The times., 1899-12-13
FUTURE OF PORTO RICO
The President and His Cabinet Dis
cusS the Question.
Petitions From the Islanders Set
Forth Their Desire for an Estab-
Iished Form of Government - Mr..
Mckinley Said TO Favor Ideas sim
liar to Those Affecting Territories

The principal matter before the Cabinet
meeting yesterday was the political and
financial conditions of Porto Rico The
Secretary of War called attention to a COM
munication forwarded by the Governor
General of the island. embodying petitions
from citizens of Porto Rico asking Con
gress to determine their political status
In the petitions it was stated that while
the island was possession of the United
States and its people were under it's rule
il had no status. Porto Rico according to
its citizens, was in state of political
chaos, and relief from this condition of af-
fairs was earnestly desired.
It was stated by member of the Cabinet
yesterday that the President was in favor
of giving Porto Rico some form of gov
ernment and an idea advanced was that
a Territorial Governor be appointed, with
power to appoint certain citizens of the
island to legislate for the Territory. the
Governor having the right to veto, subject
TO review by the President of the United
States
When the committees of Congress a e
organized the President will probably ask
that a bill be framed and passed to place
Porto Rico on the same basis as a State
of the Union so far as commerce between
the island and the United States is con
cerned
The President has been made aware Of
the criticism offered by some of the Re
publiCans in Congress on account of the
recommendation in his annual message
that the tariff duties be abolished between
ba Id .
is represented that Mr. Mckinley will not
hesitate to recommend in his forthcom-
ing special message that the commercial
relations of this country and the island
be as free as commerce between two States
of the Union.
despatch from General Otis was read
to the Cabinet, in which that Official stated
that up to date he had so far rescued about
? 600 Spanish prisoners from the FiIipinos.
They were being deported to Spain, the
Spanish Government paying expenses.
The President, who will be accompanied
by the members of his official family at
Mount Vernon Thursday decided that there
would be no general order issued closing
the departments on that day but left the
matter to the discretion of each Secretary.
A committee consisting of Senator Martin
of Virginia. R. T. w. Duke, ir. Major
Fl. R. Courtney. and Col NJ NJ Parker
appeared to request the President to close
the departments on Thursday. but. as in
dicated, were unsuccessful
The advance guard of the Philadelphia
/ delegation which is here to secure the next
National Republican Convention for that
/ city called upon the President just before
the Cabinet meeting.
The members were introduced by Senator
/ Penrose and Representatives Bingham and
/ Young. Senator Penrose made a short
/ address telling the advantages the
4 Quaker City possessed as the mex
I place to hold the convention Chair
man Shields, of the committee. made an
address in which he informed the Presi-
dent that the delegation was here to secure
/ the convention; that Philadelphia was the
city which nominated Fremont and Grant
and il desired to add his name to the list
| The President responded stating that il
was a source Of great pleasure to meet tn,
delegation, but 1t would be manifestly i'm
proper for him to express a preference FOL
any city in which the convention should
be held. Representative Bingham also sale