The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-01

the government of Porto Rico
merits. and will doubtless re-
oeive more than a passing considera-
tion The island itself is a small one
and of no very great consequence
either in the business or the politics of
the world; but the report upon its fu-
ture status is of vital Importance, be-
cause or the principles involved. and
the effect which it may have upon
larger and more consequential territor
les.
The commission recommends a civil
government, but virtually under the
supervision of the military 1t advises
that the changes be made by executive
decree, arguing that congressional
enactment would make the island "a
part of the constitutional territory of
the United States" That is to saw,
the president should absolutely control
the island, independent of congress.
If that is not long step toward the
vesting of monarchial power in the
president, it is difficult to imagine what
would be. The next would be to Apply
the same principle to Cuba, then to the
Philippines-when they are conquered
and finally to the great slice of China
which it is said We must have when
| that empire is partitioned. In the end
| the president would virtually make
laws for more people than live in the
| United States.
There can be no installing the pur-
1ar1I
commission was appointed by Mr. Nc
Kinley. 1t expects him to be reelected,
| and it desires to keep all the power
possible in his hands as long as he
| holds the presidential office.
| The argument made on behalf of it
| is absurd. The island is already a part
| of American territory, so far as treaty
with the former owner and acquies-
cence of it's own people can make it So
| The idea that it's status can be changed
| by the simple expedient of letting the
president run things independent of
| congress is preposterous. If that theory
| is sound, it would make the president
| the lord paramount of the island and
| the United States would have nothing
| to do with it.
| But the commission itself explodes
this theory, for in the closing passage
| of the press dispatch transmitting the
| synopsis of the report, it says: Porto
| Rico is now part of the United States,
| and the protection or home industries
| and defense and care of our own peo-
| pie is one of the recognized principles
| of our government" How the commits
sion reconciles this statement with the
| argument referred to is not clear. Per-
| haps 1t makes a distinction between
| an island that is part of the United
| States, and one that is part of the Con
stitutional territory" OF the United
| States.
Neither does the commission explain
| how congress is to be prevented from
acting in the matter. But let that go
| and look at one or two other recon-
| mendations contained in the report.
One of the most important is the abso-
| Lutte denial of the elective franchise.
The people are not to have any voice
in the election of the officers, even the
lowest, that are to rule over them.
That may be good American doctrine,
but it is of an extremely new brand.
Then the right of trial by jury is in
a large measure denied. 1t is to exist
only in cases of felonies and in civil
cases involving five hundred dollars.
These provisions would exclude at least
nine tenths of the people from the right
to a jury in a civil case, for it is GER
tain that not one Porto Rican in ten
would ever have a case involving as
much as five hundred dollars. As to
the criminal provision, it is scarcely
worth discussing. Juries, it seems, are
only to be allowed, even in the cases
mentioned, in the United States courts.
The supreme court is to consist of
five judges, of whom three must be
American and two natives. AS courts
always act by majorities, it is obvious
that in case of division on the lines Of
nationality, the natives would have no
power at all. In short. under the
scheme proposed, the natives are first
denied the American privilege of the
elective franchise; secondly, they are
denied the American privilege of jury
trials, and third, having no voice in the
making Of the laws under which they