Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-12
a PORTO RICAN PROTEST.
Against the New chem Of Taxation
Imposed Upon the Island.

Against the New scheme Of Taxation
Imposed Upon h Island.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE
President this morning granted asspe-
cial audience to AAessrs Wednesday Bor-
da. Jr., and Vicente Balbas, members
Of the Porto Rican commission which
was appointed at a mass meeting OF
the citizens of the island held at San
Juan on February End to protest
against the law enacted by the Legisla-
ture known as the HIGHLANDER bill. This
measure provides for the raising of
revenue by property and excise taxes.
,Borda and BaIbas were accompanied
by MI. Freeman Halstead, the secre-
tary of the commission, Mr.. Pedro Sal
AGAR, the third commissioner being
detained in New York. The commits
sioners presented a formal protest
which enumerated a series of eighteen
objections to the law. 1t is contended
that there exists to-day in Porto Rico
three taxes levied and collected for the
same purpose from the impoverished
pockets of the people," the new excise
taxes under the Hollander law, the old
insular and municipal taxes and the
customs duties under the Porto R1can
civil government act. Any of these,
it is held, is sufficient to cover the
budget. Under the bill $500, 900 or
more will be collected semi-anhually,
in advance, thereby the protest says,
lessening the money in circulation (of
which there is less than 81, 000, 000) and
producing a state of impoverishment
and business Stag.nation, as the taxes
are collected by summary process. 1t
is asserted that the measure is both an
income and property tax law, that two
of the principal industries of the ISL
and tss:m and tobacco) are taxed so
heavily under it that their production
under present conditions is practical
ly -prohib xed, that the only standard,
of valuation of property will be the
personal opinion Of the assessors, and
as they may be appointed by political
favor, there is a danger Of injustice to
a large section of the community from
excessive valuations. In view of the
fact that no municipal budgets have
been prepared, and no reliable estimate
Of. the value Of the taxable property
of the island made, the great mass Of
the property owners believe, it is said,
that the interests of the island will be
best conserved by a continuance under
the present Foraker law, which has
worked well to the present time. The
people of Porto Rico, the protest sets
forth, are ready and willing to meet
all taxes necessary for the mainten-
ance of order, justice and good govern
ment; but they strenuously object to a
tax law, the amount of which is I'M
certain since no valuation of property
has ever been made in the island and
which has beer imposed upon them
without due regard to the actual con-
ditions of the country, the necessities
of the tax payers, and in a manner
which severely Expresses the wealthy
producers of Porto Rico at a time
when the island has not yet recov-
cred from the ruinous effect of the
recent hurricane and from the 40 per
cent reduction of it's circulating med
ium by the exchange of the provincial
money for the United States currency,
still further reduced by the excess or
imports over exports. The commits
sioners ask the President that Gov.
ALLEN be directed to call a special ses-
SioH VI lie Legislature 10 dIHeHu Tile
law in a which will relieve the
people of the burdens complained OF
and that the Governor be directed to
exercise care in the appointment OF
the assessors.
The commissioners also presented a
petition of bankers, merchants and
other business men of New York and
Philadelphia praying that the protest |
be given due consideration.