New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-03

REFORMING THE ADMINISTRATION OF
JUSTICE IN PORTO RICO.
crCprr TRIAL. TO BE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
RENDERING OF JUDGMENTS in fElli
cASEs NrIIE MARRIAGE LAWS


San Juan. Porto Rico March le-in no uepa'
mept Of the Government have better or more heVu
cd reforms been made than those in the depart
mon, NJ Justice Judge Advocate Sharpe OF the
Dorortment has been devoting himself to these
reforms with great energy. and has ehuedNoreu W
adant the administration OF justice as nearly do
nossible 10 the American system lhere Is s'e''
distance between the American ana spanish me''
DDS and IL has taken no small amount OF energy
and ability to overcome the many "i''' " Wv
way Of Improvement.
Major Sharpe has just submitted 10 MaJoi-ue"-
erai Henry report. In which he recommends inc
abolition Of the secret process In trials ana 'le
,rosocution Of criminal and civil cases with dill
co,cc Petty cases ore now tried by important
courts and drag on for many months ana years
before being finally determined. The Judgments III
,riols oro hereafter to be rendered speedily, ana
after the acquittal of a person he Will he speeoiS
released Provision will be made TO secure the az
tendance of witnesses not only for the government
q, tho private prosecutor but for the defendant
and Ntisant as we'll For failure TO at'ehu ''e
trial witnesses will be punished. and in order 10
secure truthful evidence oaths will be administered
to witnesses and severe penalties imposed io'
periury If the officers of the court do not Sho"
due diligence in bringing case to raI on '.e
,reeo,,a;,on Of witnesses the interested party will
have his remedy and neglect OF duty upon the
mart OF the officers Of the court will not serve 10
delay or hinder the cause Of the litgant. 1t Is the
secro, trial which astonishes Americans most IL
IS entirely Incompatible with the ideas OF justice
which all Americans have. In America the Con-
e,itution guarantees that the accused shall nave
the right to be confronted by his witnesses ana
to have a specific charge made against nm, me-
q prisoner may langush in jail Tor weeks an; Si,u
months without knowing the charge dEdiist M
or without knowing who the accuser ana HIS VIII
Another great reform is the modification Of one
marriage laws The following reforms nave Decn
approved by General Henry as the result OF ~, .;Ie
Combined efforts OF Senor Diaz secretary OF JUS
ice and DR. Carroll. the Presidents Comhls,
faiths TO oficiate in marriage ceremonies Bahns,
as in the rites of the Catholic Churcn, ana WIFI
were adopted as the civil law here. are dlSpehSeu
with and written notification or tWeht!-lou
hours to a judge Of the intention OF Inc parues ~
be married is considered sufficient the legdl age
of wenty-three years for men Is reduced 10 tWenE
years and for women TO eighteen years ier <
~ those ages dc not require any permission from
their parents or guardians. Boys under sixteen
years of &c and girls under fourteen years OF re
may contract legal ma trimony after nsNinS ,ri
tanned the permission of parents or guardian. Inc
.'cxpedente' or voiuminous Recommendation hereto
fore in vogue is entirely done away with Its place
being taken by marriage certificate written on a
printed form. and which VIII ne suPP"e" "e' w
those desiring the same.
Ii is notorious fact that heretofore the expense
OF marriage has prevented a majority or Inc IA
tives Of the island from observing the ceremony.
Fees Of any description absolutely FORBIDDEN
TO all functonaries taking part IN the civil cete,
mony. The assistants OF the judges are authorized
order based upon this report provides that persons
now living In roncubinaGo warned that tins
condition is against public morality and are ad-
Vised deSis from same. in default or Wnlch they
will he defined treated offenders against puD-
lie morals and charged with misdemeanor under
the clause Of the code providing for the same
Those having had children while living In this
state can give to them legitimacy by contracting
matrnOny now.