The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-03-30
PORTO RICO
TARIFF BILL
A Fair Measure for the Island
and All Concerned
China's ''Open Door Means Much
for Americans in the Celestial
Kingdom and Home Manufac-
turers Uncle Sam In Evidence
Round the World.
lspecial Correspondenee. J


Washington, March 30. Senator
Foraker brought in the Senate last
Tuesday amendments to the Porto
Rico bill which puts it in the shape
in which it is expected to pass that
body. While Senator Foraker will
push for a final vote at an early date
as possible, it is hardly likely that il
will be had before some date next
week. The tariff rates on commerce
between Porto Rico and the United
States as fixed by these amendments,
are as follows:
Fifteen per cent. of the rates of the
Dingley law upon all articles coming
into the United States from Porto
Rico.
Fifteen per cent. of the same rates
upon all articles coming into Porto
Rico from the United States, except
upon articles not dutiable under the
existing or future tariff laws of the
United States, this exception to in
elude also all articles now entered into
Porto Rico free of duty under or
ders issued by the Secretary of War
The free list with us established will
include foodstuffs and other articles
of prime necessity.
The amendments provide that the
operation of these features of the law
are to cease whenever the Legislative
assembly of Porto Rico, provided for
by the bill, shall enact and put into
operation system of local taxation
and by resolution notify the President
of the same, he then to make procla
nation thereof, whereupon free trade
between Porto Rico and the United
States shall obtain and exist.
1t is further provided that all arti-
cles imported into Porto Rico from
countries other than the United
States shall pay duty at the same rates
as are required by law to be collected
upon the same articles imported into
the United States from foreign coun-
tries, except that coffee is to pay
duty OF five cents a pound, COFFEE
imported into the United States not
being dutiable. This is intended to
protect the coffee raisers of Porto Rico
and help them build up that industry.
Spanish scientific, literary and ar
tistic works imported into Porto Rico
for period of ten years, counting
from April H. 1899, are to be free Of
duty, as provided in the treaty Of
peace with Spain, and all books and
pamphlets printed in the English
language are to be admitted free Of
duty when imported from the United
States
Articles of Porto Rican manufacture
coming into the United States must
pay, in addition to fifteen per cent.
of the rates of the Dingley law, tax
equal to the internal revenue tax inn
posed by the United States upon like
articles of domestic manufacture
when withdrawn for consumption or
sale. This applies chiefly to manufac-
tured tobacco and rum
The duties and taxes collected in
Porto Rico under this bill, less the
cost of collection, and the gross
amount of all collections of duties and
taxes in the United States upon ar
ticles of merchandise coming from
the treasury, but shall be held as
separate fund, and placed at the dis
posal of the President for the govern
ment and benefit of Porto Rico
While these provisions do not meet
with the acceptance of those Senators
who favor free trade between Porto
Rico and the United States, either
as matter of constitutional right or
of good policy, they will be supported
by the votes of at least forty six SEN
ators, forty-two Republicans, one
Democrat, McEnnery of Louisiana;
one Independent Kyle, Of South Da-
kota; one Silver Republican, Teller,
of Colorado, and one Silver, Jones Of
Nevada. The general opinion is that
lIl6 IlOuS6 Will hCCcpb tHe blil a. subV
to them by the Senate and SO end the
matter so far as Congress is concerned.
The civil government features OF
the bill are generally acceptable, pro-
viding as they do large measure of
local self government. There is to be
Governor and other executive
officers appointed by the President and
confirmed by the Senate, Legislative
assembly elected by the qualified
voters OF the island, and resident
commissioner in Washington similar
ly elected and paid by the United
States the same salary as Senator
or Representative in Congress. The
inhabitants of Porto Rico are de-
clared to be ''citizens of Porto Rico
and as such entitled to the protection
of the United States. The approval
of the President of the United States
is made obligatory before telegraph or
telephone franchises become operative
in Porto Rico. In the matter Of in
ternal revenue taxation, the Legisla-
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