The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-12-06

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have recommended.
LEGISLATIVE NEEDS
OF PORTO RICO.
Tariff Laws Should Ne ModiAed 90
AFFORD . Market for the
Island Products.
I recommend that legislation to the
same end be had with reference to Porto
Rico. Tho time II ripe for the adoption
this island; and many suggestions made
with reference to Alaska are applicable
also to Porto Rico.
Existing Government Good.
The system OF civil Jurisprudence now
described BY Competent s lawyers who are
familiar with 1t a. thoroughly modern
and scientific. so far as 1t relates to mat
s n q sooa .na ras s ssn
eral. Tho cities of the island are gov
erned under charters which probably re-
quire 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
Federal government there are many mat
ters which are of pressing urgency.
The same necessity exists for legislation
IN the
island as has been previously pointed out
by me with reference to Hawaii. Besides
the administration. Of Justice. there are
Improvement of rivers and harbors: the
control of the waters or streams not nav
igable. which. under the Spanish law. be-
longed to the crown of Spain and have by
the treaty OF cession passed to the United
States; the immigration Of people from
foreign countries; the Importation of con-
Of Internal revenue: the application Of the
navigation laws: the regulation Of the
current money; the establishment of post
a Hs' r. ans the o
the islands into the United States; the
establishment Of ports OF entry and de-
livery: the Regulation OF patents and
subjects which are entirely within the
power Of congress. cali for careful con-
sideration and immediate action.
Tariffs Are Injurious.
IT must be borne in mind that since the
principal market she had long enjoyed,
and our tariffs have been continued
against her products an when she was
under Spanish sovereignty. The markets
of Spain are closed to her products ex-
cept upon terms to which the commerce
Of all nations IL subjected. The island OF
Cuba, which used to buy her cattle and
tobacco. without customs duties. now im-
posts the same duties upon these pro-
ducts as from any other country entering
her ports. She has therefore lost In her
free Intercourse with Spain and Cubd
market. Her coffee was little known and
not in use by our people and therefore
there was no demand here for this, one
of her chief products. The markets OF
the United States should be opened to
her products. Our plain duty is to abol-
ish an customs tariffs between the United
ducts free access to our markets.
Great Loss by the Hurricane.
A.. result ~ ~. hurr,can. ,rh,a.
a. .sspn " p. tug nusIicmne Wnich
swept Swer morI 10 ELS on the iStn OF Au,
h sssy ose dst;;,,tp eops We're rsauced
~ aS Ir,,'ss ossStSs,on. MNnout MONIES,
70 the appeal Of the war . department. TIE
peopie oI .me un.ee otates MAGE prompt
nrivate charity az nmr nsnnis ths No ~ s a
tne distt res sdss;s.a.S. when does not
ihciuue .nc Cos. OF transportation.
Civil Administration Needed.
the island under the law Of heiiirsrart
right now maintained thrnuSh tha evac,,
tive Department should be s,inerseded nv
an administration entirely civil In its ma
ture. FOR present purposes recommend
.atton ~ tsmnnrsrv vcv.rrr no os h.
.haIi nrovide FOR fhe anrointrnsrt ~. M
nrasident ssbicct 10 eapssrma1tnn by me me
Senate ~ rovsrnnr snd s,,"h othoss ~ w
GERS as the general administration Of The
iatius nI,rnoses m s,,htacts for ies s1
nature not partakine Of n Fedsr.i cbori
scter lsgisisfjve ro,nc,i ccr,n cnal
psns ~ the IIn,tsS statsa Rsii " cn.,-
natsd ana annointsd nv the nrssiSnnt
a~hSsct ~ cprSrmst,on h e esiusns'
tSa;r scts ~ ha s,,htact aau sena.e;;
~ rorrress or The nresidsnt nr,or sa
Inc info efsect In ihe n;,nicipai,t,s. "a 81
other local subdivisions i recommend
that the principle of local self-govern-
ment be applied at once, so as to enable
the Intelligent citizens of the island IN