Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-08-31

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Frinchise-Oiher Points.
WAsHINiToN, Aug. 3l.-The insular
commission, which has bpeu preparing
q code for Porto Rico, completed its
labors and submitted its report to Sec
retary Root his code is drafted with
view ,f ,naiafring the laws of the
Ui.it q =, It's upon the old Spanish
'c..ce i'll the island at the time
49,, ..Ission confined itself al
most ,.olus.tely to the preparation of
code lJr i'Uryp Rico.
" iiilu the tnitcd States maintains
military control OF the island this code
could be p. omulgated us the law of the
island by order OF the president. 1t is
expected, however, that the whole mat
ter Will be submitted to congress.
The code abrogates all Spanish law
and loyal DEGREES and all systems of
procedure. 1t puts in its place the pro-
visions of the code modified after the
plicable to Porto Rico certain statutes
of the United SHtes so that no loophole
is left. 1t provides a quasi civil govern
ment similar to that under which New
Mexico was governed before the terri.
torial government was instituted. An
American court system Is provided; Il
supreme court, district court, probate
court, justices of the peace and police
courts in the cities.
Also federal court to have exclusive
jurisdiction of all federal questions and
concurrent jurisdiction Ill criminal and
civil matters. The supreme court is TO
consist Of hive judges, and the proper
number OF Judges and officials for the
other courts will be appointed. The
code provides for board of public in
structions and the official language of
the island is to be English. The island
is divided into seven districts with Il
complete system Of county and town.
ship organizations.
No provision Is made for elections,
the commissioners stating they are
abundantly satisfied that the people of
Porto Rico are not ready to exercise the
election franchise.
The commission recommends that
congress place sufficient fund in the
hands of the president, in the shape of
silver certificates or treasury notes, to
enable him so take up all the Porto
Ricon silver and authorize him to have
it recoined into American silver dollars,
the difference between the bullion
value and the 60 cents paid for them to
be charged against the island, and,
when practicable, to be covered into the
United States treasury.
In support OF the plan of buying
Porto Ricon coffee for the army and
navy, the commission says:
1.-The spectacle is now presented of
the government Of the United States
actually sending coffee produced in for
eign countries to Porto Rico to supply
its own soldiers, while the coffee fields
Us Porto Rico are languishing for want
of the necessary market to consume
their productions, and the laborers in
these fields arc Oh the verge of starva-
ton for want of the labor and employ
ment which should come from this most
important industry.
The many applicants for grants, fran.
chises, etc., in Porto Rico, are turned
over by the commission to the secretary
of war, without action, with the state
ment that there has been no time for
considering them. Similar applications
as to Cuba also were returned, congress
having forbidden the grant of such
franchises i'll Cuba.
AS showing the immediate need of
legal tribunals the fact is cited that ia
prisoners at San Juan are held awaiting
trial. In this list IL prisoners have
been confined from ten months to nearly
five years without trial, and in some in
stances without charges of any kind
against them.