Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-26
Porto Rican Legislature Accomplishes
Little Useful Work.
IMPORTANT MATTERS IGNORED
The Members Pursue DiIatory and
UnbusinessIike Methods.
OUTLOOK IS DISCOURAGING

Correspondence Of the AssOcia ted Press.
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, Wednes-
day, December 19.-The legislative assem-
bly, of Porto Rico has been in session since
December 3, when the house of delegates
was duly organized. The predicted clashes
and splt-up of the republican party have
not materialized. The house sessions are
as tremendously conducted as one could
wish
The house has been holding daily four
hour sessions. over fOrty-five bills have
been introduced and no end of motions and
amendments. But one bill has been passed.
By law the assembly is allowed sixty days
in which to complete each session. Fifteen
days have passed and next to nothing has
been accomplished. and the local papers
are suggesting that it is about time some
thing had been done. The house is badly
in need of a competent force of translators
and clerks. There seems to be no system.
Methods Are UnbusinessIfke.
Bills prepared and introduced cover
ing most common matters and in a manner
most unbusinesslike. Few of the bills are
in proper form; many have been filed writ
ten in pencil on a sheet torn from a scratch
pad. Most of the bills are written during the
the bills are written during the business
gestions than of projected laws. An in
spfration may come to a member, he picks
up pad or draws an envelope or scrap
of paper from his pocket jots down few
sentences and presents the document as
bill. and it is duly filed. Instead of get
ting down to revision of the laws-the
crying need of Porto Rico-bills to enact
such laws as these are drawn up and in
troduced:
ITO establish woman suffrage and to give
women preference over men in public posi-
tons for which they are competent.
Relating to salaries of school teachers"
Relating to contracts made in provincial
currency"
Governing the profession of pharmacy"
A resolution was presented to 'legalize
the sport of cock fighting" by the same
member who is the author of the woman
suffrage bill.
Sample of Daily Routine.
AT yesterdays session the committee on
rules reported that bills relating to the fol-
lowing matters should nave preference over
all other busness-nsular police, salaries
police courts, loans, telegraphs and rail-
roads. On motion mortgages was added
to the list and the report was adopted.
The council passed a bill introducing the
jury system, but it was defeated in the
house yesterday by a vote of IL to r. Sew
erai members claimed that the bill was not
properly translated from the English origi-
nal The bill was ordered to be translated
and will be reconsidered today.
The executive council is daily holding
secret" executive sessions behind closed
doors These for the purpose Of con-
sidering franchises and other matters over
which the council has exclusive jurisdiction.
The public is not informed of the nature
of these discussions The only bill passed
by the house to date is that declaring the
office of delegate Incompatible with other
public Offices"
DiscOuraEinE Outlook.
At present it does not seem probable that
the lower house will be a success as law
making body. Probably 1t is too early to
Judge.
The chamber of commerce of Porto Rico
yesterday petitioned the house, asking for
appropriation for Porto Rican exhibit
at the coming Pan-American exposition at
Buffalo. The petition was referred to a
special committee for report representa-
tive exhibit by the insular government at
Buffalo would prove Of immense benefit to
the island. Capital Is needed here to de-
velop the islands unbounded resources and
in no way could Porto Rico's possibilities
be better presented to the people of the
United States