The Washington times., 1901-07-08
OUR PORTO RICAN TRADE.
Increases Shown in the Imports and
the Exports as Well.
Figures of the Year Under n Re-
duced Tariff as Compared with
Those Before the United Stntes
Took Charge-Statistics of Interest

TiSures OF the Year Under n Re
duced Tariff ms Compared with
Those Before the United States
Took Charge-Statisticso of Interest
The prompt action of the Porto Rscan
Legislature in notifying the President
that tariff revenue between Porto Rico
and the United States is no longer re-
quired to meet the expenses of the ISL
and, and requesting that all tariff be-
tween the island and the United States
be Immediately abolished in accordance
with the provisions of the Porto Ricdn
act, lends especial interest to some fig
ures just prepared by the Treasury Bu-
reau of Statistics regarding the commerce
between Porto Rico and the United
States since the Porto Rican act went
into effect
The Porto Rican act, which, 1t may be
remembered, went into effect May l. 1850
provided that the United States tariff
should apply in Porto Rico as against all
countries except the United States. and
that the tariff rates between the United
States and Porto Rico should be 10 per
cent of the regular tariff rates for term
of two years, unless the Porto Rican
Legislature should sooner than that time
notify the President that it had made
provision fer local taxation to meet the
necessities of the government of Porto
Rico, whereupon all tariff between the
island and tie United States should be
abolished. This notification, according to
the press dispatches from Porto Rico has
been duly made by the Legislature. the
act signed by Governor Allen, and the
President requested to abolish all Gus
toms duties on goods passing from the
limited int frf,rr1
Porto Rico into the United States, on
July %. 1901. as authorized by the act
above referred to.
The increase in commerce between Por-
to Rico and the United States which has
followed the Porto Rican act. by which
So per cent Of the tariff between Porto
Rico and the United States was removed,
has been very great, especially in exports
from the United States TO Porto Rico.
The act went into effect May 1, 1900, and
the figures for the month of April 1901,
therefore conclude the first year Of com
merce between Porto Rico and the United
States under this act. In that year the
imports from Porto Rico into the United
States We're $3,S27 ,4l3. against S2,21S,273 in
the corresponding twelve months of 1879
1900, and s., l5l,Ii5 in the corresponding
twelve months of 1S97-9S-an increase OF
over % per cent as compared with the
Twelve months enQlfS ADTll 1885, M1E4
the island was under Spanish control IN
exports from the United States to Porto
Rico the increase is still more strongly
marked. the exports to that island during
the first year under the Porto Rican act
being $7lS9. .031, against S3719.940 in the
corresponding twelve months ending with
april 1900, and 81 $50 62I in the correspond
ing twelve months ending with April,
1S9S-an increase of nearly 800 per cent.
TO sum up the developments of trade
between Porto Rico aid the United States
since the Porto Rican act abOlishing IS
per cec.t of she tariff rates between that
effect as compared with conditions be
fore he beginning OF the war with Spain,
1t may be said that imports from Porto
Rico nave Increased 70 Der cent and eX-
ports to that island have increased near
ly 800 per cent. How far the abolition of
the remaining 10 per cent of the Dingiey
tariff rates and the establishment of
absolute free trade between Porto Rico
and the United States will further stimu-
the ports in the United States can only
ne determined by future developments.
The latest figures of the Bureau of Sta
tiStIcS show that about so per cent of the
imports Of Porto Rico are now from the
United States and about 10 per cent Of the
exports of that island are TO the United
States.
The following tables show the exports
from the United States to and imports
into the United States from Porto Rico
in the first year under the Porto Rican
tarin act. compared with the year imme-
diateIy preceding, when the island was
under the United States flag. and with the
year lSg7-9S. in which it was under the
Spanish flag: