Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-04-12
THE PORTO RICAN MEASURE
Synopsis of the Bill As 1t May
Become a Law.
Pro visions OF the Tariff
Feature The Plan of Civil Govern
ment-Insular Oflcials-The Fran
chise Law Revision.

The action of the Senate on the Porto
| Ilican bill indicates strong probability
that the measure will become law I'm It's
present form. 1t has been amended, and
the amendment, which imposes a duty on
coffee imported into Porto Rico and eX-
empts Spanish literary. scientific and
tistic works from payment of duty for
period of ten years and for an indefinite
time books in the English language when
imported from the United States, may be
non-conCurred in by the House, but the
Senate In respect 10 free trade has concur
red in the action OF the House and the
only way to kill the tariff provision is to
kill the Porto Rican bill itself
! In view of these facts and the prospect
that the bill will become law as 1t now
stands, a synopsis of it's provisions print
ed by the New York Tribune will be per-
tinent and of general interest. 1t pro-
Nidcs for a tariff equal to IL per cent of
/ the DinCleN duties on the imports into
the United States from Porto Rico, and
the same on imports into Porto Rico from
the United States, except that duty of
> cents a pound is imposed on coffee inn
ported into Porto Rico from any country;
for the free admission into Porto Rico of
all articles exempted from payment of
duties by the DinEley law, and also for
the free admission of Spanish literary,
scientific and artistic works for "A period
Of ten years, and books in the English
language for all time to come when the
same are imported from the United
states. When articles are subject to in
| ternal revenue tax either in the United
states or Porto Rico the same shall be
/ assessed and collected in addition to 10
per cent of the Dingley duties. The free
/ list is also extended for imports into
Porto Rico from the United States so as
! to embrace all articles so admitted at
present by virtue of existing executive
orders, The Dinglcy rates of duty are TO
! he assessed and collected on all dutiable
articles imported into Porto Rico from
countries other than the United States.
All duties and taxes collected by virtue
of the act are to be held as separate
fund for Porto Rico and disbursed for its
benefit under the direction of the Presi-
dent. and all uncXpended balances there
of when the act ceases to be operative
are to be turned into the Porto Rcan
treasury for the benefit of the island. The
foregoing provisions shall cease to be OPP
erative except as to imports into Porto
Rico from countries other than the Unit
ed states on March !, 1902 or sooner, If
Porto Rico shall have enacted a law and
put into operation a system Of local taxa
ton sufficient TO meet the necessities of
its government
! PLAN OF CIVIL GOVERNMENT
| In regard to the establishment OF a civil
government in the island. the bill provides
thai the inhabitants of the island, except
such shall elect before April II. 1900 to
remain subjects of Spain, are declared to
he citizens of Porto Rico, and as such en-
titled to the protection of the United
States, and they, together with such citi
Zens of the United States who may re-
side in Porto Rico, shall constitute a body
polite under the name of the people of
Porto Rico "
4 All laws and ordinances of Porto Rico
now in force shall continue so except az
changed or modified by this act. or hy
military orders in force at the time of
its passage so far AS the same are not
in conflict with the statutory laws of
the United States not locally inappicablc
or the provisions of this act. until altered
modified or repealed by the legislative
authority hereinafter provided. Provid-
ed that so much Of the law as was in
force at the time of cessiun (April H. 1890
forbidding the marriage of priests, minis
tiers of followers of any faith because of
VOWS they may have taken is hereby re-
poalod and annu.Icd; ana provided fur
Their thai the laws and orders relating 20
divorce he and are amended so as to read.
/ "A,luIterv on the part of either the hus
band or the wife"
The commissioner OF NAVIGATION shall
make regulations for the naturalization
of Porto Rican vessels. and for the odmis-
sion of rho same to m, benefits of tho
coasting trade and the head of the ma
lantira stations ,d ornt ,ho 1,, 4Vi,.
rocuiotiore In 40 is1a,,j
, T'bo cojne of porto pic sb,,, 10 ro.i.o,
ana oxcb,rcod for I-ri,ad ctat, ,Ii,,'. =,
tbo rate az ,no oorts or ,bn r,r,o,. -, 20
cents of t,o latter .,rd ,C,.r ,na n,.,,i,,
tion of th,oo nortbs fror, to ar -
thie 40, 10 1,ttor sl,ou ~ ,,,I,' ,,
tondnr In Porto piro ,or ;,dah;ad,,7.
tbnreoftnr cortroc,.d
All in. aconired in po,to pi.o ~. .ho
I-pitod ctotos rrfor tb,, ,ro,+,. -, 49,,
to publjc bridges roadhousos wator nou'
ers highways unnavir,blo s,raa,'s
s,,btorrancan u,.ors ,,I,a 80 80
oroIe ,,ndor 10 ~ -, 49,
,,atn ,onds onI il ,o,,o,., , -
lion baIn,oo, ,,r,io. ,b 49,. 80
rho,, II, fa,.e, e. ,hn m 49,, ~ SP'',n
hon,.i. 80 ~, NJ ~ W., no
,ho,, io',e,' W "nL an we iat po,
Iva, t, ~, "'',' W. '',''''"'.u
,,a,;o,,o iU' '' ,',''"5 i,'' 10y 1'.'S "l
D.. ,.i' 10 'iie
- ~ 80 So n rii..-"t i'i ''9 peieHl
Vi ~ lnop'1 ". oi'o MO;
name OF the nlttd States, all criminal