The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-06
PUERTO R|CAN TARIFF BILL.
CONGRESSMAN JONES GIVES HIS
REASONS FOR SUPPORTING 1T.
Ing Revenue for the Island, Not
Opposed Ky the Constitution and
better Than Imposing Direct Tax.

Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer
WASHINGTON. March 5.-Representa-
tive w. l.. Jones, upon being asked for a
statement as to his position on the Puerto
Rican bill. said:
Yes, voted for the Puerto Rican tariff
bill. / gave il great deal of thought
and investigation, and the more ! investi-
gated IL the more / am satisfied that the
BILL as passed. is the best bill under all
the. circumstances. There seems to be
general misunderstanding as to this bill,
and l confess that at first | had wrong
idea OF It, In but one paper have / seen
correct statement of this bill. and that
! found In editorial In the Post-Intelli-
gencer OF February q, which / have just
received. There has been a great deal of
abuse and charges of robbery and collu-
sion with trusts and corporations and all
that sort OF thing. which has tendency
TO arouse the prejudice and blind the judy
ments of men
What Is this bill? For what purpose
Is 1t designed? As passed II Is a bin TO
provide revenue for the relief OF Puerto
Rico. II is also temporary in its char
acter and not intended as a permanent
policy, although / am frank TO say that
| am not so sure but what II might be the
very best policy TO continue for that ISL
and A great cry has been raised for free
trade between the United States and those
Islands This bill is practically free trade.
IL Is really a Democratic bill, that is. II Is
tariff for revenue only This is it's sole
purpose. and this il all that 1t will be. IL
Is tariff of Is per cent. of the Dingley
tariff. This must not be misunderstood.
1t is not a Is per cent. tariff. but 10 per
cent. of the present tariff on articles i'm
ported into this country. 1t will touch
mostly sugar and tobacco imported from
that island. 1t viii not be, II is not in
tended to be of any protection 10 our to-
EaCpn mr. yEfl
not affect the price of sugar and tobacco
In any way, because our Importation of
these articles vastly exceed the amount
that viii be imported from Puerto Rico.
For this reason the price cannot be af-
fected.
BETTER Than Direct Taxation.
This revenue, when collected, does not
go to the United States. but is turned over
to the president as a separate fund to be
Used for the benefit OF the island in the
establishment OF schools, the construction
of roads and other necessary improve
ments and the carrying on OF the gov
eminent. This is an important feature of
the bill, and Is the feature in the bin that
is not discussed by any Of the papers and
people who discuss the bill Is there any
injustice in thisl tax Is collected and
used for the people from whom collected.
Where is there any cause OF complaint
upon their part or upon ours? ! cannot
see II. Again. they must have a revenue,
and in my Judgment this is the best way
to get II. Indirect taxation will always be
borne more cheerfully and accomplishing
ly than direct taxation. II we do not raise
revenue in this way. we must raise IL by
internal taxation or else appropriate the
money out OF the national treasury. l
do not care to appropriate money except
as the last resort. Internal taxation
would he more odous to the Puerto
xfttrG n me IA
tion. We do not like direct taxation.
There is far more objection to the coli
lection OF one hundred millions OF internal
revenue than there is OF two or three hun
dred millions of customs revenues, and. II
seems 10 me as a matter OF pacfcation
of the islands. that this Is the better way
to get the revenue. Again. the expense
of collection IS saved. as We can collect the
revenue with our present revenue officers
II IL depended upon Internal revenue we
would have the additional expense OF in
ternal revenue collectors | now ask, who
will pay this tariff? II will come from the
importers. Who are they? They are the
Weather people Of the island. the men
who own the sugar and tobacco,
sugar and Tobacco VIII Pay II.
III is reliably reported that there are
1000 200 pounds OF tobacco held by the
merch and the weather. people OF the
island at the present time and that there
also mlitlpns OF sugar NAlluk the
application Of the tariff to come into the
United States. Cannot these people bet
ter afford TO pay this revenue than TO
place internal taxation upon all classes
OF peopleg IL seems to me so. Instead OF
the sugar trusts and the tobacco trusts
wanting this hlll. they want free trade.
WHY Because Il would give them The
entire profit OF the tariff | am not 50
sure hat It would be more Just 20 put
much higher rate upon their products. But
some say this TAX IL the same the Brit
ism tax against which our ancestors re-
beilea. This Is not so. The British cob
lecied the tax and kept Il. We collect the
tax and give Il back In the way Of Ian
provements. school houses and good gov
eminent. Furthermore. this British tax
vas an internal often called Internal
tax. II was a stamp tax. Our Democrat
IL friends Who have united almost soliaiy
AGAINST this measure. have proposed,
where they propose anything. that ss
should have an internal system OF tax
alton How many times In their platforms
IN this county have they denounced and
dcmandes the repeal Of internal taSations
Not Against Constitution.
We have great problems to face. These
problems must be solved and must be
solved hy he Republican party. The last
ten days have shown that the Democratic
marty as a party. vii line 40 IN opposition
10 any proposed legislation taF our new
possessions. They Wlil oppose. reject and
crstlclse. while the Republicans viii have
60 propose and acl They may make mis-
taxes. but believe that the sober judg-
uaeul Of the American people VIII over
lock these mistakes IN view % the great
good that win BE accomplished, and the
sober thought az the American people,
When they learn the true character ~ this
measure and its OBJECT, viii approve 81 the
action taken
Il couid give many other reasons for
this legislation. but your time and space
ain forbid.
4 might say that, upon the cunstitu-
tional right involved and which has been
argued so extensively in this debate. 7
have never had any doubt IN my mind
from the very day of the ratification Of