Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-03-16
PORTO R|CANS PROTEST.
Commissioners Appointed at the San
Iuan Mass Meeting, February
2, See the President.
PROTEST AGAINST HOLLASOtR BILL.
They Declare that, Under present.
Conditions, the Enforcement Oh
the Provisions of the Law W."
work Hardship Upon an Already
Impoverished People.

Conditions, the EnIorce"e
she Proyisions of the Law VIII
work Hardship Upon an Already
IMPOVERISHED People.
Washington, March l2.-The presl'
dent granted a special audience 70
Messrs. Wenceslay Borda, Jr., ana
Vincente Balbas, members of the Por-
to Rican commission, which was lp'
nointed at q mass meeting of the citi-
zens Of the island held at Sa@ Juan
on February ., to protest against the
law enacted by the Legislature known
as the nollander bill. This measure
proyides for the raising of revenue
bv property and excise taxes. Messrs.
Borda and Balbas were accompanied
by Mr.. Freeman Halstead, the secre-
tary of the commission, Mr.. Pedro
Salazar, the third commissioner, be"
ing detained in New York.
Formal Protest Presented.
The commissioners presented for-
NAL protest which enumerated Sc
ries of 18 objections to the law. 1o
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 peo-
ple"-the new excise taxes under the
Uollander law, the old insular and
municipal taxes, and the customs du-
ties under the Porto Rican civil gov
ernment act. Under the bill S5OO,ooo
or more will be collected semi-annual"
". in advance, thereby, the protest
saws, lessening the money in circula'
tion (of which there is less than ST.
900, ,O0O) and producing a state of inn
poyerishment and business stagna'
tion, as the taxes are collected by sum-
mary process.
DoubIe-Hcnded Tax.
It is asserted that the measure IS
: both an income and property tax law
that two of the principal Industries
! of the island trum and tobacco are
: taxed so heavily that their produc-
: tion. under present conditions, is
: practically prohibited; that the only
: standard Of valuation of property VIII
/ be the personal opinion of the asses
J. sors, and as they may be appointed by
j politicaI favor, there is danger of in
= Justice to a large section of the com
+ munity from excessive valuations. lr
e view Of the fact that no municipa
|, budgets have been prepared, and ne
d reliable estimate of the value of thu
S taxable property Of the island made
# the great mass of the property own
e ers believe, il is said, that the inter
q ests of the island will be best con
served bv a continuance under tn
present law. which has worked well t
( the present time.
Ready TO Meet Necessary Taxes.
L. The people Of Porto Rico, the pre-
test sets forth, are ready and willin
to meet all taxes necessary for tn
v maintenance of order, justice an
ID good government, but they strenuous
lv object to a tax law, the amount o
> which is uncertain, since no valuauo
+ of property has ever been made i
as the island, and which has been IN
'l- posed upon them without due regar
RI TO the actual conditions OF the cour
d' try or the necessities of the tax pay
re ers. and in a mannerWhich seyerelyo
- presses the wealthy producers OF Po
IL to Rico at n time when the island ha
nd not yet recovered from the ruinot
effect of the recent hurricane an
from the 40-per-cent. reduction of i
circulating medium by the exchane
'' of the provincial money for the Uni
an ed States currency, still further r
duced by the excess of imports ov'
exports.
Requests Preferred.
nd The commissioners ask the pres
- dent that Gov. Allen be directed