Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-22
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

that the Porto Ricans did not purchase
enough of their products, and because
the duties collected on wine imports at
San Juan had fallen of in conSe-
quence."
So it was not upon high moral grounds
that Porto Rico preceded the United
States nearly two centuries in prohibit
ton. but it was the Spanish, version OF
the English tea tax" without 'Bos-
ton tea party"
From the time of the several revoltS
of Spanish colonies upon the Amefi-
can continent, about 1910, Porto Rico
became FESTIVE, and there were several
upriSings. and also several conSpira-
cies to organize the slaves against the
whites. The ambition for autonomy
increased as the century drew near its
close, and the Spanish government.
fearing that its troubles in Cuba we're
to be enhanced by revolt in Porto Rico,
issued q decree, on November %. 1897.
granting local government in Internal
affairs In the April following 1899,
Gen. Miles and an American Army, in
war with Spain, took possession OF
Porto Rico.
The change of sovereignty of course
abolished the Spanish decree of local
duGOIiUIIly, Uub III It's p1tCC sLlClC CoLAC
the American establishment, which, as
President Coolidge pointed out Ia q
letter to the President of the Senate
and Speaker of the House, gives to the
local government greater autonomy
than is enjoyed by any other State
or Territory in the American Union.
The Porto Ricans are citizens Of the
United States, but not voters for our
President.
While the governor is appointed by
the United States President. the ma
tive Porto Ricans elect the members
of their Legislature and they make
their own laws, according to the gen.
eral principles of the American Con-
stitution. with it's Bill of Rights for
the individual The military govern
ment following our Spanish War was
superseded in 1901 by a civil govern
ment and the organic act was amend
ed in 1917 increasing local independ-
ence, similar to the status of the Phil
ippine Islands.
The United States tariff laws protect
Porto Rico. yet all revenue collected
in American ports on Porto Rican inn
ports is given to the Porto Rican
treasury. Porto Rico pays no taxes
INTO lIle UUlleQ 0ldISS 1TedSuIy, Dub
even excise taxes and income, customs
and United States internal revenue
taxes on Porto Rican goods. amounting
to a total of $9.514,46693 tin 1920, go
to Porto Rico to help meet her budget
of S11.19l ,89311. So the local taxes
amount to less than 100000, or about
Sl60 per capita.
The experts in the last year of Span
ish rule amounted to 11.555.962. Now
the United States alone takes Porto
Rican goods to the value of S97,832 .523
a year-takeS it without tariff protec-
ton, although such imports from other
countries must pay high duties. Her
total exports now equal 10 times what
they ever reached under Spanish rule
and 95 per cent come to the United
States. Her roads have been built. her
sanitation perfected and her schools
widened
Today the island is facing great
loSS-inCCnceivably great Her coffee
plantations and sugar cane are ruined.
Her citrus orchards are destroyed. Her
industries are wiped out 1t will take
generation to recover the loss of a
few hours. And the suffering people
must be made to feel that the Ameri-
cans are true friends in need. friends
indeed. ready and anxious to stand by
them in their great trial. They are
our fellow citizens-memberS of our
national family.
tConyright 1928 bv Paul ColinsI