The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-31

The commission urges that it is a
matter of imperative necessity that
these people be speedily relieved from
their present conditions, and outlines
plan of public Improvement through the
island whereby the people may find
work.
AS to the character of the Porto Ri
cans the commission says: THE peo-
pie of Porto Rico are industrious and
are ready and willing to work if given
an opportunity. There is a great field
upon this island for the employment of
capital, which now stands waiting for
an invitation and permission to enter.
AS to franchises the laws submitted
do away with all necessity for the sale
of franchises or special grants therefor
by permitting any persons to incorpor-
ate under the general incorporation law
and extending the right of eminent 40
main to all quasi public corporations.
We have not provided for any cleo
ton. as we are satisfied that the people
of Porto Rico are not ready to exercise
the elective franchise. Not over 10
per cent of the inhabitants read and
write and own property. No ona aa-
vocates making suffrage universal to
the ignorant and improvident, as well
as to the intelligent. To give control to
10 per cent over the other 80 is not es
tablishing a government by the con-
sent of the governed and is not accord
ing to our system.
After these laws have been in force
and the schools have afforded oppor-
tunities for the people to learn, they
will be better fitted than now to enter
upon work of territorial or state gov
eminent.
This applies to municipal govern
ments as well as to the whole island.
There is no place to draw the line, in
our opinion, at present; all the officers
should be appointed and firm hold
kept on the government of each city
and municipality by the general gov
eminent of the island"
There ought, in the opinion of the
commission. to be a general revision of
the tariff rates on articles imported by
the island from the United States and
reductions made on articles of prime
necessity and total release on some ar
ticles. This new revision, it is argued,
should be made at once and put in
force. Following this, it is suggested
that congress grant authority to the
president to arrange a schedule of re-
ciprocal tariff duties in Porto Rico.
The committee lays stress on the
needs of civil reform in the island, and
says:
"All the complications growing out of
the currency in Porto Rico cannot be
remedied until congress shall place
sufficient fund in the hands of the
president, in the shape of silver GER
tificates or treasury notes, all legal
tender for their face value. TO enable
him to take up all the Porto Rico 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 the Porto
Rican silver the difference between the
bullion value and the 60 cents paid for
them being charged to the island and,
when practicable, to be covered into
the United States treasury. This needs
the authorization of congress and such
authority to be asked for and its ne
cessity pointed out"
AS showing the immediate need of
legal tribunals, the fact is cited that ia
prisoners at San Juan are held await
ing trial. In this list. IL prisoners have
been confined from 10 months to nearly
five years, without trial, and in some
instances without charges of any kind
against them. One man has been con-
fined for four years, nine months and
IA days awaiting trial. and one woman
has been confined in this same jail for
years and "a days without trial. and
no charges of any kind are placed
against her