Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1901-06-06
ARE SADLY DISAPPOINTED.
Porto Ricans Dislike the Verdict
Rendered by the supreme Court ia
Regard TO Their Rights.

Regard to Their Rights.
San Juan, Porto Rico, May 29.-The
first report of the supreme courts
decision in the De Lima case, received
here Monday night, which was inter-
preted asdeclaring the taxation of i'm"
ports from Porto Rico to the United
States Is per cent. of the Dingley
duties to be unconstitutional, was re-
ceived here with great satisfaction.
Yesterday, when the full report of
the De Lima case was published. there
was general feeling of disappoint-
ment among Porto Rican merchants,
who had hoped that the courts de-
cision would give them a years free
trade.
The concensus of opinion of the
matter seems to be that the Porto
Rican legislature should be convened
in extra session to declare Porto
Rico self-supporting without the col
lection of customs on imports be-
tween Porto Rico and the United
States. A general spirit of complaint
that all the supreme courts decisions
were against Porto Rico is noticeable.
When San Juan merchants were
questioned on the subject, they mani
tested much regret at the outcome,
as they had hoped to have refunded
all the moneys paid under the Is per
cent. application of the Dingley du-
ties.
1t was generally expressed that the
courts decision would grant Porto
Rico free trade and her citizens full
citizenship and constitutional provis-
ions. When told if the latter priv
ileges had been granted, the internal
revenue laws of the United States
would be applied to the islands and
that all the funds and customs there
under collected would be deposited in
the federal treasury, all Porto Ricans
questioned in the matter acknowl-
edged that this would be bad and
that the present status was prefer
able. as they did not believe that the
island could stand the United States
internal revenue.
Only a few Porto Rican business
men understand the Importance of
the supreme courts decisions. Those
who are bankers predict an immedi-
ate revival of business now that the
status of the country has been decid-
ed.
American bank, who requests that his
name be not used, says that he is not
in favor of the tariff unless it is abso-
lutely proved that Porto Rican inter
nal revenues suffice for the island's
needs.
The ]. T. Silva Banking Co. said:
"The whole thing is a tiasco. We
would like to be citizens of the Uni
ted States, but without the applca-
ton of United States internal revenue
collections. The latter would kill
our industries"
The Fritz Lund Co., the largest ship
perS of sugar in Porto Rico, said:
"The constitution of the United
States applies when against us, but
not when in our favor. This has al
ways been so since the beginning. II
the tariff had been removed at first,
Porto Rico would now have double
crops. The American system of tax
alton cannot be applied here; there
should be some sensible tax on flour
and rice, but sugar should be free
| This legislation appears to be for
| Americans and against Porto Ricans.'
The people generally are as much
| disappointed at not being granted
| American citizenship as they are
with the courts decision in regard to
the tariff. The members of the
| cabinet seem to favor free trade. The
islands yearly budget is S2,oOo.0OO. \
semi-official estimate gives an income
of $5OO,OOO "A year from the property
tax; $75O,OOO from excise collections
under the Hollander bill and $4,000
| from customs collections on imports
and exports to and from countries
other than the United States. The
| property tax will be in force July
and assessments will be made on an
estimated valuation of $1OOOOO,O 900