Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-03-24

Washington, March 22.-The Puerto
Rican cauldron still boils, out with
f,tful and uneven bubble. The latest
compromise which has been suggested
Is the levy Of a sche dule OF duties equal
to Is percent Of the Dingley rates with
proviso that this shall be limited, not to
the definite period like two years, for
instance, but to such period as ma
necessarily elapsa before the Puerto
Ricans can establish system of inter-
national taxation and the machinery for
It's collection.
The explanation of this change is that
that: first, an agreement must DE
reached in some fashion; second, 1t must
not require the humiliation Of the Re-
publicans who in the face of opposition
at home, have insisted upon a nominal
protective tariff between the island and
the mainland Of the United States; and,
third, 1t must be upon basis which can
clearly be explained upon the stump in
the coming campaign.
The limitation of the tariff to two years
as hitherto proposed seems to several Of
on all sides: IF only for two years, why
impose it at all, why not, instead, go
without any tariff, and protect the Re-
publican theory Of the right of congress
TO impose a separate system Of duties on
the island by adding declaratory clause
to the effect, that this is not to be ac-
cepted as a precedent in the case of any
Of the other territorial acquisitions con-
sequent upon the war with SPAIN"
The answer given is that the island
must have some revenue; that it can
obtain this only by internal taxation or
by customs duties; that there is no ma
chinery for collecting internal taxes, and
that 1t would take about two years to
establish a system. Meanwhile it is
argued the island must live. BY the time
Puerto Rico has set up tax system Of
Its own the United States can take their
hands off, except for supervising the
work and the expenditure of the returns.
During the debate in the house on the
Loud bill, relating to second class mail
matter, there was sharp exchange be-
tween Mr.. Mcpherson (Rep.. Ia) and Mr..
Lentz Dem., o., over a charge made by
torney of the lobby which is fighting the
bill; otherwise the debate was without
incident.
Washington, March 22.-War depart
ment officials deny recently published
statements that General Otis campaign
Is costing upward Of 1000 men every
month. According to the official records,
since the American occupation Of the
Philippines, June /, 1898, up to Feb. II.
1900, the date of the last official compila-
tion, the actual mortality in the army
In the Philippines was 65 officers and
1460 men, total Of 1925, or at the rate of
"A deaths month.
More details are contained in the re-
port of Colonel Woodruff. chief surgeon
of the Philippine army. His report,
however. does not extend beyond the end
of the last calendar year. 1t shows that
from the time American troops landed
In Manila up to Dec. l. 1899, the total
number of deaths were 58 officers and
1856 men. OF this number ~ officers and
$40 men died by violence, and 16 officers
Snd 693 men died of disease. Most of
tie deaths by violence occurred in battle.
There were, however. 1877 deaths from
violence outside of actual hostilities.
More than half of the latter class of
deaths were caused by drowning. The
total number of wounded without fatal
results during the period covered by the
reports was 1867.