He Proposes Establishment
of Internal Revenue.
Senator Davis in opposing the pas
sage of the Puerto Rico tariff bill in
the United States senate, spoke as fol-
| lows:
Mr.. President, I gave notice Of two
amendments which intend to propose to
| the pending bill in regard to the house
| measure. I shall only explain one of
| them at present and that amendment is
| this:
1.-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,
1902
Whatever may be said as to the con-
tent1ons upon the other part of the SUBJ
ject, whether, considering Puerto Rico as
a dependency or Is colony, or as part
| of the United States, we can or cannot
and the United States, there can be no
doubt whatever upon this general prin-
clple that, so far as internal revenue
taxes are concerned in Puerto Rico, no
such question can arise under the distinct
and inherent power of this government to
| levy them. Now, Mr. President, why in
sist, submit in all candor, that a tariff
shall be levied and nothing else?
The bill which passed the senate few
days ago In respect to the government of
Hawaii imposed no tariff duties between
that island, which we erected into a gov
| ernment and the United States. 1t, too,
| is a semi-tropical island. It has the
same range of agricultural productions as
| Puerto Rico.
If there is any reason whatever to i'm
| pose tariff upon the products of Puerto
| Rico, there was the same reason for i'm
posing tariff upon the products of Ha-
Waii. 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 1 hold in
my hand the convention entered into be-
tween the United States and Great Brit
ain for a reciprocity treaty between the
British West Indies, six in number, and
the United States, islands lying in the
! same products and having in a great de-
gree the same character of inhabitants.
Mr.: President, Puerto Rico came to this
| cost the United States three millions Of
dollars to disarm the insurgent army in
cost us dollar to disarm any army in
Puerto Rico, for there was none of the
natives, nor were we called upon to pay
a dollar for any army whatever.
| 1t has been said that this may be
precedent. as to the Philippines, and that
| we must inflict injustice upon the inhab-
shorter, when rebellion is crushed in
those islands and the authority of the
be some difflcult 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
mainder IL apprehension as to the Phil
It is said that American labor and
American industry need. protection by
this method Si Of Legislation, as against San
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, do not care by. what
can labor will be protected SO far as any
apprehension can be ascertained from
| that source.
the Philippines 8,000 Puerto Rico IS an
actual and geological dependency of the
American continent; the Philippines be-
long to to, Asia; s;la: 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 lay the fatter-
| ing JUNCTION to his soul that the editors
of the great journals throughput the
city which does not possess more than
one-do not understand the subject Just
as well as we do It is futile to pretend , IN d
country do not understand a subject so
Simple, as this They understand 99 perfect, ct
course between this country and one Of
its dependencies. and a system Of tax
alton such as I shall propose which. with
no difference except In degree, imposes on
| 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 tithe 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 un-
| taxed. The subjects of taxation which
| bear the heaviest burdens of our United
| States and the municipal governments,
there, of all places in this broad land, go
absolutely scot free Of any taxation g :
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. It 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
taxation as they 4S 90 here ord and else
make communication between Puerto
Rico and the United States, as to all
| goods exported or imported free as 1t 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
the suggestion does not commend 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 have they right
| to say, under the bill of the house as it
is presented in the body of the bill for the
| AS to Puerto Rico they say, "F'ree rum,
! but tax the flour out Of which is made the
| bread that people eat
They say free rum, but tax their CLOTH
| ing.
They say free rum, but tax their boots
| and shoes.
They say free. rum, but tax the medi-
| PRACTICAL PHILOSOPHY.