Evening star., 1925-01-04

Commissioner Felix Cordova-D -Davila
In this respect the resident com.
missioner is in full accord with Gov
Horace NJ. Towner, whose arrival ir
Washington during the coming week
VIII again direct public attention tc
Porto Rico.
In his statement yesterday. the
resident commissioner said that pub.
lie opinion in the United States has
not infrequently been misinformec
about conditions prevailing on the
island. ANY person coming from
there, no matter how unimportant,'
said Judge Davila. seems to have
access to the American press for the
purpose of discrediting us, yet, there
seems to be little inclination to tell
about the constructive work that Is
constantly going on. This unwar-
ranted criticism of island affairs is
indictment of the American admins
tration during the last 25 years, and
in this connection 1t is only proper
to hear in mind the statement made
recently by the Secretary of War be-
fore the Senate committee on terri
tories and inSular possessions to the
effect that no country in the world
has made the remarkable progress
that Porto Rico has in a quarter of
a century,"
Progress Remarkable.
1T is strictly true that the prog
ress made by Porto Ricto under the
American administration is recog-
nized as remarkable by every one
familiar with the facts. Nor has 1t
been equaled by any people any
where in the world In the same
length of time. This is a record
creditable alike to the Porto Ricans
and to the American administrat ton
and while much is due to the spirit
of American institutions and the
efforts of the American Government
1T should be remembered that moth
ing could have been accomplishe d
without the people of the island en-
tering into that spirit, so 1t is only
fair to recognize that the credit due
to the patriotic cooperation of the
people of Porto Rico. In politics and
government, in sanitation, public
works, social and moral Improvement
Porto Rico presents today the most
impressive evidence of rapid and con.
structive achievements.
Government Cost Grows.
TT has been said by hostile critic.
that the revenues and the budget ot
the island have increased to $4,000.
600. This is true, but ii must bt
remembered that a proportionate in
crease has occurred with respect IL
schools. roads, public health, agri
culture, labor and, generally speak
ing, all branches of endeavor. Heavy
expenditures have been necessary Il
defray the expenses of the govern
ment and while there may possibl,
have been some extravaga thi.
has been relatively small and onl,
such as Is customary under similar
conditions in all the countries of TIL,
world. 1t Is we'll to remember, how
ever, that taxation In Port Rico i;
less, not only per capita, but less OF
wealth, than anywhere under tn,
American flag.
"A few outstanding facts will show
our amazing development during th'
past 25 years
In 1902 the assessed value of prop
erty in Porto Rico was s96,000. goo
This has increased until June 30
1924, the assessed value of real anc
personal property in the island wa!
s312, 100000. The total exports O.
Porto Rico in 1902 were s12, $4,000
In 1924 they were sS7,0S7,00o having
reached a maximum of over $3.50, ,000,'
900 in 1920, when the products of the
prices.
Budget S11,700,OOO.
For the fiscal year 1902 the tota
expenditures of the government were
slightly in excess of s3,000.000. The
budget for the current fiscal yeal
contemplates budget expenditures Of
s11. 900.
When the United States seriously
took up the task of administering the
affairs of Porto Rico in 1902, follow
Ing the Spanish-American War, II
was confronted with three grea'
problems in so far as expenditure:
were concerned. These embraced
public health, public education anc
public works. 1t is interesting tt
note how these three department;
have Jared in the increasing budge
of the island.
For the fiscal year 1902 the sani
tary expenditures of the central gov
ernment were $4,000; for the de-
partment of education, $4,000; fol
the department of public works
s357,oo0. In 1924 the corresponding
expenditures were:
Sanitation .....a-... .'.--. l'ooo'f fo'
public schools and Univer-
sity of Porto Rico. 4,5oo'oo'
Maintenance and repairs OF
roads, bridges and public
buildings ......... 1,bQe,oO'
.'These three items amount to one
half of the total expenditures OF ths
central government of Porto hics
and constitute considerably more
than one-half of the annual ouoee
and do not include any of the oroi
nary legislative, executive and judi
cial expenditures.
Increase Held Natural.
THE commissioner of education a:
| far back as 1902 emphasized the neet
| in his department alone of $3,OOO,oo
per annum, so 1t will be seen that th'
current increases In expenditures ovel
previous years are not unnatural.
THE question is whether or no
| our taxes are burdensome. the pop
ulation in round numbers is 1,30O,oo'
and the per capita tax to support tht
| central government is less than $lo
| The per capita tax for all other pur'
| noses is less than 81. There is NJ
State or Territory in the United State
where the per capita tax is anyWhert
| near so low. 1t can, therefore, o'
seen conclustvely that the people o.
Porto Rico are not overtaxed. AS al
| illustration 1t may be pointed ou
| that our income tax on amounts ex
| ceeding 100000 PROVIDES Tor INK
imum surtax of 10 per cent. Unde
| the Federal income tax law incomes
in excess of 100000 pay surtax
81 per cent and the maximum surta'
| is 40 per cent.
Realty Tax Less.
The tax on real property is like
wise less in Porto Rico. The highes
| tax assessed for the present Hsca
year is 2.09 per cent for the city o
San Juan. The tax elsewhere through
out the island is materially less. We
| therefore, have in Porto Rico not oni!
| a lower per capita tax than In th'
| United States, but a decidedly lowe1