Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-09-04


Washington, Aug. 31,-The insular
commission, consisting of General
Kennedy, Judge Curtis and Major
Watkins, which has given six months
of study to the conditions of Porto
Rico, Wednesday made it's report to
Secretary Root. 1t recommends a
form of civil government for the is
lands, to take the place of thu present
military regime, and submits, for
adoption, a code of laws. These laws
it recommends should be placed in
operation by an executive decree,
arguing that congressional enactment
of general laws would change the
status Of the island toward the United
States and make it part of the consti-
tutional territory of the United States.
The code of laws and civil government
proposed do not give the Porto Ricans
the elective franchise for any officers
and re- ommends that the military force
remain in the island but be kept in the
background. English is made the Of
fetal language. The code abrogateS
all Spanish law, royal DEGREES and all
systems of procedure, and substitutes q
code modified after the laws of the
states of the United States, and declares
common law and the principles OF
equity to be in the future the law OF the
land where no specific direction IS
found in the code. In place OF the
Spanish system of courts the American
system is provided. There are to be
five supreme judges, three of whom are
American and two native, two
federal, three district and eleven
probate judges; one attorney
general; one district attorney, ONE
United States marshal; prosecuting at
torney in each of the seven judicial
districts of the island; complete civil,
country, township and city govern
ment is to be provided; all officers for
civil administration are to be natives
and the higher ones are to be appoint
ed by the president. A public school
system is to be provided, also night
schools for illiterate adults. All taxes
which bear heavily on the poor, and
abrogated. A marriage law is provided
like those in the states.
The commission states that the Por-
to Ricans have lost their markets in
Spain for coffee by reason of increased
duties and the industry is now Ian
gushing for want of an immediate
market, and recommends that the gov
eminent Of the United States purchase
coffee for the army and navy in Porto
Rico, which, the commission says, pro-
duces as fine coffees as are found in the
world.
The commission says: GA horde Of
office holders are eating UP the sub
stance Of the people" The commits
sion outlines plan of public improve
ments, whereby the people may find
work.
AS to the character of the Porto
Ricans the letter says: 'The people are
Industrious and ready and willing to
work if given an opportunity. There
is a great field upon this island for the
employment of capital"
Regarding elections the letter says:
1--WE have made no provision for any
election as we are abundantly satisfied
that the people can not read. Not
over ten per cent. read and write their
own names properly. At present all
officers should be appointed"
The commission recommends revi-
sion of the tariff rates on articles i'm
ported from the United States; and
suggests that congress grant authority
to the president to arrange a schedule
Of reciprocal tariff duties.
The commission lays stress on needs
of currency reform. 1t says: 'Not all
the complications growing out of the
currency of Porto Rico can be remedied
until congress shall place a sufficient
fund in the hands of the president, in
the shape of silver certificates, treas
ury notes and all legal tender to
enable him to take all Porto Rican sill
yer and authorize him to have it re-
coined into American silver dollars or
certificates to replace those used in the
purchase or taking up of Porto Rlcan
! silver"