The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-06
Legislation
for
Porto Rico.

for is ripe for the adop-
ton Of temporary
Porto Rico. form of government
for this island; and
many suggestions 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
declared by competent lawyers who are
familiar with it as thoroughly modern
and scientific, so far as it relates to mat
tiers of internal business, trade, produc-
ton and social and private right in gen.
eral. The cities of the island are gov
erned under charters which probably re-
qu1re very little or no change. So that
with relation to matters of local concern
and private right. 1t Is not probable that
much II any legislation is desirable; but
with reference to 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 Hesitation on
the part of congress to establish federal
courts and federal Jurisdiction in the is
land as has been previously pointed out
by me with reference to Hawaii. Be
SIDES the administration of justice there
are the subjects of the public lands the
control and Improvement of rivers and
streams not navigab1e which, under the
spanish laws, belonged to the crown of
spain, and have been by the treaty of
cesslon passed to the United States; the
immigration Of people from foreign coun-
tries; the importation of contract labor;
the importation and collection of internal
NSIIuSI tie dppuCaI1On OF the naV1gd-
ton laws the regulation of the current
money; the establishment Of postofFices
and postroads; the regulation Of tariff
rates on merchandise Imported from the
island into the United States; the estab-
llshment of ports Of entry and delivery;
the regulation of patents and copyrights,
these, with various other subjects which
rest entirely within the power of the
congress, call for careful cODSidera fiOn
and immediate action
It must be borne in mind that since the
cession Porto Rico has been denied the
principal markets she had long entoyed
and our tariffs have been continued
against her products as when she was
under Spanish sovereignty The markets
cept upon terms to which the commerce
of all nations is subjected The island of
Cuba, which used to buy her cattle and
tobacco without customs duties. now i'm
poses the same duties upon these nrod
ucts as from any other country entering
her ports. She has. therefore, lost her
Tree intercourse with Spain and C11ha
without any compensating benefits in this
market. Her coffee was little known and
not IN use by our people. and, therefore,
there was no demand for this. one Of herr
chief products. The markets Of the Irnit
ed states should be opened to her prod
ucts. Our plain duty is to abolish all
customs tar1ffs between the United States
and Porto Rico, and give her products
free access to our markets
AS the result OF the hurricane which
swept ,S oyer Porto Rico on the 8th of Au-
gust 1879, over 10000 people were reduced
TO absolute restitution, without homes
and deprived Of the necessaries oF lie
, 10 oiie appeal OF the war department the
people or the United States made nromnf
ana generous response. In addition to the
private charity Of our people, the war de-
R Par dis mas expended for the relief of
the distressed $392, 342. 63. which does NOT
lncluoe the cost Of transportation A10'
1t IS desirable that the government NJ
the Island, under the law of belHgera1t
c,,,mD right now maintain
NV" N"ie ed through the exec
Is Now utive department
In o-d.r should be suppressed
1" olueF' ed by an administra-
to- ,,o4 ton entirely civil In
us nature; For present purposes I rec
oIlnend That congress pass a law for the
VIII ai,i& sta2I OF temporary government
WI Wnlch shall provide for the appointment
py tne president, subject to confirmatioo1
by the senate. Of governor and sIich
4 PINE ol1 ice as the general administra-
[lon OF tho island may require, and for
Ieg1slatlVe purposes, on subjects of local
nature +ar not partaktng Of federal charac-
oeF'1 a legislative council. composed partly
Of the United States, shall be nomina fe.I
and appointed by the president. subject To
(SohIlImat1on by the senate, their acts to
be subject to the approval of the CONGRESS
or president prior to going into effact
In the municipalities and other local smh.
DIVISIONS az Sd l recommend that the principle
OF local government be applied AT
once, so as to enable the INTELLIGENT cJti
zens of the island to participate in their
own government, and to learn by prac-
t1cal experience the duties and REQUIRE
erning people. 1 have not thought It wise
70 commit the entire government of the
Island to officers selected by the people,
because L doubt whether in habits train,
ing and experience they are such as fit
them to exercise at once so large a de-
gree OF self-development, but It Is nv
Judgment and expectation that they viii
soon arrive at an attainment of expert
ence and wisdom. and self-controI that
| VIII justify the comforting upon them a
much larger participation in the choice Of
| their insuar affairs
The fundamental requirement for these
| people, as for all people. is education. The
| free school Is the best teacher for cit
izenship. In the introduction Of modern
educational methods; care, however. must
| be exercised that changes not be made
too abruptly, and the history and racial
! pecuiiarfties of the inhabitants shall be
| given due weight. Systems of education
In these new possessions, founded upon
common sense methods, adapted to exist
| Ing conditions and looking to the future
Improvement and Industrial advancement
of the people. will commend to them in
a peculiarly effective manner the bless
ings Of free government