The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-02

,he Porto Ricans. as n people, nave never
learned the fundament aud essential lesson
81 obedience to the decision OF the majority.
In the experiments which have, already been
tried in municipal elections. and toward gov
crnment by mnncipal boards. the minority
which Is voted down almost invariably refuses
sq teo the sssss d pSpy
Is precisely that which causes the continue,
Tev9luiions IN the government OF other West
india islands and the Central American states
In the same latitude.
"A form, Of government should be PROVIDED
Tor Porto Rico" the Secretary says, which viii
assure tho Kind Of administration to which we
nre accustomed. with lust az mucls rarticipa-
ton on the nart of Porto Ricans as ls possible
without enabling their inexperience TO make "
Ineffective and with opportunity for them to
demonstrate their increasing capacity TO gov
/ think that some such provision should DO
made for future government as the following:
That we should first declare definitely, 10y
are TO lie extended To the Porto Ricans, such as
for instance. tho postal laws, the banking laws
laws with such notifications MS may be doomed
advisable, the laws against connterieiting; tue
o ont,,irutt laws; &c; IAN ana provide 1or he9crm
executed IN the various States and Territories
Of the Union; that there should be a provision
same kind OF Jurisdiction which is exercised by
the circuit, and distrc, courts OF the United
@m ,""t should be Vested tic in tho sm
preme Court OF the United States. or in n des-
iRnatcd circuit court Of appeals and the SUI
That there should be q form OF local insular
government provided which shall have COM
Ge,, contr2i oyer The rights nrGpry ana OBJ
italy covering the field covered by the govern
mont OF our respective states and subject to
same character az the constitutional limita-
tons generally imposed upon our State legs-
That the framework OF this government
should be substantially as follows: A gov
ernor, TO he appointed by tho President Of the
the Senate the chief officers Of state custom
airy under our system; such "a secretary OF
comp,roisr. superintendent OF public SH WORKS
and superintendent OF education. TO be APP
n2in,ci IN like manner and lcgislntlSs coun;,
sES'o rc %nG minority tho sSr''f By 'F2 Gs
be subject to the veto power Of the Governor
aud Ia be passed over the veto by n two.third's
vote. and no law should take effect until 1t has
President Of the United States. II passed. when
be supreme Court Of the island, comp6sed OF
Judges appointed by, the President with the
advice and, consent OF tho Senate and having
separate districts. having general original
jurisdiction. with Judges and officers to he APP
each municipality: ;hat the several munici.
pa'itics now existing in the island. with such
complications, and alterations Of houndarics
crnrd 10y mayors and municipal councils. to be
elected by the people Of the municipalities.
the exercise Of the powers Of local government
except as II shall he controlled by statute. and
except as it's officers shall be liable to removal
by the Governor in cnse OF failure faithfully to
perform their duties. and with power in the
Governor IN case Of such failure to order n
new election and to I'LL vacancies in the mean
THE question whether there might not now
hc provision made Tor legislature elected by
~ nj Ia mot hE.Ntl.
but in view OF their present incxperence /
think that IL would he better to POSTPONE such
Tor exercise in mnncpa govern N.
ment. AMI until the first formative period OF
adapting the laws and procedure OF the Island
n" direction Of council composed OF Porto
lilcans selected for their known capacity and
petent and experienced in dealing with leeis.
ative and administrative problems. The con-
sttution 81 such Legislature should be con-
'emnlated as step To be taken In the near
., think the basis Of suffrage should be that
srty up /" q speciiied small amount may may Vote
md no others. With sufficient system Of free
SsgSaIoS the sn,rS pe%s should
~ they are capable OF using It understand
nGly
others. The industry OF the island is almost |
SS mt "src ~ ,5a The people live upon
lrticles for which they exchange their surplus !
oroducts abroad. Their production Is in tho |,
,crity Of tho island depends upon their success t
1ana was Part o, the Spanish po;sSssions
sr Of tho island from Spain to the United
he INTRODUCTION OF Porto Hican products The
ntcrcsts OF Cuban agriculture led TO the cree.
ion T 1t similar barrier IN the tarLfr adopted
he principal markets which she had previously
nioyod. and at the same time this country
roducts Just as IT existed Will the island was
PARISH territory, The result Is that there
as been a wall built around the industry OF
'orto Rico. IL is plain that IL is essential TO
he prosperity Of thc. island that she should re-
CIV" substantially the same treatment Mt our
parish colony. and l wish most strongly 10
rig" that the customs duties between Porto
leo and the United States be removed"
PACIFIC CABLE.
The report calls especial attention to the
niicd States and tha Philippine Islands, via
avail aud Guam. II says that tho cable tolls
the w. war Pi Bi;npaTtment messases alone TO and
ave averaged S39.iiIl2 monthly. a rate Of
yer s325 oO0a year and TINT thu commnnica.
equent had 1t not been limited nv tho great
,st 20 me most Important messages Tho
nd the cost is estimated by the United states
Ignal ONCE as not exceeding s., 800. 900 at the
resent market rates for material
The reDort recommends that Gen, Shnster
Q retired with thY full rank OF Major General,
mt provision be made for the erection In tho
Htlonnl Capital Of suitable memorial I'm
emory Of Gen. Grant and that progress BIO
ado toward tho erection az tho proposed
emorial bridge between Washington and tho
Fights OF Arlington.
COST OF THE ARMY.
Tho expenditures for the fiscal year ending
me 30 1890. the appropriations for the pres
IT fiscal year; and tho estimates OF nppropria-
Dns required for the fiscal year ending June
}. 1901, are as follows:
1899. 1900 1901
vii cstAb-
lrYshment siosG,oso sI.oe7.7oe sa,I0s. oco
fablshm,t 22S. 7n7. a62 s8.s4o cno IcsI7o. .sa
lhlic works 27,s55,LO0 an,4uph7d SOpssoTI |
iscellano's I.92s.plO 5.IpU 100 46T00ao |
randto'l $3.50. ti2I. 5o4.37 sIs5 uoa Dol
Expenditures from indefinite and permanent
lnual appropriations and approximations for
nr claims and relief acts are not included In
Q above statement
There wns allotted to tho War Department I
Dm rho SbOOWOOO national defence fund
ct OF Nhrch'lSD~l the sum OF ) $500 ,i27 w
ne expenditures from this fund during the
ISL fiscal ypnr nmpuntn1 IN ~ ASn u |