The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-07-22


Porto Rico as N tran,eat n.x.a,. a., -, ,u.s.
~ see"nh.rate American ONCE seekers the Porto
nicahs would have 4 genuine grievance II the
""ee- Oh the island were administered for the
Deheht OF the government nj Washington or II
nv commerce. Of the island were under restrictions
""a N'hrded LEGAL prosperity. then certainty Por.
70 Hco would have grievances Hut happlly I'm.
ce sam has made a good record In thes. resnects
ir"ue between Porto Rico and the United states
~ as iree as trade between New York and New
Jersey. The production and commerce. OF the Ia.
'aha have Increased enormously under the Amer.
lean regime.
Porto Rice Inns local income tax dating from
The war period but the surfaces are M very low
rates ns compared with those OF our national In.
tome INK As regards public finance. the Porto
hucahs nre In mn extremely fortunate position The
tsmnds outstanding Indebtedness il only about
sluVstNn All Of the revenues raised hy Porto
iueah taxation are applied 10 the islands own pur.
poses and subject TO the disposal of In, legs.
lnturr. La addition TO these local revenues the
thitcn States government pays back to Porto Rico
Tor It's own uses NIL the collected by our Gus.
t".nh"use officers az the islands ports on goods
from foreign countries. The Porto Rieans are not
snhlect To our national Income other direct
taxes. and therefore are exempt from the burdens
imposed BY our immense war debt They are pro
tected by the army and navy Of the United States
but 10 moi pny any part Of the cost of maintaining
defensive establishments.
ice fehonsel Families large. aud the typical
heue Is very small and slight structure matched
With palm eaNes primitive and lacking la
all that makes for comfort. convenience health
aud family dignity that II must hc condemned and
superseded matter III public policy The in
nuence Of excellent schools In the towns II nj
ready having marked effect upon the Improve
ment of home conditions In san Juan IN. cant
tai, tbs government Itself Is building Il large suburb
of small eoncrstc houses With suitable appoint.
m.nts. and selling thex. n iong-ttme plan to
workngmen.
II takes courage 10 attn high and Ia work toward
tbs realization az the largest possibilities Look.
iug 10 the future. u IL easier la eatertatn the no
ton of independent Porto Rico associated no.
iitscaIy with ethe, Latin Amertcan entities sur.
rounding "a. Caribbean &ga. Aud this conception
mght b. fully Justified u The alternative meant
d rough and actleSS attempt Co Anglo M xanIxs
reFto Rieo % subject It's people Ia rules Gus.
Toms aud standards that Sesn to them both strange.
and unpleasant But this Is an aSy in which per.
sasnAl liberty aud losut liStncstseu. seem to he
entirely la keeping With afge organizations OF gov
efnmsnt of commsrsc. and Of culture for purposes
rninmon welfare
rerio Rico need not fear that she viii he n neg
ected Cinderella ia the American household. II
probable that she play her part IA The Garth.
bean rcSians With more lnnaenrc and saec,ss II
slsr ahauaohS all thought ~ future Substitution
II her i,-'al dag for The Stars ard Stripes pos
10 Rev viii inevitably he managed by Porto Rean<
for their own welfare Tisere l. not the slightest
danger ~ domination from Washington for IN.
bsneti, ot continental America and to the harm ~
pcrsa niso. The training and development Of th.
Porte Rlean pseple i much more important iusi
now froia the standpoint of democratic proyr,<s
than the achievement OF outward forms OF n mors
complete homr rnic Statehood may he expected
as ihe ultimate thing
In th-cFs OF course. the Porte Rieans should
choose their governor. In practice. however
II would probably lie best for Porto Rice al leasr
for time eome. that the governor should
be named by the president, Of the unlted STATES
Latin-AInerican countries often victinxe them