The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-01-29
PORTO RICO IS CORRECT.
SENATE COMMITTEE DECIDES
THE QUESTION.
Coin Now Used in the New Territory
Is To Give Way to Money of
the United States.

Washington. January 27.-The senate
committee on Porto Rico has decided. so
far as it can decide. that the island shall
be known as Porto Rico. and not az
Puerto Rico. as fixed by a recent execu-
tive order. At meeting of the COM
mittee today in connection with the For
aker bill. providing D form Of govern
ment for the island, the spelling of the
name was unanimously decided upon.
The committee went over the bill in
detail, deciding upon many changes in
phraseolOgy and some alterations in the
general provision of the measure. Prob
ably one Of the most important changes
was to strike out the word "constitu-
ton wherever it appeared in the orig
inal print of the bill. which extended
the provisions OF the constitution as
well as the laws of the United States
to the island. The change was made be-
cause of the opinion generally expressed
by the members of the committee that
our constitution is not suited to the Porto
Rico people. The opinion was also quite
general uhat the extension Of the consti-
tuition was not necessary. Some of tho
senators expressed the opinion that the
natives of the island were not yet pre-
pared for jury trials.
Another important amendment provides
for the retirement of Porto Rico coins
and substitutes for them the coin Of the
United States. The secretary of the
treasury IS authorized 70 redeem the
coin known as the peso and all other sill
Yer and copper Porto Rican coins now in
circulation at the present rate OF 90
cents in the money OF the United States
for one peso. this rate TO be applied IN
the exchange Of ali other coins No coins
but those Os the United States are TO
be legal tender in Porto Rico for more
than three months after the passage or
this act Another provision authorizes
the president to appoint an officer of the
army TO be governor OF the island, not
withstanding any present laws to the
contrary. but the appointment of such
officer is made optional with the presi-
dent All laws enacted by the Porto
ilcan legislature are To be reported to
congress, which reserves tho right to
annul them if considered necessary. The
provisions of the bin relating TO the
questions Of the tariff, the federal courts
the internal revenue and delegate in
the congress OF the United States wers
passed over until a fun attendance OF
members OF the committee could be Sc
cured. one or two of the members be-
Ing absent during a greater part of the
day
There was however. more OF less dis
CussiOn Of the provisions relating to all
THESE SUBJECTS ana especially TO tndt
giving free trade TO the island with the
United States proper. The cOncensus or
opinion Of the members seemed to Da
favorable to a slight duty, amounting 10
p or - per cent on articles imported
into the United States from other cOun-
tries. II War decided 10 amend the pro-
vision relating 10 congressional dele
gate so a s to require that II provision -
left in the bill the the delegate Shg
read and write the English language I S.
The provision for the election 0f mer
hers of the lower house Of the P0f
Rican legislature was left unCnang'
but there was considerable discussion
an amendment suggested 10y SEM
Fairbanks aboliShing the leglslar
and putting the government entirely
the hands of a council 10 be apo.
Icy the president Of the United ST
this council TO consist Of twelve men
and only five Of them 10 be resiler
the island.
The committee will probably meet.
next Wednesday 10 complete the Z