Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-03-23

strongly to urge that the customs duties
between Puerto Rico and the United
States should be removed"
This was based largely upon the re-
ports of special commissioners sent to
investigate and upon the recommended
ton of Gevernor-General Davis, who
was summoned to Washington for con-
sultaton and who put his official opinion
IN these words:
"If the trade conditions between the
island aud the United States remain as
at present. only Industrial paralysis can
be expected. But if, on the other hand,
the productions of Puerto Rico can be
Admitted free into the United States,
there will be brought about condition
iustifving the prediction that the island
can carry and finally discharge the entire
burden of an exchange of the present
currency for the American on the basis
of the bullion value of the pesos.
THE only remedy for the industrial
condition can suggest is the opening of
markets for accumulated surplus of pro-
auctions. Until this Is done the paralysis
must continue, and the poor and help
less. in increasing numbers, must be fed,
or they will starve to DEATH
Soon afterwards President Mckinley
sent his annual message to Congress and
after reciting the facts said:
"Since the cession Porto Rico has been
denied the principal markets she had
long enjoyed, and our tariffs have been
continued against her products as when
she was under Spanish sovereignty.
She has lost her free Intercourse with
Spain and Cuba without any compensat-
Ing benefits in this market. The mark
cts of the United States should be open
ed up to her products. Our plain duty
is 10 abolish all customs tariffs between
the United States and Puerto Rico and
give her products free access to our
markets"
The ways and means committee of the
house, at the head of which the cruel
fate that removed the lamented Dinglcy
had left PAYNE of New York. at once re-
ported a bill in accordance with the
promises of General Miles and the recon-
men iation of the secretary of war. Gen
eral Davis and the president, providing
for free trade between Puerto Rico an |
the rest of this country. A few days
later Payne appeared with an amend
ment which entirely changed the char
actcr of the bill, repudiated the pledges
Of Miles. rejected the recommendations
OF Root and Davis and stamped as false
the presidents statement of "ouT plain
duty" by imposing duty of % per cent,
which was subsequently changed to II
per cent, upon Puerto Rican products
sent to the United States, and this
amended bill has been put through the
house as party measure and is nov
pending in the senate.
That this sudden, complete and unex-
pected nopover, involving a refusal to
discharge "plain duty" TO "A starving
people. FIR whose welfare we are respon-
sible, and a reputation Of pledges SOL
EMMY made there by our authority, pro-
voked such storm of Indignation and
protest. and caused such revolt among
Republicans, especially in the West, as
has never before confronted a Republi
can majority in congress, is stating the
fact very mildly. That the bill, which
passed he house, was tremendous pO-
litical mistake became apparent as soon
as the country was heard from, and a
shrewd and somewhat successful at
tempt was made, upon recommendation
of the president, to temper the atrocity
of the measure by an act providing that
all duties collected under it shall be eX
pended for the benefit of the Puerto
Ricans in the support of schools and
construction of roads.
The excuse given for refusing to dis
( charge "Our plain duty" which is the
same now it was in December. Is that if
we do it we may form precedent which
will be troublesome when we have to de
eide upon what terms we will do bust
ness with the Philippines; but the real
reason. as every one knows, is that the
protected interests which feared Puerto
! Rican competition got ar those in control
of the bill and changed it 10 suit them
selves. As it stands it is not a bill fol
relief or Justice to Puerto Rico but fol
the benefit of the sugar and tobacco in
terests.
Finally it should be said that the bill
Is everywhere admitted TO be unconsti
tutional unless it he established that the
constitution does not apply to our new
possessions, and that congress may i'm
pose upon them any legislation it please'
without the slightest regard to the re
strictiOns of the fundamental law.
This we believe is fair and moder
ately plain statement of the Puerto Rice
question as it is today.-MirrOr anC
Farmer.
= Vermont Horseman in Oregon.
II. w. Goodrich of Poultney, Vermont
was IA caller at the Rural Spirit Oilic
this week Mr. Goodrich handles all o
the horses bred on Mr.. c. Y. Larrabee'
Brook Nook farm and is out on visit
and to get a sniff of our climate tina
produces such high class horses. Mr.
Goodrich says the horse market in til
East Is climbing up every day, but tn
hnr-o ahoxu. thara hava odnootal ~,