The Saint Paul globe., 1900-12-16
NEWLY PLEDGED SOIONS
HOW THE PORTO RICAN LEGIsIaA-
TURE LOOKS WHILE
At WORK
RULES OF ORDER HoNoRED
More in the Breach Than In
the Observance - Everybody
Smoked Cigarettes as
Start-OG.

SAN JUAN De PORTO RICO. Mon
day, Dec. 10.-The legislative assembly of
Porto Rico, as created by the Foraker
bill, is now fact. The house of dele
gates has been organized a week today
aud already nineteen bills have been con-
Sidered. The house got down to business
at its first session. To introduce nine-
teen bills in week after its first or
gapiZing as well as 10 form the new COM
mittees, rs not bad work, when it is con-
sidered that not one Of the members
knew anything about party procedure.
During the session one of the members
may ba seen making frequent trips TO
the executive mal.SiCn, whore he con-
fefs with Secretary Hunt in regard to
some doubtful point. It is believed by
some that in g short time the lower
house viii be controlled entirely by the
portfolio members of the council. 1t 1s
known that five Porto Rican members Of
the council, when considering the ques,
ton Of franchises, etc, often vote con,
Jrary TO their oWr IDEAS in order that
the council may continue harmonious.
Lut il is not likely that the heals Of de.
p3rtments VIII be able to controI the
thirty-fiye members of the house. The
house, although regularly elected, is not
representative of the island The Fed
erals, refraining from voting, kept over
halls the natives from the polls. The Fed
erai party, it Is asserted is made up Cf
the richest and best element Of Porto
Rico. The Republicans, though in power,
10 not feel that they are able TO run
things alone, so the majority is willing
TO be dictated to by the council Never
theless there IS a certain element in the
Counci! which will not be dictated to- AS
soon as any really important bill comes
up for debate, it is reported the house
vii divide against Itself. And a little
later when the house passes sCnle pet
bill and the council rejects it, the house
viii probably resign in a body-it is q
natural trait Of the people.
EVERYBODY SMOKED.
At the first days session some of the
members arrived in full evening dress,
which is a Spanish custom in regard to
attending serious functions. Cigarettes
We're freely smoked in all parts Of the
house during the first three days, but
they were tabOoed by the temporary
rules and regulations adopted. After Sc
Iecting a secretary and sergeant-at-arms,
the house actually went to a vote on the
question whether the secretary should
have a vote. There was at first no form
ality whatever observed. Members ad-
dressed each other and speakers by
name, interrupted speeches and even
votes. At one time during the third day
there were four motions and seven
amendments pending al one time. A mo-
ton would be made and seconded. While
proceeding to vote another motion would
De made and the first would be forgot
zen.
The irregular proceedings of the initial
meetings must be overlooked. The house
is improving every day and in a short
ji12e no fault viii be found. The rules
adopted are practically those of the
nited States house OF. representatives.
Among the important house bills are
measures for the re-establishment of the
mortgage law for sale by auction of
public lands in and adjacent to San
Jaqn,' and TO 'reorganize the insuIar po-
lice.
lows:
Speaker, Manuel Rossy; secretary. Sal
vator Ros. The secretary's salary is
81 500
An Interpreter has been. employed at
$iS90, and translators, stenographers,
t}peWrfters and an assistant secretary at
s. and So a day.
The executive council IS in daily ses-
sion
IMPORTANT MEASURES.
The most important bills introduced
during the past week are:
A bill to establish jury trials and
y bill to provide revenues for Porto
1D"' anu Iot otHeI purposes.
The latter measure is by DR.. HolIan-
der, the treasurer.
The petition signed by the Banco Ter
ritorial Agricoli and other prominent
business concerns and merchants, asking
the council to petition congress to repeal
section 81 Of the Foraker bill, or so much
thereof as prvides that all franchises,
privileges and concessions shall be sub
5ect to amendment, alteration or appeal
ny congress has been introduced.
A local representative of Northern
Capitolani, in an address before the coun-
ell with regard to the law, expressed the
belief that capital would not come to
Porto Rico until the law was repealed
or modified. AS it was, a company
might receive a concession, start work
on large scale and then have the con-
cession annulled by congress.