The times., 1899-12-02

years for the people of Porto Rico and
Cuba to accommodate themselves to our
form of Government the report says:
4 think that some such provision should
be made for future government as the fol-
lowing:
That we should first declare definitely
by statute. what general laws of the United
States are 10 be extended TO the Porto
Ricans, such as. for instance, the postal
laws. the banking laws. the customs navi-
cation, and internal-revenue laws with
such notifications as may be deemed ad-
visable the laws against counterfeiting
the antitrust laws, etc; and provide for
Federal officers to execute these laws just
as they are executed in the various States
and Territories of the Union; that there
should be a provision for a Federal iu-
dietary in the island, with the same kind
of Jurisdiction which is exercised by the
circuit and district courts of the United
States, and that jurisdiction 10 review their
determinations should be vested in the Su-
preme Court of the United States, or in a
designated circuit court of appeals and the
Supreme Court of the United States.
There should be a form of local insular
government provided which shall have COM
plete control over the rights, property, and
obligations of the people of the island,
substantially covering the field covered by
the government of our respective States,
/ and subject TO limitations prescribed by
! Congress Of the same character as the con
( stitutional limitations generally imposed
upon our State legislatures.
THAT the framework Of this government
/ should be substantially as follows: gov
/ ernor. 10 be appointed by the President OF
/ the United States with the advice and con-
! sent OF the Senate; the chief officers of
State customary under our system, such as
/ secretary of state, attorney general, treas
urer, auditor or comptroller, superintendent
/ Of public works, and superintendent of edu-
cation to be appointed in like manner; and
/ a legislative council, to be composed of the
chief officers of state, and a minority Sc
4 lected from the people of the island by the
! President; that all acts Of the council
! should should be subject TO the veto power
Of the governor and to be passed over the
veto by a two-thirds vote, and no Law
! should take effect until it has remained
without disapproval for thirty days after
! presentation to Congress or TO the Presi-
} dent of the United States, if passed wher
/ Congress is not in session; that there
! should be a supreme court of the island
! composed of judges appointed by the Presi.
/ dent with the advice and consent Of the
4 Senate, and having appellate jurisdiction
only; trial courts in separate districts, hav-
I ing general original jurisdiction, witt
I Judges and officers TO be appointed by tht
| governor, and a petty court in each mum.
( cipaIity: that the several municipalities
now existing in the island, with such con.
/ solicitations and alterations Of boundaries a!
. the council shall prescribe. shall be gov
! erned by mayors and municipal councils, Il
be elected by the people of the municipali
ties. each municipality 10 be free from con
troll in the exercise Of the powers of loca
I government, except as il shall be controlled
by statute, and except as its officers shal
be liable to removal by the governor in cas-
of failure to faithfully perform their duties
and with power in the governor in case o
such failure to order a new election ant
to fill vacancies in the mean time. -
Speaking Of Cuba, Mr. Root says in part;
"Our temporary occupation Of the slanj
Of Cuba involves a very simple plan of op.