The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-29
WAL FROM PORTO R|CD.
ISLANDERS ARE DISAPPOINTED AT
SUPREME COURT DECISION
IN DOWNES CASE
WANT TO HAVE FREE TRADE
ON THE OTHER HAND THEY WOULD
OBJECT TO U. S. INTERNAL
REVENUE
ARE OF VARYING OPINIONS

SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, May 28-Tha
first report Of the supreme courts de-
cision in the De Lima case received here
| last night, which was interpreted as de-
claring the taxation of imports from
Porto Rico to the United States Is per
cent of the Dingley duties to be uncon-
stitutional, was receiv ed here with great
| satisfaction. Today, when the full re-
port of the De Lima case was published,
there was evidenced general feeling Of
disappointment among Porto Rican
| merchants, who had hoped that the
courts decision would give them a year s
free trade. Porto Ricans are reluctant
to believe that today's full report is
true.
The consensus Of opinion of the mat
ter seems to be that the Porto Rican leg
islature should be convened in extra
| session to declare Porto RICO self-sup-
porting without the collection of Gus
toms on imports between Porto Rico and
the United States. A general spirit of
complaint that all the supreme court S
decisions were against Porto Rico is nc
ticeable. When San Juan merchants
were questioned ON the subject they
manifested much regret at the outcome,
as they had hoped to have refunded all
the moneys paid under the Is per cent
application of the Dingley duties. 1t
was generally expected that the court s
decisions would grant Porto Rico free
trade and her citizens full citizenship and
constitutional privileges. When told if
the latter privileges had been granted
the internal revenue laws of the United
States would be applied to the islands
and that all funds and customs there
under collected would be de-
posted In the federal treas
ury all Porto Ricans questioned
in the matter acknowledged that this
would be bad and that their present
status was preferable, as they did not be-
lieve that the island would stand the
collection of United States internal rev.
enue and that such collections, If at
tempted, would necessitate an even
heavier property tax for the mainten-
ance of Porto Rico. Only few Porto
Rican business men understand the i'm
portance of the supreme courts de-
cision. Those who are bankers predict
an immediate revival of business, now
that the status Of the country has been
decided.
The manager of an important American
bank. who requests that his name not be
used. saws he is in favor of the tariff
unless it is absolutely proved that Porto
Rican internal revenues suffice for the
islands needs.
PORTO RICAN OPINION.
Inc j. silva DdHhIIlS CO4uPellAS 6SN1o'
1.-The whole thing is a fiascO. We
would like to be citizens of the United
States, but without the application Of
United States internal revenue collec-
tons The latter would kill our indus
tries"
The Fritze Lundt company, who are the
largest shippers Of sugar in Porto Rico,
said:
THE constitution of the United States
applies when against us, but not when
in our favor This has always been so
since the beginning. If the tariff had
been removed at first Porto Rico would
now have double crops. The American
system of taxation cannot be applied
here; there should be some sensible tax
on flour and rice, but sugar should be
free. This legislation appears to be for
Americans and against Porto Ricans."
Mullenhof Korber, large banking
house, said:
This is big step forward. Spain
would not have returned anything. 1t
would be a hard blow if the internal rev.
enues of the United States were ap!ied
here
W. L. Mari, manager of big sugar
plantation said:
1.-The distinction is too fine to under