New-York tribune., 1900-12-30
PORTO RICAN LAWMAKERS.
OBSERVERS OF THEIR WORK NOT FA-
voRABLY IMPRESSED.
EFFORT OF ONE AMERICAN MEMBER OF
THE ISLAND ASSEMBLY TO GET REA-
soNABI.E SALARIES FAILS.

| SDNAB14E
San Juan. Porto Rico. Dec 24-The Legislative
Assembly of Porto Rico adjourned on Saturday
| untIl January O. II had been in session eighteen
| davs and II one may judge from the work accom-
piished the House Of Delegates is decidedly not
| success.
THE San Juan News" tomorrow will say edi-
toriaIIy:
tabishnnent Of civil government are now beginning
The spes az dneb fben ePe under military rule One
difference IS that the soldiers who cost a the Island on
But in the way immediate adSenfensns Se5f rent
opsn as bes In has een egen days what
| have they done OF benefit 10 the island?
| Nearly Atty bills have been introduced but not
one has been Of interest or promise to the bust
ness people Many are quixotic to the extreme. II
present conditions continue TO exist there will be
jam ar the end Of the session, and bills will be
rushed through without the desirable consideration
| and discussion
| 1T is to the House" continues 1.-The News"
that the people look for the passage OF measures
| to further agricultural, our commercial and
our social interests Too much valuable time OF
| the House has been frittered away. There Is too
much informality in connection with the presenta-
tlon OF bills. better system of conducting busi
| ness is needed.
The popular opinion among the Americans. even
among the higher officials, is that IL the
House continues as ii is Congress will abolish /;
altogether. and govern the island through Gov
ernor and Cabinet. Such irregular procedure has
been followed that Ii Is question here whether
any business has been legally done.
The last three days of the session just closed
were devoted to discussion and debate OF d bin
"for act to reorgapize the ihsuar police" The
police is well organized body. it Is under the
direction OF Chief Techter. ex-feutenant In the
German and American armies The force costs
the insular Government less than s20e,eO Governor
Allen in his message recommended that the force
be increased. TO be able TO police small towns
and do away With the local municipal organlza-
/ ne befO he he
expense up to about $4,000. and does not provide
for aboshng the municipal, police. Salaries are
increased and fixed by the bill 1t provides that
the Government equip officers and men with uni
forms horses and forage and furnish quarters for
officers. IN army organizations, and increases
their pay 25 per cent The question of salaries for
policemen and officers was being debated at Sat-
urday's session of the House The local paper re-
ported part Of the debate as follows:
Mr. Tous Soto read Section IS of the Foraker
The salaries OF ali offeias of Porto Rico
not appointed by President shall be
:, as the Executive Council shall from time to
After. quoting from the Foraker bin he moved
that all reference TO salaries be stricken from the
ton in the matter the authority 70 * salaries
eeutive Council. Mr. cornweil seconded the mo
Don and T6s Ss sooD fsw a followed by Mr.
Mr.. Santiago we've made three speeches. in which
ne freely expressed his dissatisfaction with the
The Forsker bill" said Mr.. We've, rs rathe!e
inteTpTeteton OF Section s. Of the bh is eorrectg
et seu Te ADDRESS hsys no t TO 10 @
Executive Council as eontinentsls we have no
Mr.: Sanchez Morales made motion to disregard
the Foraker 6ili and to name the salaries drawn
the courts to prove the rights of the House as
Mr. zepo en- Candle aFoss and M made one brief state
United States and the Foraker bin, aIiuding to the
latter as very unjust"
Other remarks uttered, referring the bill
as an inhuman measmnre me- wicked fn law in in
while the Cogneil is composed of six Americans
Delegate cornweI formerly Of ST. Louis and
kansas CITY in an soqpent speech put up an able
THE Foraker bill is form Of government grant
ed BY sn 9r PpsS s fs liberal G ,s
Western Territories or for any other newly ac
Ths point s made that t We have Z insafssast S
Is simply S not of hs erdscs cossss
deeHipg wise that the people. shOnld have
even Territorial rights are granted. Congress has
eur best Interests at heart is members mem are & cid
more than We The Executive couneii has but |
Ing %G na sea o ns 0sf The Of
sGH n % 9s fe n the two @"fa Il ss
Of the Council takes away our authority to legslste
Is harsh to criteiss the United States after it
Mr.. CornweI's remarks had the effect of closing |
the debate One member. Mr.. Sanchez Morales
I shall not attempt. to reply to Mr. Cornwall |
But should like to ask few questions. Does the |
We pass this or any other bill leaving the Council |
to fix the Salaries. what proof have that the |
one will fill the ofices9
The House then adjourned at Il noon to on |
January g. and notified the Council.
Nevertheless, after formally adjournng to meet |
after the holidays. the House held aa extra session
in the afternoon and another at night for further
discussion OF che police bin. OF course, both ses-
slons Illegal.
Such procedure and scenes are of almost daily |
occurrence Not very long ago the cry OF
poverty and distress and starvation heard
on every hand. Individuals and even municipal
ties pressed the Government for relief Represen-
tatives of sensational Journalism visited the island
and caused armies OF beggars TO march TO the Gov
ernors mansion from interior towns with fearful |
tales OF want and starvation To-day these condi-
lions still exist Money is needed to educate the
thousands OF children. TO construct railroads and
highways, to develop agricultural resources and
yet bill passes the House fixing the annual salary
OF the native members OF the Executive Council at
$4,000. There are FIVE such members. The service |
rendered by these officers is apparently not IN pro-
portion to the salary proposed. The WORK OF the |
Assembly is over In February After that there
can be little work for the Council--the laws
win not be changed in the time and under |
present laws there viii be no requests for fran
chises, over which the Council has exclusive con-
troll For six months work $4,000 seems a surpris- |
ing price The bill can hardly be expected 10 pass
the upper House and the Governor
The bin in Its original text provided that tbs
councillors be paid $500 1t was amended IN COM
nllloee 10 READ s4VN When II up for debate |
MT Cofnwen moved that the amount be reduced |
to $500 Mr.. Egozcue opposed and is Reported
10 nave said In his speech that Mt Cornwell esti
mated their services too low; that the Ricans
we're more valuable than the American members
thst tne american offioais frequently compelled