Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-05

name Of Louisiana, II seems to mo that
II would be advantageous TO CONFER
/ Geratcr executive power upon the gov
orn9i and to establish. rs was done In
the cnae OF the Territory OF Louisiana,
| "A legislative council having power to
| adopt ordinances which shall extend TO
an tue rightful subjects OF local lcgls-
| Intlon. such ordinances not to take cf-
| feet until reported to and approved by
the Congress n In session. and n that
body In not In session. then by the
| President.
| In this manner n system Of laws pro-
/ vidlng for the incorporation and gov
eminent OF towns and cities having a
certain population. giving them the
| power TO establish and maintain syH-
| TEN Of education TO be locally sup
| ported. and ordinances providing for
| polic. sanitary. and other such pur-
poses should be speedily provided.
| I believe n provision Of this KIND
/ would be satisfactory 20 the people OF
| the territory. II IL probable that the
area II too vast and the population too
scattered and transltory to make u
wise at the present time 10 provide for
an elective legislative body. but the
| conditions calling for local self gov
| eminent will undoubtedly very soon eN-
list and viii be facilitated by tho meas
ures which | have recommended.
LEGISLATION FOR PORTO RICO.
recommend that legislation to the
same end be had with reference to the
| government OF Porto Rico. The time
II ripe for the adoption OF a temporary
/ form OF government for this Island;
and many suggestions made with refer
yncc To- Alaska are applicable also to
| Porto Rico.
The system Of civli jurisprudence now
adopted by the people of this Island IL
| described by competent lawyers who
are familiar with II. as thoroughly
modern ana scientific. 50 far Us u re-
lntcs 10 matters Of Internal business.
trade production and social and private
right In general. The cities OF the
island are governed under charters
which probably require very little or
no change. So that with relation TO
matters OF local concern and private
right, u Is not probable that. much u
any legislation Il desirable. but with
reference to public administration and
the relations Of the Islands to the fed
cfal government there are many mat
tiers which are Of pressing urgency
SOME OF PORTO RICos NEEDS.
The same necessity exists for lcgls-
latlon on the part Of Congress to cs-
tablish federal courts and federal juris-
diction IN the island as has been pre-
viously pointed out by me with refer
cnee TO Hawaii. Besides the admins
trntlon OF Justice there are subjects OF
public lands; the control and Improve
incnt OF rivers and hnrbors. the control
which. under the Spanish law. belonged
TO the crown 81 Spain and have BY the
treaty. OF ecssion passed to the
United States; the immigration
Of people from foreign countries.
the Importation Of contract labor:
the Imposition and collection OF
Internal revenue: the application OF
the navigation laws; the regulation OF
the current money; the establishment
OF pos'oiiices and post roads: the regu-
lation OF tarin rates on merchandise
Imported from tho islands into the
United States; the establishment OF
ports OF entry and delivery: the rcgu-
lntion OF patents and copyrights. these.
with various other subjects which rest
entirely within the power Of the Con-
srcst, call for careful consideration
and immediate action.
PORTO RiCAS MARKETS.
II must be borne In mind that since
the ccasion Porto Rico hns been denied
the principal markets she had long en-
1pycd and our tariffs have been con-
tinucd against her products as when
she was under spanish sovereignty.
Ihe markets OF Spain are closed to her
products except upon terms to which
the commerce OF all nations II sub.
jcctcd. The island Of Cuba, which used
To buy her cattle and tobacco without
customs duties, now imposes the same
duties upon THESE products aa from amy
has therefore lost In her free inter
course with Spain and Cuba without
any compenHnting benefits In this mar
Ret, Her coffee was little known and
not IN use by our people and therefore
there was no demand hero for this, one
OF her chief products.
The markets Of the United States
should be opened up 10 her products
our plain duty II to abolish all Gus
toms tariffs between the United States
.aaI a.
free access TO our markets.
THE WEST INDIES HURRICANE.
AZ result Of the hurricane which
swept over Porto Rico on the 18th of
August, 1929. over 1905 people We're
reduced TO absolute de.titutlon, with
out homes, and deprived OF the ncces-
safies OF life. To the appeal OF the war
department., the people Of the United
states made prompt and generous res
sponsc. In addition TO the private char
NY OF the people. the war department
has expended for the relief OF the dls-
tfessed, f5y2.A2 C1, which does not In
cludc the cost OF transportation.
READY FOR CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
IL IL desirable that the government
OF the Island under tho law OF bellger-
cnt risht. now maintained through the
executive department. should be super.
seeded by an administration entirely civ
u In Its nature. For present purposes
! recommend that Congress pass law
Tor the organization OF a temporary
government. which shall provide FOR
the appointment by the President sub.
ject TO confirmation by the Senate, OF
a governor and such other officers as
the general administration OF the island
may require and that for legislative
purposes and subjects OF local nature
not paItnking Of u federal character,
legislative council. composed partly
or Porto Rlcans and partly OF citizens
OF the United States, shall be nominate
ed and appointed by the President, sub.
ject to confirmation by the Senate.
their acts to be subject to the approx |
al OF the Congress and President prior |
to going into effect.
In the municipalities and other local
subdivision ! recommend that the prln-
eiple OF local sclf-government be APP |
piled at once so as to enable the intel-
ilgent citizens OF the island to partlcl-
pate In their own government and To
learn by practical experience the du- |
ties and requirements OF u self con- |
talned and n self-governing people.
! have not thought II wise to COM |
init the entire government: Of the island |
to officers selected By the people, be- |
cause ] doubt whether In habits, train |
ing ana experience. they are such as TO |
NJ them TO exercise at once so large a |
Degree OF self-governmcnt. but II Is my |