Evening star., 1898-08-11
CUBA : PORTO RICO
Plans for Their Temporary Govern
ment Discussed.
OUR ARMY WILL Be IN CONTROL
Questions to Be Taken Up by Con-
gress.
PRESIDENTS PREFERENCE

Plans for the temporary government of
Cuba and the territory which will be ac-
quired from Spain as a result of the war
are now under serious consideration by the
President and the members of the cabinet.
Porto Rico, as an actual acquisition to the
territories of the United States, will be
placed in charge of a military governor,
who will exercise a supervisory control of
all of the functions of government, under
the direction of the President. until Con-
gress shall determine upon a permanent
form of government for the island.
The President, under the Constitution
and laws mas no authority to go beyond
this preliminary or temporary stage in the
establishment of any system of govern
mental control, and although it is alto
gether probable that in his message to
Congress on the subject he will exercise his
constitutional privilege OF making recon-
mendations. upon Congress alone will de-
vOlve the responsibility and duty of deter
mining the character of the political rela-
tions which Porto Rico shall permanently
bear to the United States
There are reasons for the belief that the
President himself favors colonial form
OF government, and that this view is shar-
ed by members of the cabinet. Canada is
cited as having a model colonial govern
ment which is satisfactory alike to ma
jority of its people and to the mother coun-
thy. This system. however, it is believed,
can be put into operation only after the
lapse of a considerable period of time, and
after the people have demonstrated salts
factorily their ability to govern themselves
irtelligently in all local matters.
Upon the evacuation of Cuba it is believ-
ed TO be the intention of the President to
establish for the whole island a temporary
military government similar to that now
in operation at Santiago.
When order has been fully restored and
the people have settled down to their peace
full occupations it is believed to be the view
of the President that convention of rep
resentativeS of the people should be called
TO vote upon the question of form of gov
ernment for the island.
The presence of the army of the United
States would be a guarantee that every cit
iZen who would subscribe to an oath binding
hin self to support whatever form of gov
eminent should be agreed upon should have
the unques-ionad right to vote for whomso-
ever he. pleased TO represent him at this
convention.
The action of this body. however would
have to be submitted to the United States
for approval or disapproval- 1t is pointed
cut that this convention Of representatives
of the whole people in the free exercise of
their choice might express a wish to be-
come a colonial dependency of the United
States. or might favor a republican form Of
government or possibly ii majority might
ask to be annexed TO the United States. In
any of these contingencies it is believed
that their wishes would meet the approval
OF the President and his advisers.
New Tariff for Porto Rico.
A telegram was sent TO Gen. Miles today
giving him instructions as to tariff and
other charges in the Island of Porto Rico
The new duties will be similar in general
outline to those put in force preli1r inariIy
at Santiago. A regular tariff schedule for
Porto Rico will be prepared soon
Cost of reIcgraphing.
Few persons are aware of the heavy ex-
pense attached to the cable communication
between the government here and Gen.
Miles and the naval commanders at Porto
Rico. The reason assigned for the heavy
cable tolls is that 1t is necessary TO use a
very circuitous route and transfer through
several different cables in order to reach
New York from Ponce. Gen. Greely, chief
signal officer, hopes to better this condition
snortIy- The French cable passes about
twelve miles nOrthward of San Juan on the
north coast, and il is the expectation of
Gen Greedy to have this cable cut at that
point, with the consent of the cable officers
Porto Rico, where a cable station Will be
ordered The Immediate result will be 10
AFFORD much more direct communication be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States
and cut the cable tolls in half. The French
cable ohlclalS are said to have acted with
the greatest courtesy and consideration in
accommodating the United States govern
ment throughout the West Indian cam
paign, although, of course, having strict re-
gard for the obligations imposed by the
neutrality laws