Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-02
PORTO RICAN DUTIES
A Message From the President on the
Subject.
APPROPRIATION RECOMMENDE
Action Approved by Members of
the Cabinet.
W ILL STOP CHA ES

After comforting with members Of his
cabinet this morning President Mckinley
sent the following message to Congress:
10 the Senate and House of Representa-
tives:
since the evacuation of Porto Rico By uhe
Spanish forces, on the 18th day of October.
1895 the United States has collected ON
products coming from that island to the
ports OF the United States the duties fixed
by the Dingley act and amounting to So
9'o i''1SS, and viii continue to collect under.
SAID law until Congress shall otherwist. di-
rect Although had the power and hav-
ing IN mind the best interests of the people
OF the island used il. to modify duties on
goods and products entering into Porto
fico' did not have the power to remit or
modlly duties on Porto Rican products
coming into the ports II the United States
In View of the pressing necessity for i'm
mediate revenue in Porto Rico for con-
Quoting the government there and for the
extension OF public education, and in view
also of the provisional legislation lust in
augurated by the House Of REPRESENTATIVE
and for the purpose of making the princi-
pie embodied in that legislation applicable
to the immediate past as well as to the
immediate future. 1 recommend that the
above sum so collected and the sums here
after collected under existing law shah.
without waiting for the enactment of Tho
general legislation now pending, be apprcs
priated for the Use and benefit of the is
land.
tSlgned) WILLIAM MCKINLEY
Executive Mansion. March ., 1907
Approved by the Cabinet
Before the President left for New York
today he sent for members of his cabinet
and there was an informal cabinet session
TO talk over the recommendation which the
President sent To Congress at noon as to
the money which has been received in the
treasury from goods imported to this cr,u,.-
try from Porto Rico. The cabinet unani-
mously approved the Presidents message.
Senator'S Allison .and Foraker and Speaker
Henderson and Representative Cooper
called on the President afterward and also
approved the recomIn endation.
1t Is believed that the recommendation.
with action by Congress to carry il our,
will put a stop To- many of the absurI
charges that Porto Rico is being plunder,S
by this country. The amount fixed IL the
message as having been pcid in on Porto
Rican goods is an estimate of the bureau
OIL StatSUcS. Tha treasury mas kept re1-
ords of the amount and kinds of goo l. r..
ceived in this country from Porto Rico
since the Americans took charge and had
Ituc trouple IN tstil1ldIlnS now much Porto
Rlco has contributed to the expenses #
the government. In brief. the proposition
is to appropriate something over 81 $4,000
to Porto Rico. which. properly distributed
there, will add prosperous times. Congress
will appropriate this for specific wOriss or
in such way that it can be eNper.dcd
under the present military government in
the building of roads, erection OF school
houses and other public works. All This
work will require the services of 4 large
number of working. and the pay they VII
receive will scatter d great deal of money
throughout the island
The treasury can easily spare the money,
as there is a large surplus on hand.