Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-08
Porto Rico's Condition Ideal j,
Says J. s. Harlan.
MONEY AND NO DEBTS
ENJOYS FEDERAL PROTECTION
WITHOUT TAKING WASHINGTON
If This Condition Can Last Twenty
Five Years Island Will Sur
prise the World.


political tranquility and her rapid develop
ment in the ways of self government were
discussed most interestingly today for The
Star by James S. Harlan Of Chicago, who
for the past two years has been attorney
general for that island Mr.. Harlan is in
Washington closing up the affairs of his
administration. He went to Porto Rico for
one year and stayed more than two. This
is all the time he feels he can give from his
Chicago law practice.
The island government is in the unique
position of being out of debt and with
mllion-dollar surplus. Her resources
are developing rapidly: her people believe
in her future, and have most friendly
feeling toward Americans. Mr.. Harlan's
greatest fear is that Congress may cast
covetuous eyes at that little surplus and
take q gentle ''swipe' at the island terri
tory with disastrous effect.
IF Congress will simply leave Porto Rico
alone for the next twenty-five years de-
clared Mr.. Harlan, earnestly, the people
of this country will simply be astounded at
the result. Porto Rico will be the garden
spot of the country supporting a well-to-do
community sof Intelligent citizens, patriotic
and peace-ioSing'
Unique Features.
In reviewing the general features Of the
attention to the fact that it was unlike
any other government in our federal sys-
tenn, except in some respects the Philip
pine government
You may call 1t territorial or colonial.
as you choose" he continued. Some of
It's distinguishing features are that 1t does
not contribute to the national treasury in
the way of taxation, although it is true
that the so-called Dingley tariff act is in
force in the island. and from that source
officers appointed by the federal govern
ment collect large amounts of revenue.
But every dollar so collected goes into the
insu!ar treasury instead Of into the nation
al treasury in this city.
Under authority of the Foraker act the
insular government has also established
a system of internal revenue taxes of Its
own, and the federal system of internal
revenue taxation has never been extended
to the island, so that every dollar collected
on the manufacture of cigars, cigarettes,
rum, spirits and other products, which In
other parts of the United States pay tri
butte to the federal treasury. remains with
the island treasury. These two sources of
income supply the greater part of the total
annual collections. which amount to
S23O0.OO0 annually.
THE result is that we are enabled to
carry on system of government as COM
pick any other state or territorial gov
eminent of the country, and this, although
Porto Rico can be classed as only an agri-
cultural community. with no great manu-
featuring or commercial interests from
which to derive governmental support. We
are carrying on an elaborate system of
road improvements; we are opening up new
agricultural lands. and what is perhaps
more important We are inaugurating an
extensive school system throughout the
island There are now 100 schools in the
island In every way maintaining
beneficial public works such as are carried
on in highly organized communities.
No Burden on Federal Treasury.
The situation is most ideal one We
are not the slightest burden to the national
government, and are not asking financial
aid. At the same time Porto Rico does not
contribute in any way to the support Of the
national government. We enjoy all of the
protection that the federal government
gives to any portion of the United States
to pay any of the burden of that protection:
In this respect we differ from Alaska and
Hawaii, where both the customs and inter-
nal revenue collections are covered into the
treasury at Washington"
DO the Porto Ricans realize their good
fortune?"
Yes; although at the last session Of the
legislature there was introduced into the
lower house two propositions for a change.
One was joint memorial asking for a terri
torial form of government and the other a
joint resolution asking for the extension
of the Constitution of the United States
these propositions was thoroughly under
stood by the people at large and nothing
came of them.
Partisans in Politics.
There are two political parties in the
island, the republican and the federal The
republican party. which is now in power
seems to be most willing to make radical
changes in the old Spanish laws and adopt
the American system of government more
readily. The federal party has announced
its allegiance to the American system but
seems more conservative in it's adoption Of
the same. Yet during the last session of the
legislature it was difficult to discover any
substantial difference between the two
parties. They joined cordially in voting for
measures that indicated progress and that
were American in origin. The session was
most harmonious and resulted in measures
that are most credible to both parties and
to the people. In my Judgment that session
may be accepted as demonstration Of the
fitness Of the Porto Rican people to ad-
minister a free government such as they