The San Francisco call., 1899-11-21
EARLY ACTION ON
HAWAIIAN BILL
Senator CullOm Will
Press Matters.
HIS OPINIONS UNCHANGED
STILL FAVoRS A TERRITORIAL
FORM OF GOVERNMENT.
Same Conditions Do Not Exist In
Porto Rico and 1t May Require
Entirely Different
Treatment.
Special Dispatch to The Cali.

CALL HEADQUARTERS YELLING
TON HOTEL, WASHINGTON, Nov. 20
senator Cullom. who was chairman Of
the Hawaiian Commission. has an
hounced his intention of reintroducing
on the opening day of the Fifty-sixth
Congress the bill providing a territorial
form or government for Hawaii. He will
urge action upon this measure, insisting
that II should be disposed of before Con-
Sress gives serious consideration TO any
legislation Tor other insular possessions.
The Hawaiian BILL" said the Senator
tonight, has precedence, and, I'm NV
Judgment, there ought to be early action
upon H. Congress during the coming
session certainly ought TO provide q form
OF government for both Hawaii and
Porto Rico, but Hawaii should come
first Congress could have adopted a
form OF government for Hawaii at the
last session, and probably should have
done so. The Hawaiian Commission,
consisting of Senator Morgan, myself
ana Congressman Hit, having made a
fun investigation OF conditions In the
lslahus' hau reported bill TO Congress
providing q form of government, but the
welShty matters which pressed upon
Congress in consequence OF the war with
Spain prevented the Hawaiian bin from
being taken up. The people of Hawaii
have now waited a whole year upon
Congress without a murmur They are
loyal patriotic Americans, and they ap-
preciate the causes for delay in giving
them representative government,
These causes no longer exist, and they
have right 10 expect early action"
do you think committees of Congress
should be sent 10 Porto Rico and the
form Of government for those islands is
considered by Congress ~
Il think it might be well to do so. But
probably In the case OF Porto Rico It
are thoroughly loyal TO the United
States. There has never been any dis
position among them 10 question our SOW
ereignty. II may be that Congress can
legislate satisfactorily for them without
Congressional committees visiting the
island. That will appear later. But
whether II Is necessary to send a com
mittee OF Congress TO the island or not
some form of government for the Porto
Ricans ought TO be provided before the
conclusion of the coming session"
will the bill reported by the Hawaiian
Commission for the government Of the
Hawaiian Islands serve as a model for
a form Of government for Porto Rico?'
1T may be of some use, but doubt IL
II would answer in all particulars. The
Hawaiians are a very different sort Of
people from the Porto Ricans. The Ha
waiians are fully Americanized and have
demonstrated their capacity for self
government. They speak the English
language for the most part and under
stand American institutions. With the
Porto Ricans II Is different. They have
never had any experience in self-govern-
ment. Their training under Spain has
not been such as 10 qualify them for IT,
Few Of them speak the English Ian
guage. and few have, as yet, a proper
appreciation OF the principles of our re-
public In the beginning, therefore,
they may need a different form of gov
ernment from that which we will provide
the Hawaiiaus. The difference Will be
in details: the underlying principles, OF
course will be the same
In reference TO the reported intention
OF the President TO appoint a civil gov
ernor for Porto Rico Immediately. II
would seem as il the programme TO ap-
point Assistant Secretary Allen OF the
Navy Department has been suspended.
The President told Senator Foraker on
Saturday that he doubted now whether
he would make any civil appointment in
Porto Rico until after Congress had had
a chance to legislate on a form Of gov
eminent for that island and Hawaii. Il
would seem from this remark and
Senator Cullom's interview that the sub
feet has had very recent consideration
AT the white House and that Senator's
have advised the President TO go slow
in the appointment of civil governors
The question OF revenue in Porto Rico
to support the island will be difficult
nrohlern TO determine.