Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1901-05-30

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, May g9.-The
decisions of the supreme court in the
insular cases occupied much Of the
time of the president and cabinet on
the trip across the state of Iowa yes
terdav. The decision in the De Lima
case. if followed in the Philippines
case, might result in calling an extra
session of congress. In the De Lima
case the court decided that duties col
lected on Porto Rican goods before
congress enacted the Foraker law
were Illegal and must be refunded. II
is presumed the court, following the
same lines Of reasoning, will decide
that duties collected on goods for the
Philippines were also Illegal, and are
subject to free entry into the United
States until congress acts. Such de
cision would open the ports of the
, United States to merchandise and
goods of every description from the
Philippines, until congress meets in
December. Importers might take adj
vantage of this to ship goods into the
United States through the Philippines
and mus defraud the governing L Of
revenues. Whether the danger from
this source is great enough to warrant
calling congress in an extra session is
one which will be decided only after
full elaboration. 1t is possible, how
ever, this danger may have been al
ready obviated in the enactme Of
.,,p,I,,tir,, l.1auotino -
porarily to the president the power to
govern the Philippines. But it is a
delicate question and members Of the
cabinet decline to discuss the subject
for publication.
San Juan, May 29.-The first report
of the supreme courts decision IN the
De Lima case, which is interpreted as
declaring that taxation of imports
from Porto Rico to the United States
at Is per cent. of Dingley duties IS un-
constitutional was received here with
great satisfaction. When the full re-
port of the case was published these
was evidenced a general feeling Of dis
appointment among Porto RiCan mer-
chants who had hoped the courts de
cision would give them years free
trade,
The consensus of opinion seems to
be that the Porto Rican legislature
should be convened in an extra SIS
sion to declare Porto Rico selt-suD-
porting without the collection Of Gus
toms on imports between Porto Rico
and the United States. The general
spirit of cOmplait that all the SUI
preme courts dec lions were against
Porto Rico is motto able. When san
Juan merchants were questioned on
the subject they manifested mucn re-
greet at the outcome as they had hoped
to have refunded all moneys paid un-
the fifteen per cent. application OF the
Dingley duties. 1t was generally OK
pected that the courts decisions would
grant Porto Rico free trade When told
if constitutional privileges had been
granted the internal revenue laws OF
the United States would be applied TO
the islands and that all funds and Gus
toms 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 pr
ferable, as they did not believe the
island would stand the collection OF
internal revenue and that such cClIe"-
tons, attempted, would necessit1te
even a heavier property tax for the
maintenance of Porto Rico. Only 4
few Porto Rican business men under
stand the Importance of the supreme
courts decisions. Those who arc
bankers predict an immediate revival
of business now that the status of 'hc
country has been decided.
Washington. May 29-Interest in
the supreme court decisions centeced
at the war department yesterday and
efforts were made to ascertain the Ii
tention of the department regarding
the Philippines as they are under the
departments control Secretary Root
would express no opinion, saying he
lad not yet the full text of the dsci-
sion before him.
Several senators and representa-
tives called on the secretary yesterday
and discussed the situation with him.
Among these were Senator Lodge Of
Massachusetts, chairman of the Philip
pine commission of the senate. He
expressed the opinion that the deci-
sions of the court would make Philip
pine legislation absolutely necessary
IN the coming session Of congress. lie
81
der the Spooncr law the president had
absolute power to provide for revenue.
both customs and internal, for the / hi
Iippine islands in the general scheme
for a Philippine government. 1t is be
lieyed that the war department viii
promulgate a tariff for the Philippine
soon.