Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-05-29
PORTO RICANS DISPLEASED
SUPREME COURT DECISION REGARD
ED AS A MISFORTUNE.
Talk of n Call for an Extra Session
of Legislature to Take
Action.

A dispatch from San Juan, Porto Rico.
yesterday says: The first report of the SUI
preme Courts decision in the De Lima case,
received here last night, which was inter-
preted as declaring the taxation of imports
from Porto Rico to the United States, 10
per cent of the Dingley duties, to be I'M
constitutional, was received here with great
satisfaction. Today, when the full report
of the decisions was published, there was
evidenced a general feeling of disappoint-
ment among Porto Rican merchants, who
had hoped that the courts decision would
give them years free trade. Porto Ricans
are reluctant to believe that today's full re-
port is tue.
The consensus of opinion of the matter
seems to be that the Porto Rican legisla-
ture should be convened in extra session
to declare Porto Rico self-supportins with
out the collection OF customs on imports
between Porto Rico and the United States.
A general spirit of complaint that all the
Supreme Courts decisions were against
Porto Rico is noticeable. When San Juan
merchants were questioned on the subject
they manifested much regret at the out
come, as they had hoped to have refunded
all the moneys paid under the 10 per cent
application of the l>ingley duties. 1t was
generally expected that the courts deci-
sion would grant Porto Rico free trade and
her citizens full citizenship and constitu-
tional privileges.
had been granted the internal revenue laws
of the United States would be applied to
the islands. ard that all funds and customs
Hereunder collected would be deposited In
the federal treasury, all Porto Ricans Ques-
toned in the matter acknowledged that this
would be bad, and that their present status
was preferable, as they did not believe that
the island could stand the collection of
United States internal revenue, and that
such collections, if attempted, would neces-
state an even heavier property tax for the
maintenance of Porto Rico.
Only a few Porto Rican business men
understand the Importance of the Supreme
Court decisions. Those who are bankers
predict an Immediate revival of business
now that the status of the country has
been decided.
The people generally are as much dlsap-
pointed at not being granted American cit
izenship they are with the courts deci-
sion in regard to the tariff. The members
of the cabinet seem to favor free trade.
The islands yearly budget is S2,0O0,0OQ.
A rough semi-official estimate gives an in
come of 100000 year from the property
tax, $4,000 from excise collections under
the HOllander bill and SI5O,UU from Gus
toms collections on imports and exports TO
and from countries other than the United
States The property tax will be in force
July l, and assessments will be made on
an estimated valuation of Sloo,8oo,H93. EX-
else duties are now being collected. Porto
Ricans are generally of the opinion that
their legislature should now act. 1t is UNI
derStood that Governor Allen is giving his
earnest consideration to the practicable
" of securing at an early date free trade
relations between Porto Rico and Ger
many.
By the provisions of section 8 Of the
Foraker bill free trade becomes operative
whenever the Porto Rican legislature pass
es a resolution that adequate system
of insular taxation has been put into OPP
Grafton, and President Mckinley, upon no
LITIGATION of this resolution is to proclaim
free trade for Porto Rico If the plan now
in contemplation is carried out Governor
Allen will convene the legislature in extra
session solely for the purpose of passing
this resolution. This action will probably
be taken July %, at when time the Hol-
lander bill will have been in force for
nearly one month, and it is probable that
free trade will be declared in October.