The Savannah morning news., 1901-05-29
PORTO rico is SAD
SUPREME COURT DECISION DIsAP-
POINTING.
THOUGHT 1T WAS OTHERWISE
WOULD LIKE TO BE FREE AMERI-
CAN CITIZENS.

Al the Same Time They Admit That
1t Would BE Very IncOnvenient to
Have the Internal Revenue Laws
Applied to the IsIand-GOv. Allen
E!ndeavOrine to Arrange for Free
Trade with Germany-The Finnn-
of the Island in Good shape
and Legislature May Be Convened
for Purpose of Arranging for Free
Trade With United states.
San Juan. Porto Rico, May 2S.-The first
report of the Supreme Courts decision in
the DeLima case, received here last night,
which was interpreted as declaring the
taxation of imports from Porto Rico to
the United States is per cent. of the
Dingley duties to be unconstitutional, was
received here with great satisfaction. To-
day, when the full report of the DeI4ima
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 years free trade.
The consensus of opinion of the matter
seems to be that the Porto Rican legis-
sion to declare Porto Rico self-supporting
without collection of customs on imports
between Porto Rico and the United
| States. A general spirit of complaint
that all the Supreme Courts decisions
we're against Porto Rico is noticeable.
When San Juan merchants were question
ed on the subject they manifested much
! he h0A
to have refunded all the moneys paid un-
der the Is per cent. application of the
Dingley duties. 1t was generally expect
| ed that the courts decision would grant
| Porto Rico free trade and her citizens
| full citizenship and constitutional priv
ileges. When told II the latter privileges
had been granted the internal revenue
| laws of the United States would be ap-
| piled to the islands and that all funds
| and customs Hereunder collected would
be deposited in the federal treasury, all
Porto Ricans questioned 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 reve-
nue. and that such collections II attempts
/ ed, would necesstate an even heavier
property tax for the maintenance of Porto
| Rico.
Only few Porto Fican business men
understand the Importance of the Su-
preme Court decisions. Those who are
bankers predict an immediate revival of
business now that the status of the
country has been decided.
| Porto Ricans are generally of the
opinion that their Legislature should
not act. 1t is understood that
Gov Allen is giving his earnest
| consideration 10 the practicability
relations between Porto Rico and Ger
many.
Can Soon Have Free Trade.
As a result of the consultations in
Washington between Gov Allen and Pres
ident Mckinley. Mr. Hollander will, in a
few days, submit report to Gov. Allen,
showing the operations of the formers
new revenue act from which ii will ap-
pear that expectations are entertained as
| to the adequacy of the measure. 1t has
| been fully realized that the insular treas
ury is rapidly approaching a position
where 1t can dispense with the customs
receipts accruing from trade with the
| United States without, in anywise, en-
dangering the present secure financial
| position of the island. BY the provisions
| of section three of the Foraker bill, free
trade becomes operative whenever the
| Porto Rican Legislature passes a resoiu-
ton that an adequate system of insular
| taxation has been put into operation aud
| President Mckinley, upon notification of
this resolution, is to proclaim free trade
| for Porto Rico. If the plan now in con-
| temptation is carried out Gov. Allen win
| convene the Legislature in extra session,
solely for the purpose of passing this res
| oiution. This action will probably be
taken July %. at which time the Hollan-
der bill will have been in force for near.
| ly one month, and it is probable that free
| trade will be declared in October.