The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-09-12
Report OF the lnsular
Commission.
Submits tor Adopuo, a Code o.
Laws to Replaces the Present
Military Rssime.


today made its report to Secretary
Root. II recommends a form of civil
government for the islands, to take the
place of the present military regime,
and submits for adoption a code of
laws.
These laws, it recommends. should
tive decree. arguing that a Congress
ional enactment Of general laws would
change the status of the island toward
the United States and make 1t part of
the constitutional territory of the
United States. The code of laws and
the civil government proposed do not
give to Porto Ricans the elective fran
chise for any Offices nor extend to them
the privilege of trial by jury except in
cases Of felonies or civil cases involv-
ing an amount in excess of $500. 1t
recommends that the military force re-
main in the island, but be kept in the
background and touch the people only
with soft hand. English Is TO be
made the official language OF the ISL
and. but for the present all except the
Federal courts are to be conducted in
Spanish.
The code Obliterates all Spanish law
and royal DEGREES and all systems of
procedure and substitutes the provi-
siOns OF the code modified after the
laws of the States of the United States
and declares the common law and
principles OF equity to be in future the
law Of the land where no specific direc-
ton is found in the code.
In place of the Spanish system of
courts an American system is provid-
ed; supreme court, a district court
and a probate. with limited civil and
criminal jurisdiction, and justices of
the peace and police courts in the cit
les; also federal court to have eX
elusive jurisdiction Of all federal Ques-
tons and concurrent jurisdiction in
civil and criminal matters.
There are to be five supreme judges.
three of whom are to be American and
two natives.
complete civil. county, township
and city government Is to be provided,
and all officials of the civil administra-
ton are to be natives. the higher Off
GERS to he appointed by the President.
the others by the Governor General
and the County Commissioners.
A public school system with provi-
sion for a superintendent and Board of
Public instruction and a complete sys-
TEN OF public schools, conducted in
English by American teachers. Is pro-
vided and also night schools for Hit
crate adults. The right to teach Span
ish where 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 franchises to favored corporations.
All taxes which bear heavily on the
poor and all double taxes on non-resi-
dents are abrogated. A marriage law
is provided like those in the States.
with plan for legalizing consent mar
riage and legitimatizing children, one
half of whom on the island were born
out of wedlock
The commission recommends that
the proposed code be put into effect at
once by the President without waiting
for Congress to legislate on the Ques-
ton, saying that the people of the ISL
and are in distress and are still being
oppressed by the old Spanish laws and
customs; leaving for Congress the
question of such after-legislation as
may be deemed best.
The commission states that the Por-
Ripnns haya lost thaii. lot in
Spain for their coffee by reason of in
creased duties and the industry Is now
languishing for want Of an immediate
market for their productions: that
many of the people are dependent up
on this industry for employment and
subsistence and that there must be
distress until the coffee raisers and
coffee-handlers can biuld up trade
with the United States, and 1t recon-
mends that the Government of the
United States purchase the coffee for
our army and navy in Porto Rico
As To franchises the laws submitted
do away with all necessity for the sale
or franchises or special grants there
FOR by permitting any persons TO in
corporate under the general incorpor-
alton law and extending the right of
eminent domain To all quasi-publc cor
porations.
There ought, In the opinion OF the
commission, 10 be- u general revision OF
the tariif rates on articles imported by
the island from the United States aud
reductions made on articles Of prime
necessity and total release on some ar,
iicles. This new revision, II Ii ar
gued, should be- made AZ once aud pnt
In force. Following this IL Is Suggest,
81 that Congress grant authority a. the
President 10 arrange schedule OF re-
eiprocal tarln duties In Porto Rico
The commission lays stress on tho
need ~ clHll reform 10 the Island aud
says;
All the complications gf0slng Oui OF
tbs currency 10 Porto Rico cannot 10
femsdied uDiil Congress shall place a
suiacisDi fund w the hands OF "a.
President, IN ihe shape of silver oertlh
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