New-York tribune., 1903-05-22
TIE STATUS oF Porto RICo.

The American members Of the Executive
Council of Porto Rico have been somewhat
criticised by persons here who form supernclal
judgments and are not fully acquainted with
all the circumstances for voting down recent
resolution asking that the island be erected INTO
a Territory ON the same basis as NeW-MeXlco
and Arizona These critics seem to think that
the only matter at issue is the sendInental one
of giving the Porto Ricans what they mlghI
regard as American rights" If that was all
no harm could be done by the resolution anu
its prayer might well enough be granted But
there are many practical difficulties Whlch peo-
ple here who discuss these matters prIorl ana
many of the Porto Ricans who are carried
away hv pbrases without stopping to analyze
tbeir meaning have not taken into account
The Americans responsible for the admlnlstra-
ton of the island realize what the TerrltorlaI
status would mean, and feel in duty pound
even at the risk of taking an unpopular course
and seeming ilIiberal in their spirit, to oppose
such movement and do all IN their power 10
prevent its gaining beadway
In the first place the Territorial status would
mean financial loss if not actual bankruptcy,
to the government of Porto Rico In the second
place. il would be an economic and commerclaI
lIov TO the people Of the island individuals.
largely from customs duties imports from
foreign countries and from light internal reve-
me taxes locally imposed. Ii Porto Rico was
made y Territory like New-Aexico all duties on
imports would go to the United States and the
United States would levy an internal revenue
rax. which would deprive the local authorities
of that source of income. The island govern
ment would then be driven to heavy land and
other taxes to maintain itself, and would prob
ably have to abandon schemes OF beneDcent
public improvement to avoid impossibly heavy
iu1posts on people of little wealth The island
yyould not only have to support itself, but make
large contributions to the federal government
Those who ever fear that our colonies are go
ing to be exploited for home benefit should
be the last TO wish the imposition of this heavy
burden for the benefit Of the United States
Treasury on an island impoverished by long
years Of overtax alton and only few years ago
devastated by the elements.
Not only would Territorial government thus
lay q double burden of taxation, but it would
fix that tax on a scale which Porto Rlcan N
dustries could not possibly endure. Our in
ternal revenue taxes are based on prices pre-
vaiIfng here If the same rates, whether for
the use of the insular treasury or the United
States. were imposed in an island where wages
are mere fraction of what are paid here, and
where the habit of the poorest is to use freely
cheap wines and tobacco what are to the Porto
Ricans necessaries of life would go to famine
prices.
OF course sentimentalists never think of
these things. They just want to make the Porto
Rican brother under the constitution" and
would proceed to do it by bankrupting him.
and he naturally enough, is deluded by them
and offers resolutions like those recently de-
feated AS a matter Of fact he has free self
government absolutely untaIed access to our
markets chance to make his wants known
10 Congress, and there is nothing in Territorial
government that would aid him legally, morally
or economically, while it would involve him in
grave trouble.