BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-11
!. SAN JUAN, OCTOBER /,
editorial Comment.

" N04 kuo poUpAo VI y OAbO AetOo WoAO ~
prised By oablegrsm to the BOLETIN that
the War Department had decided to with
draw the concession to Porto Rican
coffee By which it~=hsd-. been permit
tad TO enter the ports CT Cuba at
n schs lower rsts t6sn coffee I en- other
countries, much surprise was felt and many
speeR!ations we're indnlged in as to the
motives schick could have induced the
United Ststes Government 70 take such
action, which unsx xplaiped appeared like an
ancalled for blow at the Porto Ricsn coffee
industry. Cnder the Cuban tariff % fixed
by tho Military authorities special rebate
sf 40 per 100 k,los was allowed on coffee
coming into OubA from Porto Rico. The
gemoyal. OF this special concession was ci
course . serlcus matter for Porto Il can ex.
.porters to. Cuba, bat a. it turns out the War
Department had very good reason for
/, tshpg this step, and a reason which will ai
once appeal to the people cf Porto Rico who
hSvs been fighting the Introduction of the
cheap Brsziliah coffee into this Island.
! In last nights BOLETiN we printed ex
tracts frm Washington dispatches to the
! New York Evening Post, from which il
will 10 seen that Bras lian coffee, advantage
being taken Of the removal,of the duty in
Porto Roo, was being shipped here from
New York and resbipped to Cuba - Porto
Rican coffee to avoid Ihe regular duty Of
4i2l6 per 100 kilos A dnty ,0bich had to
I BE- paid on coffee from ell other countries.
Tkis being reportsi to the War Depart.
msnt il acted promptly and to break mp this
I usiarioas. practice, took the only course open
30 it, and Dy compelling coffee from Porto
Rice to pay the fu duty, took away all
indacsment for tie shipment ard reship
aAsnt Of cheap c.ffes.
Aud the War Department. was right
Ear hatter that rorto Rican coffee should
eAtsr the market Of Cuba in i.s true charac-
ter and upon ifs merits, even if it had TO pay
. little more du y, rather than that far
Inferior grade u c. ff,e, taking advantage Of
i he poncessioR intended for our coffee alone
shodld masquerade az Porto Rican coffee and
In time RUIN the well earned reputation OF
s6arsup rior product.
There 10 an important fact which must
net be overlooked in this connection, tact,
tadssd, which should bring great encourage
lnent to those who are looking for the res
t1ration Of the protective Eve per cent duty
yQn our coffee The prompt action taken BY
tie United States authorities shows that
thsy are fully alive to the danger, not only
{, Porto Rico, bat TO Cuba, Of the presen.
'scpta duorn InaiyertsDll, left by Congress
sAnea -it authorised the President Of tie
UDi:td States TO declare Dnimit d fref
Irsds between The United States and this
isiAnd hpol cyrs.in conditions, which have
kesB iul6 led. Soisr AZ it. was in trsir
es&& he ala "A ri H.
they have closed il as far ast uba is concern
ssd; al IslSnd in which the Military "Gsn-
srai Oider' is still all powerful.
.sssaA 10 Porto ltieo, however, where Clvh
Cover. ment has bssn established and the
isFfi has been tiIed under fke provisions Of
he Organic Act of April IL, 1900, the
aetnAtiop Ia en- iseiy different. No EIs scntiye
sOrder eal add to or take from the duty ON
'sny article, Congress heiDg The only body
possessing such. power. TAis Cuban incident
SHOWS, however, that IN appealing 10 Don
g'esa for The closing of that dangerous oprn
door, By the restoration Of the five per cent
dnsy, we wilI have the active support Of the
Executive authorities, and undoubtedly the
President will include such . recommend
stion to.UOngress in his regular message At
tie 70 cOnyening Of that body in December.
At the same time these interested should
pat forth every effort and neglect nothing
khht could terd to secure this much desired
fesuik. Petitions should be addressed to
Dongrtss by our commercial bodies, By the
municipalities and BY the planters. The
Governor will undoubtedly do Ms share and
onr Resident Commissioner in Washington
will Of course be patent factor in impress
ipg upon the members Of the National Leg
'lslstaFs ths vital importance Of this matter.