The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1904-02-05
FUTURE OF PORTO RICO.
and Its Cauzss-suEar Grovrers
ProsperouH-


Ferderico Degetau. the Porto Rican
commissioner fl Washington, tells an
extremely interesting story OF Porto
RieO's relations 10 the United States,
particularly 50 is his account Of the
present stagnation OF the coffee indus
Try reports the Washington Post This
is the crop Of the small landowners Of
Porto Rico In the old days her great
customers we're Spain. France and Gu
ba- But Spain became greatly disgust
ed BY Porto RicO's readiness 10 accept
The sovereignty Of the United States.
amounting TO a welcome Of our troops
when they landed. Accordingly Spain
o punish the ungrateful child. slapped
duty Of p cents a pound on Porto
Riean coffee, which is prohfbitivs. Gu
ba, as soon as she came under Ameri-
an influence, setting up a system Of du-
ties Of her own, also taxed Porto Rican
coffee out Of her markets With France
our general trade arrangements are
disadVantsgeous, and Porto Rico suf-
fers in consequence We are the only
large nation in the world which has
to pay maximum duties 70 get goods
into that country.
Obviously the remedy for this coffee
situation IS to develop an American
market Some progress is already max
ing and special Efforts viii be put forth
next year at the St Louis fair to teach
the Americans 10 prefer the Porto Ri
can brand. President Roosevelt has
written a letter saying that he uses no
other coffee on his own table. This
viii probably be used as an advertise
ment next year. Il seems that the Por-
to Rican Is "high-priced coffee" or at
least cannot be sold in competition
with South American grades. and very
few Americans realize at first its su-
periOrity. Experts say that the Amerf-
cans use so much sugar IN their coffee
that the real flavor OF the berry IS oh
scured. TO the extent that a poor grade
answers about as well as a good one.
Some people have proposed a bounty
on Porto Rican coffee growing. but that
would not find much favor at the pres
ent time.
Another solution Of the Porto Rican
problem might be found in Ievying a
duty on imported coffee. which now
comes in free. This change would IN
dOubtedly be brought about IL Porto
Rico had two members Of the United
States senate. and It is not to be won
dered at that Mr.. Degetau Is an earnest
advocate OF statehood for the island.
and expects that this boon viii at no
distant day be granted. Porto Rico has
a population OF 1000 600. and is rap
idly Americanizing- Its internal reve-
nue. system Is now different from that
OF the United States. but Mr.. Degetau
would be willing to accept our internal
revenue taxes as a condition for com
plete fellowship in the union Of states.
A presidential election may sometime
hinge upon its electoral vote. Just as
the Hawaiian delegation TO Kansas City
gave the casting vote which retained
free silver in the democratic national
platform OF 1900.
The CalifOrnians are likely TO prove
conservative on this question OF insu-
lar statehood. They are already jeal-
Gus OF the Porto Rican fruit industry.
not so much for what IL has already
accomplished as for what it may do
Water transportation from Porto Rico,
TO New York OF Boston is so much
cheaper than the long railroad hauls
AEDul AllE cA4lAE NudEA AlldA vi LAlucE
ticles which il can produce Porto Rico
would have a distinct advantage. IF
Cuba should ever become a part OF the
union Il might become a serious prob
lem for Pacific coast statesmen TO de-
eide how 70 maintain high prices for
sub-tTopical fruits on our eastern coast.
Porto Rico in Itself IS rot likely greatly
TO disturb general markets.
At present the island is enjoying a
great advantage in the culture Of sugar.
through its free admission to the
United tates. an advantage Of which
the other islands are enviOus. Practi-
cally all the land there which will pro
duce sugar is now under cultivation.
and this interest is extremely prosper
Gus. The Porto Ricans hope for a re-
peal. at the coming session of congress.
Of that feature Of the Foraker law
which limits individual ownership Of
land To FIVE hundred acres. and forbids
an Individual 10 belong TO more than
one corporation owning that amount
Profitable sugar culture requires large
acreage under one control. and this Is
really being accomplished nov By eva
siOns Of the Law. but At considerable
inconvenience