The Washington herald., 1921-01-14
HARDING TOLD.
PORTO RICANS.
WANT own HEAD
Island Delegates Urge
Choice of Native
President.
VIEWED AS STEP
FOR HOME RULE
President-elect Tod ay
Considers Program of
Tax Changes.
By SAMUEL w. BELL.

NAHUM, HOnlO' jan lS.--IIesl-
dent-eIect Harding today was
brought face TO face with situa-
tion which constitutes a real prob
lem for his administration, the
problem of future relationship be-
tween the United States and the
American. insular possessions.
With the Philippines clamoring
for independence and Porto Rico
seeking a form or>self- government
little short of American Statehood.
Harding and his advisers doubtless
will not be able to avoid a decision
which will alter the present status
of the islands dependencies.
Porto Rico's claim for recogni-
tion were presented to the Presi-
dent-elect by Felix Cordova Davila,
resident commissioner OF Porto Rico
in the United States and Antonio
Barcelo, president OF the Porto
Rican Senate, both of whom urged
the appointment of Martin Drevieso.
as governor of the island.
Want Native Governor.
Harding was told the appoint
ment of a native governor was the
immediate change desired by the
islanders who eventually hope to
see the power of efecting their
own governor placed in their hands.
The present impracticability of
aanlg Fnu
form of Territorial government ap-
preaching Statehood they acknowl-
edged was recognized by the people
of Porto Rico who are content to
ask an additional measure Of home
rule.
BeekmaH Visits.
r. Livingston Beekman, the re-
firing governor Of Rhode Island,
who. sseompanied Harding ~~o one
OF his Sspeskins tours during the
campaign, also discussed Pan Amer
lean relations with the President
elect Beekmsn. who is being men
toned for a diplomatic post in a
Lstin-American country, said he
found Harding deeply interested
and entirely sympathetic to the
view that Americas future is so
lhllIDdJeiN anu 80 ObN luNtI-
twined with that Of the nations TO
the south of us that We are bound
to make every effort TO establish
the most intimate and understand
ing relations throughout these con-
tinents."
Discussing his conference with the
President elect, Mr.. Davila, the
Porto RicaR delegate, said:
We would be pleased II the in
coming President would consider
Mr.. Drevieso for governor. He was
at one time acting governor Of the
island and is now secretary of
state. He is a graduate of Cornell
University, and has been connected
as a Judge with the American ad-
ministration of affairs in Santo Do
mingo. He is an excellent lawyer,
and has been at all times an advo-
cate OF the closest relations between
Porto Rico and the States.
Consider Profits Tax.
President-eIect Harding will hear
today a program Of taxation call
ing for the repeal Of the excess
profits tax, reduction Of surtsxes,
repeal of certain obnoxious con-
sumption taxes, and the substitution
of a per cent final gales tax, when
he confers with Isaac BacharaCh, Of
Atlantic City. n. J., at Marion. AS
a member of the House Ways and
Means committee and one Of the
outstanding proponents of a sales
tax, Bacharach has been requested
to give his views to the President
elect.
BacharaCh's views on taxation,
set forth in numerous speeches In
different parts of the country, are
that the worst feature Of the pres
ent revenue law the one which
has worked the greatest havoc in
industry and added the most to the
cost of living" is the so-called ex-
cess profits tax. Although favor
ing wiping out completely this tax,
he proposes only to reduce the So
called surtaxes.
His belief is that l per cent tax
on final sales will yield 100000
Of the 100000, 900 necessary to
meet the expenses of the govern
ment. He also favors a protective
tariff such as would yield all the
way from 100000 to $500, ,Oo0s-
600