The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-02-04
THE CHANGES ARE FEW
THE CONSTITUTION NOT Elk
TENDED 10 THE ISLAND.
THE POWERS AND RIGHTS OF CONGRESS
The Report of the Senate Committee Makes
Them Practically Unlimited. How It
May Deal With the Philippines
and Their People.

Washington, Feb. 3.-The Senate Com
mittee OH Porto Rico today concluded
its consideration of the bill providing a
form Of government for the Island of
Porto Rico. The bill stands in all es-
Sential particulars the same as left by
the committee at its meeting last We'd
nesday. The rate of duty provided for
articles brought from Porto Rico to the
United States and for articles taken from
the United States to Porto Rico IS 20
per cent. of the Dingley law rate.
Senator Foraker, chairman Of the Com
mittee prepared a report which has been
adopted by the committee. and viii be
submitted with the bill to the Senate
next Monday
The report states:
1.-The purpose of the bill is to provide
q temporary civil government for Porto
Rico, to continue until the laws and
ordinances now in force in that island
can be revised and codified and more
permanent form of government be
framed by a commission to be appointed
by the President.
Because the legislation now under
consideration is intended to stand only
temporarily the committee have sought
to limit it to only such changes in exis-
ing laws and conditions as appear neces-
sary to quickly accomplish purposes that
are thought to be essential to the peace
and prosperity Of the island.
THE CHANGES TO BE MADE.
Generally stated, these propositions
are:
Ito substitute a civil for a military
government.
"2@To accord to the native Porto
Ricans as much participation therein as
it may be for the best interests of all
concerned to give them.
''3-TO avoid as far as possible radi-
cal changes in the law courts, and codes
of procedure and yet make such modifica-
tons and alterations as are necessary to
dispense with the most Objectionable fea-
ture of Spanish Government and judicial
administration.
"4-To provide a legislative authority
that can deal with all domestic subjects
of legislation.
"5-To extend the navigation laws of
the United States to the island, and
enact such tariff, internal revenue, and
other provisions as are necessary to af-
ford q revenue for the support of the
Government and to meet the expenses of
such public instruction and public inn
provements as should be undertaken and
in this behalf to authorize, to limited
extent, the raising of funds by issuing
municipal and insular bonds in anticipa-
ton of revenues.
'6-To retire Porto Rican coins now in
circulation and substitute coins of the
United States therefor.
ito authorize and regulate the grant
eng of public and quasi-public fran
chises."
THE POWER OF CONGRESS.
After citing the productions of Porto
Rico, the report says:
$50 far as the objection is concerned
that what is done with respect to Porto
Rico vii be precedent that must be fol-
lowed in dealing with the Philippines
and other islands we may acquire, the
committee think it enough to say that
such a result does not necessarily fol-
low III the opinion of the committee
each case stands on its own merits, and
Congress is not bound IN one by what
1t may sec fit to do in another. Its
power is plenary and it may do as 1t
likes
1t was decided, however to impose the
duty and provide for duty on goods
entering Porto Rico so as to provide
revenues for the island.
Further the report says:
"The committee recognize that in not
extending the Constitution and making
it apply to Porto Rico and especially
by the provisions they report in this bill
with respect to tariff duties, they raise
important questions as to the constitu-
ional power of Congress to enact such
legislation. Notwithstanding all that