The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1901-01-05
rORANER ON PORTO RICO,
0aa0 SENATOR REplWS 10 ESPgES.
NgNC HARRISON.


the recent speech at Ann Arbor,
Michigan, of former President Ben,
jamin Harrison. in which Mr.,
Siarrison cgStIelsea the Porto Rican
policy of the GoeernmenS charact,
eriatag II rs q departure from corr
rect principles In a speech be-
fore the Manufacturers club of
this city last night Senator For,
ae&er said on this points .'
"Au the questions arising upon
the Porto Rieau legislation are
soon to be passed upon by the Sup
RENE court For that reason I do
not care to discuss them at this
time, but it is in order to say that
the view taken by the Congress,
as reflected by that legislation. was
eredtahle 10 the generosity, the
patriotism aud the industrial spirit
ofthe American people We found
Porto Rico as poor AZ poverty could
make her. She had no money, no
credit no system of taxation OF
any kind, She wanted a civil
government and a revenue to sup
port II, We gave her q farmore
liberal civil government than was
ever given to any Territory prior
to the civil war; so far as partici.
patton in it by her people is con-
cerned, and we dealt by her more
generously in providing support
for that government than we have
ever yet dealt with any Territory,
"In reQuireing her to pay tariff
duties ON imports from foreign
countries, we did only what we
did with Louisiana, Florida, Cali
forniN and all the other Territories,
but in allowing her to put these
duties, when collected into her own
treasury for the support of her To-
cal government we did what was
never done before for any body else;
for In oil other cases we have not
only required the payment of these
same duties, but we have also re.
Quired them, when they are collect
ed, to be paid into the national
treasury at Washington for the heu'
eft of the whole country; and as. to
duties OH commerce between Porte
Rico and the United States, we
did not levy IS per cent, but we
temitted 8S per cent Of the e%'
Eisting rates ON a numberof articles
and tlsefWhole duty on all the rest
and provided that the IS per cen
should he RENTED Oh or aEtei
March 1909 or sooner, IL tho
Legislature of Porto Rico shall sC
provide, and that in the mean while
al collections of this IS per cent
both there aud III the United States
shall be pnid over to Porto Rice
for her own support. We made
this provision because 1t was th'
easiest and least burdensome wa!
possible to raise indispensable reve
; nue. for their Government, and 40
because 1t was In any sense q bene
fit TO either our Government or on
people,
Z 'rhe Porto Rican Legislature
now Ia session, but neither this
' body or any member of 1t nor any
body else, has taken any step t
= repeal or alter the tax system s
imposed by Congress. On the cor
y trary, oil concerned alike testify I
the highest satisfaction with WIFI
u Congress has done, and the reque'
will be unanimously made that ii
provisions enacted may be continI
n ed, If not indefinitely, at least ant
y some satisfactory system Of prop
y taxation may be substituted.
y y "ln addition, II should be state
/ that Congress, also In the san
Il generous spirit, exempted Por
j. Rico from oil internal revenue Ia,
j. ntion-~another favor never befo
J. !, extendcd to any people anywhcr
"a "Yes, 1t Is true that the legisl
.r ton for Porto Rico was a 'depa
I'd ure' but Is not true that Il was