New-York tribune., 1901-07-08
TRADE WITH PORTO RICO.
COMMERCE HAS GROWN AMAZINGLY
SINCE THE PORTO RICAN ACT
WENT INTO EFFECT.

washinnton Julv : fSpeciaD.-The prompt action
Of the Porto Rican Legislature IN notl1yHS the
President that tariff revenue between Porto hlco
and the United States is no longer required 10
meet the expenses of the island and requesting that
all tariff between the island and the United states
he Immediately abolished in accordance with the
provisions of the Porto Rican act lends especial
interest TO some figures just prepared by the
Treasury Bureau of Statistics regarding the COM
merce between Porto Rico and the United States
since the Porto Rcan act went into effect.
The Porto Rican act provided that the United
States tariff should apply in Porto Rico as against
all countries except the United States. ana that
the tariff rates between the United States ana
Porto Rico should be Is per cent OF the regular
tariff rates for term of two years. unless the
Porto Rican Legislature should sooner than 'hat
time notify the President that II had made pro
vision for local taxation meet the necessities OF
the government of Porto Rico, whereupon all tarln
between the United States and that island should
be abolished This notification. according to the
press dispatches from Porto Rico, has been duly
made by the legislature. the act signed by Gov
ar,or .uep and the President requested to abolish
all customs duties en- goods passing from the
Tinted States into Porto Rico from Porto Rico
into the United States on July %, 1901, as authoF-
zed by the act above referred to-
The increase in commerce between Porto RICO
and the United States which has followed the Porto
Rican act by which S5 per cent Of the tarlr oe-
tween Porto Rico and the United States was re-
moved has been great, especially in exports from
United states
effect on Nav l. 1900. and the figures for the month
of April 1901 therefore conclude the first year OF
commerce between Porto Rico and the United
States under this act. In that year the imports
from Porto Rico the United States were S3,e2-
413 against S2.21S.27S in the corresponding twelve
months of 1891 1900 and s215175 in the correspond
ing twelve months of 1s97-9s, increase of more
than - per compared with the Twelve
months ended April 30 1898, when the island was
under Spanish control. In exports from the United
States to Porto Rico the increase Is stiH more
strongly marked. the exports to that island during
the first year under the Porto Rican act being
S719a091 against SS19,ai0 in the corresponding
twelve months ended with April. 1900 and sls56.e27
In the corresponding twelve months ended with
Apr 1898 an increase of nearly 300 per cent
How far the abolition of the remaining 10 per
cent of the Dingev tariff rates and the establish
r1ent of absolute free trade between Porto tNco
and the United States will further stimulate the
commerce between the island and the ports In the
United States only be determined by future de-
Statistics show that about so per cent or the Inn,
ports OF Porto Rico now from the United
states and about - per cent of the exports from
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 tariff act. compared with the year imme-
dfately preceding. when the island was under the
United States flag. and with the year 1SS1-'sS. in
COMMERCE BETWEEN PORTO RICO AND THE