Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-31
NEW LAWS FOR PORTO RICO
Provisions of the Insnlar Commissions
Code.
The Natives Not Deemed Fitted to
Exercise the Right of Voting
Need for Prompt Action.

The report of the insular commission
recommending a code of laws for Porto
Rico, which was handed to Secretary Root.
as announced in yesterdays Star recon-
mends form of civil government for the
island to take the place of the present mill
tary rule, and submits a code of laws for
adoption. These laws, it recommends.
should be placed in operation by executive
decree, arguing that enactment OF general
laws by Congress would change the status
of the island toward this country and make
it a part of the constitutional territory of
the United States.
The code of laws and the civil govern
ment proposed do not give the Porto Ricans
the elective franchise for any offices and
do not extend to them the privilege of trial
by jury except in United States courts, in
cases of felones involving an amount IN
excess of $500. 1t recommends that the
military force remain in the island, but be
kept in the background and touch the peo-
pie only with a soft hand. English is to
be made the official language of the island,
but for the present the proceedings of all
except the federal courts are to be con-
Quoted in Spanish.
The code abrogates all Spanish law and
royal DEGREES and all systems of procedure.
and substitutes the provisions of the code
| modelled after the laws of the states of
the Union, and declares the common law
the law of the land where no specific direc-
ton Is found in the code.
Courts and Judges.
In place of the Spanish system of courts
an American system is provided supreme
court district court and probate court,
with limited civil and criminal jurisdiction,
and justices of the peace and police courts
in the cities; also a federal court to have
exclusive jurisdiction of all federal ques-
tons and concurrent jurisdiction in civil
and criminal matters.
There are to be five supreme court judges,
Three of whom are to be Americans and
two natives; two federal judges, three dis
trict Judges and eleven probate judges. one
attorney general and one deputy, one dis
trict attorney and two deputies, one United
States marshal and two deputies one re-
porter. one clerk and one deputy of the
supreme court, one clerk and two deputies
of the federal court, with a prosecuting at
torney in each of the seven judicial districts
of the island, and an interpreter for each
court.
A complete civil county. township and
city government is to be provided. and all
the officers of the civil administration are
to be natives, the higher officers to be APP
pointed by the President the others by the
governor general and the county commits
sioners. The boundaries of the civil divi-
Sions of the island are to follow the pres
ent Spanish boundaries.
Public school System.
A public school system, with provisions
for a superintendent and board of public
instruction. and complete system of pub
lie schools conducted in English by Ameri-
can teachers, is provided, and also night
schools for illiterate adults. The right to
teach Spanish when demanded is given.
Full general corporation and railroad
laws, with the right of eminent domain.
are provided thus opening the island to
competition. and ending the system of fran
chises to favored corporations. All taxes
which bear heavily on the poor and all
double taxes on non-residents are abrogat-
ed. A marriage law is provided like those
in the states. with a plan for legalizing
consent marriages and legitimatizing chill
dren, half of those in the island having
been born out of wedlock
Highway and poor laws are provided, and
the courts are to have full power to issue
writs of habeas corpus, injunctions. etc.
Speedy trials. with humane punishment,
are sought to be secured by the code.
Foreclosure of mortgages and the redemp-
ton of property are provided for the
American plan.
The commission recommends that this
code be put into effect at once by the Presi-
dent without waiting for Congress to legis-
late on the question. saying that the people
of the island are in distress and still
being oppressed by the old Spanish laws
and customs. leaving for Congress the
question of such after legislation as may
be deemed best.
Not Ready for the Franchise.
The commission also presented to Secre-
tary Root letter setting forth in an inter-
esting manner the general conditions pre-
vailing in Porto Rico. and the chief prob
lens presented in extending American rule
to the island. The laws submitted do away
with all necessity for the sale of franchises
or special grants therefor, by permitting
any person to incorporate under the gen
eral Incorporation law, and extending the
right of eminent domain to all quasi-public
corporations.
The code does not provide for elections
and on this point the letter says:
We have not provided for any elections
as We are abundantly satisfied that the
people of Porto Rico are not ready to exer-
else the elective franchise. Not over 10
per cent OF the inhabitants read and write
and own property. No one advocates max
ing suffrage universal to the ignorant and
improvident as well to the Intelligent
10 give control TO 10 per cent over the
other 80 per cent is not establishing a gov
eminent by the consent of the governed
and is not according to our system. After
these laws have been in force for few
years and the schools have afforded oppor-
tunties for the people to learn, they will
be better fitted than now to enter upon the
work of territorial or state government
This applies to municipal governments as
well as to the whole island. There is no
place to draw the line, in our opinion at
present; all officers should be appointed
and a firm hold kept on the government of
each city and municipality by the general
government of the island
Action by Congress.
AS to future action by Congress, the let
ter says:
THE adoption of this code will in no
manner interfere with any action Congress
may see fit to take. To await the action of
Congress is simply to delay for indefi-
mite period the relief which these people
have been so long expecting, and for which
they are daily becoming more and more
clamorous. After more than years occu-
pancy of the island by the United States
they are, SO far as courts prisons. taxes
district and municipal extravaganza are
concerned, no better off than when under
subsection to Spanish rule"
The letter says in conclusion:
we submit this report with our most
earnest appeal for immediate action, so
that there may come, and come swiftly
day of relief and rejoicing to those who are
now under our flag and entitled to our
protection"
improvements In Porto Rico.
The War Department has granted a re-
vOca hlp license ta Rarnop1a Valdez to cop-