The times., 1899-12-06

thousands OF miles to discharge his judi
cial duties at the various places designated
for that purpose The Territory should be
| divided into at least TWO districts, and an
additional judge, district attorney, mar
shall and other appropriate officers be pro-
vded
Inadequate Government.
There is practically no organized form
OF government in the Territory There
is no authority, except in Congress, to
nass any law, no matter how local or
trivial and the difficulty of conveying TO
/ the Congress an adequate conception and
understanding of the various needs of the
people In the different communities is
easily understood. see no reason why a
more complete form of Territorial Organi-
alton should not be provided. Following
he precedent established in the year 1905,
when a temporary government was pro-
vided for the recently acquired territory,
then known under the name OF Louisiana,
1t seems to me that it would be advan-
tageous 10 confer greater executive power
/ upon the Governor and TO establish, as
was done in the case of the Territory of
Louisiana, a legislative council having
power TO adopt ordinances which shall eX-
tend to all the rightful subjects of local
, legislation, such ordinances not 10 take
effect until reported to and approved by
Congress if in session, and If that body
is not in session then by the President.
In this manner a system of laws providing
for the incorporation and government of
towns and cities having certain popula-
uon. giving them the power to establish
and maintain q system Of education to be
locally supported, and ordinances provid-
ing for police, sanitary, and other such
purposes. could be speedily provided.
hn1 L.
satisfactory 10 the people of the Territory
II IS probable that the area is too vast
and the population too scattered and tran
STORY TO make 1t wise at the present time
10 provide for an elective legislative body,
but the conditions calling for local self
government viii undoubtedly very soon
exist, and will be facilitated by the meas
ures which l have recommended.
l recommend that legislation 10 the same
end be had with reference TO the govern
ment OF Porto Rico The time is ripe for
the adoption of a temporary form OF gov
eTnment for this island; and many sug-
gestiGns made with reference to Alaska
are applicable also TO Porto Rico.
The system of civil jurisprudence now
adopted by the people of this island is
described by competent lawyers who are
familiar with it. as thoroughly modern
and scientific, so far as It relates to mat
ters Of internal business, trade, produc-
ton. and social and private right in gem
eral. The cities OF the island are gov
eTned under charters which probably re-
quire very little or no change So that
with relation to matters Of local concern
and private right. il is not probable that
much, If any, legislation is desirable; but
with reference 10 public administration
and the relations Of the island to the Fed
eral Government. there are many matters
which are of pressing urgency. The same
necessity exists for legislation on the part
Of Congress to establish Federal courts
and Federal Jurisdiction in the island as
has been previously pointed out by me
with reference TO Hawaii. Besides the
administration Of justice, there are the
subjects Of the public lands; the control
and improvement of rivers and harbOrs
the control Of the waters or streams not
navigable which under the Spanish law,
belonged TO the Grown of Spain and have
by the treaty of cession passed to the
United States; the immigration of people
from foreign countries; the importation
OF contract labor; The imposition and col
lection OF internal revenue; the applica-
ton OF the navigation laws; the regula-
tion Of the current money; the establish
ment Of pOstoffices and pOstroads; the
regulation Of tariff rates on merchandise
imported from the island into the United
States; the establishment Of ports Of entry
and delivery; the regulation OF patents and
copyrights; these, with various other sub
iects which rest entirely within the power
Of the Congress, call for careful considera-
tiOn and immediate action.
Porto Bican Trade.
1t must be borne in mind that since the
cession Porto Rico has been denied the
principal markets she had long enjoyed
and our tariffs have been continued against
her products as when she was under Span
tsh sovereignty. The markets of Spain are
closed to her products except upon terms
to which the commerce of all nations Is
subjected. The island of Cuba, which used
to buy her cattle and tobacco without Gus
toms duties, now imposes the same duties
upon these products as from any other
country entering her ports. She has. there
fore lost her free intercourse with Spain
and Cuba without any compensating ben
efits in this market Her coffee was little
known and not in use by our people. and
therefore there was 10 demand here for
this, one Of her chief products The mar
kets Of the United States should be opened
up TO her products. Our plain duty is TO
abolish all customs tariffs between tho
United States and Porto Rico and give her
products free access 10 our markets.
As a result of the hurricane which swcpt
over Porto Rico on the Sth of August. 1899
over 100 600 people We're reduced TO abso-
Lutte destitution without homes, and de-
pTiyed Of the necessaries of life To the
appeal of the War Department the people
OF the United States made prompt and gen
erous response. In addition 10 the private
charity Of our people, the War Depart
ment has expended for the relief Of the
distressed $392. .33263, which does not in
clude the cost Of transportation.
Island Government
II is desirable that the government Of
the island under the law of belIigeront
right, now maintained through the Execu-
tive Department should be superseded by
an administration entirely civil IN its ma
ture. For present purposes I recommend
that Congress pass law for the orgaulza-
uon Of temporary government, which
shall provide for the appointment by the
President, subject TO confirmation by the
Senate, of a governor and such other off,
GERS as the general administration Of the
island may require, and that for lCgis-
IaJlVe purposes upon subjects of a local
nature not partaking or a Federal charac-
ter Legislative council composed partly
OF Porto Ricans and partly of citizens Of
the United States, shall be nominated and
appointed by the President, subject TO
confirmation by the Senate their acts to
be subject to the approval Of Congress or
the President prior 10 going into effect
In The municipalities and other local sub
divisions ! recommend that the principle OF
local selG-goveTnment be applied at once
so as to enable the intelligent citizens OF
the island TO participate in their own gov