Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-16
Preparing a Code of Laws for the
Island of Porto Rico.
NECESSITY FOR SPEEDY ACTION
Despotic Power of the Present
Minister of Justice.
F r E N G II L A / NJ

The insular commission, having completed
and submitted its report upon the general
conditions in Porto Rico, is now engaged in
dI having up a proposed code of laws for
the island, which the President will either
submit TO Congress for enactment, or, in his
judgment, put into effect pending final
action by Congress. This Is an important
work and will occupy the commission for
the entire summer, II is thought.
1t is understood that recommendations
are being made to the President by persons
familiar with TIE situation in Porto Rico to
enforce system of laws, by virtue OF the
sovereignty of this government, as soon as
possible without waiting for the tedious
and uncertain action of Congress in the
premises. 1t is confidently asserted that
there is no doubt of the power Of the Presi-
dent to do this, and it is pointed cut that
Great Britain has always pursued similar
course with her newly acquired possessions
That is, where a country has been taken
over by conquest or cession, the crown has
asserted sovereignty to the extent Of en-.
forcing laws in advance of action by the
parliament
Necessity for Speedy Action.
There is undoubted necessity, 1t is said,
for speedy action of this kind in Porto Rico.
The island is being conducted as best it
may be under the old Spanish laws. modi-
fled from time to time by the military
authorities 10 suit the cxigencies of the oc-
casion. The lack of stable system upon
which very man can depend is said 10 be
causing embarrassment in the island, and
really preventing development.
1t is asserted that the minister OF justice
1E Porto Rico now exercises power which
is almost deSpotic. He can prevent cases
from coming to trial, and only recently the
attention of officials called II ie
to a case where he directed that murderer
should not be prosecuted. 1t is claimed that
there are from 1,500 to 1000 prisoners in
the jails of Porto Rico awaiting trial
whose cases cannot be properly handled
until code of laws is established. This
has been denied by the minister of Justice
but the insular commission, it is asserted,
has proof of the fact.
Work of the Com mission.
The commission, having knowledge from
personal investigation of the peculiar condi-
tions existing in Porto Rico, is drawing up
code with reference to all features OF
local affairs In it's work the commission
Is taking the best elements of the different
state codes and of the United States Stat.
utes, as well as occasionally lifting out
paragraph from the Spanish code where
1t seems to suit the Porto Rican situation,
The commissioners are lawyers of exper,-
ence and their aim in this direction is TO
prepare a practical, feasible system which
will work with as little friction as possible
No franchises in Porto Rico are being
granted, it is announced, notwithstanding
the repeated assertions to the contrary. 1t
is said that the commission has received a
large number of applications for franchises
railroad applicat tions being in the majority.
1t is evident, the commission says that
there will be no lack of competition for
privileges Of this kind in the island and IL
the recommendations of the commission ara
adopted the franchises will be granted with-
out favorftiSm and to the companies orfer-
ing the most advantageous terms to the
government and the people Of Porto Rico.
Contest Over a Railroad Franchise.
In this connection there is a lively COM
tention on hand now over a railroad franc
chise in the island which was granted by
Spain. A French railway company was
given a charter to build certain railroads,
only portion of which has been COM
pleted. The government was to pay the
railway company a bounty equal to per
cent annually on valuation of $50. go a
mile for the road constructed.
The French company now demands that
the United States should not only acknowl-
edge and validate the charter, but should
pay the bounty which the company re-
ceived under its former arrangement with
another government. On the other hand
the Porto Ricans claim that the charter.
was invalidated by noncompliance with it's
terms by the railway company, and that
the whole case falls to the ground. IL that
contention is upheld by the commission the
road will be sold and the proceeds paid to
the bondholders. A delegation representing
the French bOndholders will appear before
the commission next Tuesday to argue the
point.