New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-09-10

COMMISSIONERS W h ElsLlOIT SAYS THERE
= No EXTRAORDINARILY PRO
VISION WELCOMED AS A RELIEF
FROM BURDEN OF TAXATION
chicago. sept. CspeciaD.-secretary Heath Of
-. r2epi,blican National Committee until re-
.--rv First Assistant Postmaster-General. has
.rs- received g letter from Captain William H
---rt7.. 81 present Commissioner for the Depart-
- NJ The Interior q Porto Rico, upon the
-.r..,sl. social and commercial conditions Of
..sr island Captain Elliott went to Porto Rico
: .1e latter part Of 1895 and was the frst
T,.-artor-Ge-eraI OF Posts for the island and
- mat Office until Porto Rico became all in
.s,enaent territory. last June. when he was
---oi-re5 70 his present place. Captain Elliott
: Al experienced journalist and keen OBJ
es--s- and writes most interestingly upon the
--sss-, conditions and the future OF Porto Rico.
=. states that Porto Ricans read with IN
l-.-.= sunrise and open eyed wonder in news
--a-s ~ the North the fragrant ulisrepresenta-
- &c 70 me operation q the recently enacted
- raw By Congress; that there is no dissatis-
s.,--or whatever existing with that law among
=. -4al residents Of Porto Rico. and that IN
e. al who intend 10 remain residents OF the
,,,,-5 rot ony t1dOrse their tariff law. but de-
80 - continuance in order 10 afford the island
-sre-yes for internal Improvements. the con
s--,c-5o- u roads. drainage, schooIhouses, edu-
rs-.-- etc Re speaks about the little dissatis-
e.--.o1 that has been stirred upon the island
,s be,nE for political purposes and as coming
4-,-- Standards who DO not intend 10 be our
subjects Continuing his interesting letter. Cap
czin Elicit says
Ts- II &c borne Il mind that material for the
= 81 z-eir5 stories published bv the Demo-
- = rs fS had nv E-a-7
ts-ss sg- The purpose Of bringing the citizens OF
E---7 Rico into 5isrepUte and with the hope,
ss-s4 and caIIacicUs though Il may prove. OF
Yea ksrizg ire efforts being put forth under
ne AK Of Congress 10 organize al equitable
-f~5l GOVERNMENT that viii accord every man,
~feh or poor black or white. liberty and JUS
-5-e and IL leu thereof turn the island over as
z-r1s % TIE rspaCi0Usly rich and bruralIy harsh
spanish tasknaa ers as n The past
I; Is e burning shame and disgrace 10 Arneri-
cau Journalism that newspapers, even Demo
r-s-sc should seek 70 breed discomfort strife
g-d 5.s.0yaI-y among and 70 belitIle and bring
tn,o contempt e people who so universally en-
h-sce5 The opportunity 70 cast their lot with
he citizens q The great Republic, and are so
earnestly striving 70 follow the light OF kDOwi-
edge n z correct understanding OF tbs laws,
methods customs and habits o. those oy whom
-he~ would tcpe 70 merit welcome as comrades
AID brothers 4 teaLry and devotion 10 the coun-
~ q Washington, Lincoln and Mckinley.
sPANIARDs STIR Up DIsCoRD
When legislation was pending in Congress
and re Democratic party arrayec Itself II OF
position n he measures O he Republican ma
-7rTry-1o strange cl-cursrance-the Spanish
element = Porto Rico, as means O. creating
fscc-d azE dissatisfaction, actively egttated the
Democratic view. 4 slrewc and constituencies
-ep-eser-aC.vs q E notorious Democratic news
-aue- II New-york came here 10 engineer the
scheme So-called mass meetings were hslo 10
protest against the proposed legislation CITIZENS
signed memorials and letters, Aortd crauory y as
indulged and z great deal CT noise was made.
-ea-tv Al BY Sue-.zrds or that class q pUr-
= ANN love
less representative 70 make up delegations
labelled rom one town one day and from an
other the next The engineer OF the scheme re-
turned . NeT-40-k- ne c-aI1aor aao CONFUSION
sutside6 with his disappearance from The scene,
and then II dawnec upon his dupes that II me
advertisement CT MS newspaper ana z long AsL
r cash subscriptions by men who would need
u h5-= ~ interpreter 70 read the news 70 them
he ha6 successfully accomplished the purpose OF
his Nilsson And the Foraker ola vas passed
by Congress
TIE Foraker Tari1 6iu was enacted after
tuL and ample deba-s. during which history was
appealed e for Information. he statutes we're
searched for presidents, and The situation as II
existed Vas made clear 70 al concerned n ap-
pl-ca--C1 Il may not prove perfect Il i should
develop II practice that there are material OInis-
sicns or provisions not applicable 70 the COndi-
hons. ne defects can be easily cured But. upon
rae whole. ne law is good one. It's enactment
vas hailed with Joy by the people e long
step Z The direction Of free government and as
he harbings- OF The liberty they had SO long
prayed tor- and they are grateful for the oppor-
Iuzt-y Il aEor5s
great deal OF political smoke was raised
over the tariff provision q the bill, which. as
finally passed carried only Is per cent OF the
Dlngley law. the net proceeds 81 the Porto
Rlcs1 end and the gross proceeds a. the States
end q The line 70 De paid into the Treasury OF
Porto Rec as revenue FOR the support OF the
Government until such time, within two years
The iIsulsr Government should provide q
E---ce1l revenue oy system OF internal taxa
-0Z- The reason for attacking the wisdom Of
this provision e found IN the dire necessity OF
The opposition. To well informed people here
WLo realized that there was 10 other possible
means q meeting the expense q aCCntEisrrati ton
-ltl Legislature could be elected, meet and
enact avs property be listed, taxes levied and
-o-ecle1-2 task OF large proportions and not 10
% Immediately performed - the objections
seemed silly Porto Rico has always relied on
customs duties as the chief source OF revenue;
olae- taxes related The necessities. rice. beans
e eoeAsk principally, and the poor man paid
Ie11- nc -ich planter, the wealthy landlord
1-o ne pcEsessor OF personal property gong
sc9t re Al classes saw n the car1E provision
present relief from the burden OF taxation, and
Is its operations are observed there IS general
eongrsrulaIl0n that the real friends OF Porto
t-co L Congress stood firmly by the PROPOSE
lon- Indeed, the question e even now being
discussed whsther the Legislature shall not petit
[-on Congress CC repeal The limiting clause and
Jet that portion oS The law remain permanent.
merely materially tightening the burden OF IN
IeT1A- taxation L is argued and with force,
Laat ne result would be 70 divert the trade OF
re Island 70 the United States and cement COM
1ercls- relations
APPOINTMENTS INSPIRE CONFIDENCE
I goes without saying that the appointments
q % made BY the President under the law were
regarded VIII deep concern. and II the DeSln-
ing some Inparieuce was shown over seeming
-7-ay B1r the names OF the appolnteeS
ere announced and IL became evident that only
--5A q hlgh character al home were being con-
s-1erec and selected complaints ceased, ano
-t1i.o ocy was content 70 await the exercise OF
ae Presidents Judgment and discretion. the
-. comp -er.r.Cn OF the LIST CT appointment ;
slcLeC general apDrOyal- The regulations OF