The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-16
INJUSTICE IN PORTO RICO.
of the Islanders Under
the Revenue Law.

NEW YORK, March 15.-Having re-
turned from Washington. where they
went TO urge the annulment by Congress
Of the Hollander Revenue Law enacted
by the insular government OF Porto
Rico, the commissioners appointed at
mass meeting of merchants and business
men on the island made their first pub
lie statement today. and set forth strong
ly the wrongs which the law would bring
upon the island population.
Our first objection TO the Hoiiander
law" said one of them. relates to sec
tions %. 81. A. and 81, which provide that
property on which the taxes are delin-
quent shall be sold out, and shall be
vested absolutely in the hands of the pur-
chaser six months after such taxes be-
come due. There is not a State in the
Union where the time allowed for this
purpose is less than two years, and in
New York State it Is three years. In a
country recently devastated by a hurri-
cane, with few banks and with less than
=, ,0DGGG money in circulation, which
amount is being decreased by the excess
of imports over exports, it is inevitable
that there win be many delinquencies,
and much property viii he sold for taxes
II a single sugar crop fails, for instance
the planter can hardly escape being sold
out. 1t is an open secret that American
spectators are looking forward to buy
ing up the more valuable holdings when
they are thus sold.
Not long ago Governor Allen wrote a
letter 10 Senator Foraker saying that the
Island of Porto Rico had never been in
such fine condition as now; that the crops
were good, that there was plenty of labor
to he had. and that prosperity was gen.
eral. If this be true, why is it that the
imports of the island should exceed the
exports. and that the exports should have
fallen TO about half of what they once
were? WHY II IT that iaborers are emf
grating to Hawaii, II Jamaica British
territory, San Domingo, and Ecuador.
whereas in,tits old days very few left the
island. EVEN when the Panama Canal
Company was Offering 81 and Sc per day
in gold for laborers only short distance
away? To the foreign countries named
they are nav going by thousands. though
they Will have to work among people of
different race and customs. Why is il
that riots. strikes. and mobs. which were
unknown in the former history of the ISL
and, are common since the civil gov
ernment was established? Why is il, If
the new tax hill Is beneficent, that many
cigar and cigarette factories have had
to close down or dismiss part of their
employees. and that many distilleries have
closed? lnese are some of the questions
which we asked the Senator's and the
Government at Washington. and we have
yet to hear Il satisfactory answer to
them.
j. II. Hollander who drafted the rev
"nue bill, vas formerly an instructor at
Johns Hopkins University. He is not IA
maiiiar with the conditions in Porto Rico.
did not know the Spanish language ana
was without practical experience in legis-
latNe work. While in this city we asked
the auditors of two great insurance COM
panieS and the president OF one of the
largest banks whether they thought it
knowledge OF the questions of taxation
should be selected 10 settle problems like
those presented by the present financial
condition of Porto Rico Their answer
was that only man with the widest
practical experience and knowledge Of
the country was competent for such
task. Yet Mr.. Hollander complied this
various States of the United States with
out study Of or reference to the actual
conditions in Porto Rico.
If Governor Allen really had the well
fare of the country at heart, why did he
not avail himself OF the ten days allowed
by the Foraker law before signing a bill
of such Importance Why was il that he
declined the urgent invitation to be rres-
ent at the great mass meeting called on
February TO consider the law?
The Porto Rican Commission has Of
fered to pay the expenses of a delegation
from the Senate or the House Of Repre-
SentatiNcs to go to Porto Rico and see for
themselves the condition of affairs The
invitation was not accepted. but the
commission is still willing to extend the
same invitation to any responsible parties,
and is confident of the results"