Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-02
lIlSular Commission on Porto
+ RiCan Affairs.
ITS RECOMMENDATIONS
Franchises Should Be Granted to the
Highest Bidder, Subject to Govern
ment COntr0l---Marriaqe and Di-
vorce Laws Need Changing.

Washington, June 1.-The insular COM
mission appointed by the war depart
ment to investigate the affairs of Porto
RICO and report upon all matters rela-
tive to currency laws, taxation, judiciary,
public improvements, education and civil
affairs generally. has made a report to
the secretary of war. The commissions
ers say that all classes and conditions of
the Porto Rican population are ready and
willing to accept American institutions,
and to be content with them, and, in
general. they recommend the establish
ment of such laws. general. district n
municipal, as will give to the people Of
Porto Rico substantially the same pro-
lection and the same laws which are
now enjoyed by the people of the United
States.
The report discusses the financial con-
dftlon OF the country, and says that it is
largely the outgrowth of Spanish insti-
tutlons. The currency amounts to about
$ll .6CO, 1000, a larger sum than was in cir
culatlon prior to American occupation.
The report recommends that the Spanish
bank bills be redeemed and that the
bank be no longer permitted to issue
~ olS IeCoIlIIlSIluS IudI dS
soon as possible the Porto Rican money,
which is now in circulation, be supplant-
ed by United States currency, and that
the exchange be made at the expense of
Porto Rico.
length the question of concessions and
franchises. and recommends such a
generous settlement of the financial
question as will give to Porto Rico
every opportunity for advancement and
Improvement and encourage the invest
ment of moneys in the way of building
railroads and other public improve
ments of all kinds, all to be regulated
IN such manner as shall be to the best
interest of the people Of the island and
all TO be under government control, all
such concessions to be granted only
after proper advertisement in news
papers in Porto Rico and the United
States, then sold to the highest bidder at
public sale, all to be subject to the con-
troll OF the government of the island, and
all franchises so granted to be regu-
lated IN the interest of the people,
1T is recommended that the marriage
and divorce laws of the island be reme-
died SO as to make re-marriages COM
pulsory to require a husband and wife,
and those now living together to make
record of their Capitalization and legiti-
MIXING all such living together. The re-
port recommends the establishment in
the island of the public school system Of
the United States. Recommendation is
made that there shall be a complete sepa-
ration Of church and state and all prop
erty. Recommendation is made for a
thorough reform Of the judicial system
of the island along American lines. The
division of the country into districts sim
liar to those counties in the states of
the United States is suggested. The COM
missloners recognize vested rights in the
island and that they be pro-
tected. Another American method re-
ferred to is that for the recording of
deeds, the present system being very
cumbersome and expensive. Other rec
concentrations are as follows: Better
postal facilities, the maintenance of the
postal and military telegraph in the
That an early census of the island be
taken.