Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1901-03-14
PORTO '||.|R|| R|CANS PROTEST.
Delegation from the Island Presents
Taxation Grievances to Pres
ident Mckinley.
OBJECT TO The HOLlANDER MEASURE.
Say That 1t II Both an Income and
Property Tax Law and Is Too
Severc-Ask That Special Session
of Legislature Be Called to Amemd
Law.


of Legislature Be Called to Amend
Law.
Washington, March 12.-The presi-
dent Monday morning granted a spe-
cial audience to Messrs. Wednesday
Borda, Jr., and Vincente Balbas, men,
bers of the Porto Rican commission,
which was appointed at mass. meet
ing of the citizens of the island held at
San Juan on February 2, to protest
against the law enacted by the legis-
lature known as the Hollander bill.
This measure provides for the raising
of revenue by property and excise
taxes. Messrs. Borda and Balbas were
accompanied by Mr.. Freeman Hal
stead, the secretary of the commits
sion, Mr.. Pedro Salazar, the third
commissioner, being detained in New
York.
Present Formal Protest.
The commissioners presented for
NAL protest which enumerated series
of 10 objections to the law. 1t is con-
tended that there exist to-day in
Porto Rico three taxes levied and col
lected for the same purpose, "from
the impoverished pockets of the peo-
ple;" the new excise taxes under the
Hollander law, the old insular and mu-
nicipal taxes, and the customs duties
under the Porto Rican civil govern
ment act. Any of these, it is held, is
sufficient to cover the budget. Under
the bill 100000 or more will be COL
lected semi-annually, in advance.
thereby, the protest says, lessening
the money in circulation (of which
there is less than 81, ,OOO) and pro-
ducing state of impoverishment and
business stagnation, as the taxes are
collected by summary process.
Both an Income and Property Tax.
1t is asserted that the measure is
both an income and property tax law,
that two of the principal industries of
the island (rum and tobacco) are
taxed so heavily that their production
under present conditions is practically
prohibited, that the only standard of
valuation of property will be the per-
sonal opinion of the assessors, and, as
they may be appointed by political
favor, there is danger of injustice
to large section of the community
from excessive valuations.
In view of the fact that no NUM-
cipal budgets have been prepared,
and no reliable estimate of the value
of the taxable property of the is
land made, the great mass of the
property owners believe, it is said,
that the interests of the island will
be best conserved by continuance
under the present law, which has
worked well to the present time.
Attitude of Porto Ricans.
The people of Porto Rico, the pro-
test sets forth, are ready and willing
to meet all taxes necessary for the
maintenance of order, justice and
good government; but they strenu-
ously object to a tax law, the amount
of which is uncertain, since no valu-
alton of property has ever been made
in the island, and which has been
imposed upon them without due re-
gard to the actual conditions of the
country, the necessities of the tax
payers, and in a manner which Sc
verely Expresses the wealthy pro-
ducers of Porto Rico at time when
the island has not yet recovered from
the ruinOus effect of the recent hur-
ricane and from the 40 per cent. re-
duction of it's circulating medium by
the exchange of the provincial money
for the United States currency, still
further reduced by the excess of i'm
ports over exports.
Ask Extra Session Of Legislature.
The commissioners ask the presi-
dent that Gov. Allen be directed to
call a special session of the legisla-
ture to amend the law in a manner
which will relieve the people of the
burdens complained of and that the
givernor be directed to exercise care
in the appointment of assessors.
The commissioners also presented
a petition of bankers, merchants and
other business men of New York and
Philadelphia, praying that the pro-
test be given due consideration.
New Revenue District.
Washington, March lathe presi-
dent has issued an executive order
creating a new internal revenue col
lection district by detaching the
states of North Dakota and South
Dakota from the Nebraska district,
and making separate collection dis
trict. This order will go into effect
upon the appointment and uualifica-