The Washington times., 1906-03-07
PORTO RICO WANTS
TO RULE ITSELF
Conditions Worse Than
When Spain Prevailed.
DELEGATE SEES PRESIDENT
Present Government Not Bad, But No
Telling What the Future Might
Bring Forth.

I'VE want to be able to live in a
dignifed manner. and rear our chill
dren to be free men,"
This is the motto which is guiding
Tulio Larrinaga, resident commissioner
from Porto Rico. in his effort to get
Congress to extend home rule to the
people of the little island possession
OF the United States.
I'VE want home rule" declared Mr.
Larrinaga, as he came out OF the White
House yesterday afternoon after a
short conference with the President
about conditions in Porto Rico I'VE
had home rule under the Spaniards,
and we cannot see an reason why we
should not have it under American
rule. In many respects our political
freedom is far more restricted than il
was when we were governed from
Madrid.
The Upper House.
As il is now. our upper house, the
most important legislative body in
Porto Rico, is appointed by the Presi-
dent, the people having no voice what
sVer in their election. The selections of
these lawmakers by the President is
working very well under the wise and
able administration of Governor Win
throp. Under chief executives Of his
high character and ability there is no
danger of oppression, but who can say
what would not occur under an incom-
petent and unscrupulous governor. AS
the upper house is dominated and con-
trolled by the governor, as now ap-
poiRted, we contend that the people of
Porto Rico should have the right to
elect those Legislators.
Just to illustrate the manner in
n hvT M haa 70
American citizens, 1 Will cite you an
example. Not long ago young Porto
Rican applied at the Navy Yard hers
in Washington for a position as a me-
chanic He was a fine workman. capa-
bic of doing almost any work wanted
Of him, but he could not obtain a Job
because he was not an American citi-
zen The next day an Italian with
papers of naturalization applied In the
same way and was given a position.
1t is just such conditions as these
which we wish TO eradicate. The Presi-
dent in his last message to Congress
recommended citizenship for the people
Of Porto Rico. and IL remains to be
seen what Congress will do"
Tariff on Coffee.
Another thing which Mr. Larrinaga
hopes to accomplish at this session OF
Congress is the passage of a bill pro-
vidlng for a tariff Of 3 cents per pound
on coffee.
% There is no duty on coffee" said the
Porto Rico statesman, every pound
coming In free. If a tariff of 5 cents
a pound could be fixed it would greatly
encourage the coffee production, not
only in Porto Rico, but in Hawaii and
the Philippines as well. Such a tax
would double the salary Of every Ia
borer on the coffee plantations in Porto
Rico. Instead OF receiving 80 cents a
day they would get so cents, which is a
big increase for them With such an
couragement to the coffee growing in
dustry in our island possession the
United States would be able to pro-
duce every pound Of coffee il uses in
five years.
"Such a tax would not hurt the moor
man In this country. It would mean
an Increase of about One-f1fth of a cent
Tor each meal, and not even the poorest
man would notice this. 1t would like
wise increase the receipts of the Treas 8
ury- We could pay of the deficit in the
treasury without any trouble. for it
would mean an increase Of from $50 :
000, 900 to $4,000. GOO per S-ear'i '