The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-02
LAWS FOR PORTO RICANs.


of political development.
LAWS FOR PORTO RICANS.
To meet the case he suggests a statu-
tory declaration as to what laws shall be
extended to the Porto Ricans, with pro-
vision for federal officers to execute
them, and for a federal judiciary with
appeal to the United States supreme
court. There should be a form of local
tnsular government, subject to congress
sional limitations; 4 governor appointed
by the president and confirmed by the
senate, the chief officers appointed in
like manner and a legislative council,
| composed of the chief officers of the state
and a minority selected by the president
from the citizens Of the island. The
municipalities are to be governed by
mayors and councils elected by them,
with officers subject to removal by the
governor. 1t would be better to wait
for a time before an elective legislature
is permitted. Suffrage should be linn
tied to those who read and write, or
own small amount of property. Porto
Ricans should be chosen for such Of
fees as they are able to fill. Americans
should be limited in number to the bare
necessities, and should then be chosen
by civil service methods. Education
should be at the cost of the community,
betrayed from the insular treasury, and
States The Spanish civil code should
be continued in force, with such radical
| notifications as experience suggests.
The secretary says that the trouble
has not been that the law was defective
or vicious, but that 1t was never fairly
| and honestly administered. Any attempt
to substitute in these southern islands a
system Of laws based on the experience
and characteristics of a New England
community would be both oppressive and
futile. 1t is pointed out that a similar
course to that above outlined was sue
cessfully followed by ourselves in Louis
lana and by the British in Lower Cam
ada Much stress is laid upon the in
dustrIal distress from the inability Of the
Porto Rlcans to market their goods, Ow-
ing to the withdrawal of the Spanish
market, which was their former reliance,
and to our own tariff. The secretary
says it is essential that Porto Rico
should receive substantially the same
treatment at our hands as she received
from Spain while colony. and that the
markets of the United States should be
opened to her as We're the markets OF
Spain and Cuba, before the transfer of
allegiance.
CUBA FOR THE CUBANS.
Concerning Cuba the report says the
control which We are exercising in trust
for the people. of Cuba should not and
OF course, will not be continued any long
CT than is necessary to enable the people
to establish a suitable government to
which the control shall be transferred,
which shall really represent the people
of Cuba and be able to maintain order
and discharge international obligations.
That government. when established, must
solve for Cuba the problems we are to
solve as to Porto Rico.
to be admirable. There have been agi-
tators, but the substantial body of edu-
Gated Cubans have shown themselves to
be patriotic, appreciative and helpful
while the great body of uneducated Gu
bans have been patient and law-abiding
! 1t Is pointed out that the inability of
two-thirds of the people to read and
write, their lack of experience in govern
ment and the factional feeling, left by
bloody conflicts, make it necessary to pro-
ceed somewhat slowly in the formation
of the government.
1t is said that by the termination of
the year allowed by treaty for the Span
ish population to elect whether to be-
come Cubans or remain Spanlards, it will
be for the first time possible to determine
who are Cuban citizens, entitled to take
part in that government. By that date
April II neXt-the census will have been
completed and we shall be ready to pro-
vide for municipal elections, placing 10
cal government in the hands Of the citi-
zens, and these local governments will
form a representative convention to
frame d constitution and provide for a
general government of the island, to
which the United States will surrender
the reins of government.
Extended statement as to government
in the Philippines Is waived because Of
the full report to be presented by the
Philippine commission.
Reference is made to the report of Gen.
Bates Of the treaty with the sultan of
Sulu, and 1t is pointed out that it is not
only subject to congressional approval
but the sultan has been informed that
such approval did not carry with it the
consent Of the United States to the eX-
istence Of slavery in the Islands. A strong
recommendation is made for the laying Of
n Pacific cable as a matter Of great mill
tary and political Importance. The cost
of such a cable is placed at not exceed
ing S8, 800, ,00O running by way of Hawaii
Wake island and Guam from San Fran
cisco to Manila.
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
One Of the most important chapters Of
the report deals with the subject Of army
reorganization, and on this point the sec
retery makes some most radical recon-
Inendations, pointing out the ~inadequacy
of the present system and insufficiency of
the force. The secretary begins by
proceeding to demonstrate the necessity
of It's strengthening. He first lays
down the opinions Of prominent officers
on plans of action to be followed In ell
cases, and points out the disadvantage
we have been placed in, shown by our
! past experience, more especially with re-
| gard to mobilization, encampment and
| training Of volunteer troops. Next there
| should be ample preparation fer material
of war. keeping pace with military sci
| ence, and avoiding the state of unpre-
! paredness in which we were found at the
outbreak of the last wal This should be
the business of competent men. There
should be an adequate process of selec-
ton according to merit and effectiveness
among the officers Of the army, so that
the men of superior ability and power
may be placed in positions of responsible
ity and authority. Further there should
| be ample exercise and training of the
army in movements Of large bOdies ap-
| proXimating war conditions. 1t is sug-
| gested that war college should be es-
! tabHshed. including the major general
| commanding, and composed of the heads
| of staff departments and a number of
! officers of the highest rank, and to this
| college there should be entrusted matters
! outlined in the above four heads
| ns11rTT