The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-08-31
REPORT OF COMMISSION
Recommends Many Changes in
Government Of Porto
Dson

Juuke Iufust ana Major MAtkinGI WiliCN
has given six months study 20 thu com
ditious OF the island Of Porto Rico. to-
day made It's report to Secretary Root
II recommended a form ~ civil govern
ment of the island Co take the place of
the present military regime and submlts
for adoption code Of laws These laws
It recommends should be placed in opor
alton by executive decree, arguing that a
congressional enactment OF general laws
would change the status OF the island t.
wards the United States and make Il
part OF the constitutional territory Of the
United States. I recommends that the
military force remain in the islam but be
kept IN the background and touch the
people only with q soft hand. English
Is to be made the official language of the
island but for the present all except the
federal courts are TO be conducted m
Spanish
The code abroCates all spanish law ans
royal decrees and all systems OF proceed
ure and substitutes the provisions OF tho
code modified after the laws OF the states
OF the United States. and declares the
common law and principles OF equity TO
be in future the law Of the land whore
no specific direction Is found nthe code.
In place OF the Spanish system Of court
an American system is provided; a SUE
preme court. a district court and probate
court with limited civil and criminal iur-
isdiction and justices Of the peace and
police courts In the cities: also federal
court 20 have exclusive jurisdiction OF an
federal questions and concurrent jurls-
4 4I.aH L..
There are to be FIVE supreme judges
three OF whom are TO be American and
two natives complete civil. county.
township and city government Is to be
provided, and all officials OF the civil ad-
minlstrat!on are to be natives. the higher
officers TO be appointed by the president.
the others by the governor general
A public school system with provision
for a superintendent and board OF pub
lie instruction and a complete system OF
public schools conducted In Engiish by
American teachers Is provided and also
night schools for illiterate adults.
Full general corporation and railroad
laws with the right OF eminent domain
are provided, thus opening the island 10
competition. and ending the system of
franchises to favored corporations All
taxes. which bear heavily on the people
and All double taxes On non-residents, are
abrogated a marriage law Is provided
like those In the states, with a plan for
legaiizing consent marriage ana legltma-
tizing children. one hair OF whom on the
island were born out OF wedlock
The commission recommends that the
proposed code be put into effect m once
once by the president without waiting
for congress to legislate on the question
saying that the people OF the island are
In distress and are stili being oppressed
by the old Spanish laws and customs:
leaving for congress the question or such
after rlslation as may i,e deemed best
The commission states tht the Porto
Ricans have lost their markets I'm Spain
for their coffee Ivy reason OF Increased
duties ASS me inensi~y ~ now lang uisii-
ing For want os an immediate mark O. 2
FOR thslr produ stinns; that man yot thc
people are dependent upon this INDUSTRY
for employment and gubsistence and that
there must be distress until the coffe
raisers and coffee handlers can build ~
trade with the United States ana 81
recommends that tho United States gov
eminent puroahso the cJiree for our army
ana navy In Porto RICO
Porto Rico says the commission is now
part OF the United States and the pro-
lection OF home Industries and the &C..
dense and care OF our own people f. one
OF the recognized principles Of our gov
ernment.
The commission urges that n Is a mat
ter Of imperative necessity that these
| ~
present conditions and outlines a plan of
public improvements through the islanf.
whereby the people may nnd work
As TO the character OF the Porto Rio
ans, the commission says.
PEOPLE INDUSTRIOUS
The people OF Porto Rico are industri-
Gus and are ready and willing 10 work n
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 10 ent.
and with its entry will come a day or
prosperity for the Porto Rican people
As 30 the franchises, the laws submit
ted do away with all necessity for the
sale OF franchises or special gtants there.
for by permitting any persona to inc,,
porate under the general incorporation
law and extending the right Of emlnent
domain 70 all quasi-public corporation
Not over 10 per cent OF the inhabitants
read and write and own property. Eu
one advocates making suffrage unIversal
TO the ignoran1 and imDroyiicnt az won
al 10 the intelligent To give control "a
10 per cent over the other 0 IS not ~,
tablishng government by the consent
OF the governed and Is not according 20
our system.
After these laws have been IN force for
few years and the schools have AFFORD.
ed opportunities for the people to learn
they viii be better ftted than now 10 on
ter upon the work Of territorial or state
government
This applies 10 municipal governments
as well as 20 ths whole island There o.
no place 20 draw the ine In our opinion
az present; all officers should Oe appoint
ed and frm hold kept or the govern.
ment OF each city and municipality by
inc general government Of the island.
There ought. IN the opinion 0f the com.
mission. 20 be general revision OF the
tarir rates on articles imported by the
island from the United States ana 70,
ductions made on articles OF prime ne
eesslty and total release on some articies
This new revision. II is argued. should
be made al once and put IN force. Fol.
flowing this, II II suggested that congress
lFrant authority 20 the president 70 Or.
range a schedule Of reciprocal tariN dut.
les with Porto Rico.
| The commission favs sfreas IN tbe ,ceA