The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-28
FUTURE OF PUERTO RICO.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE MAKES
CHANCES IN IHE FORAkE Err BILL.
Tho Proviso Extending tho Constitution of
the United states over the Island 10
stricken Ont - The Provision for an
In.uInr LeRl.lature II, u0wcNer. Retnined

Tho Proviso Extending tho Constitution Of
the United states over the Island 10
stricken Ont - The Provision for an
Ip,uIar Legislature IL, However. Retained
w,suIssros, Jan. 27.-The Senate Commit.
,.s ON Puerto Rico to-day considered and
.msnded tho bill for tho government OF that
,sIapd introduced By its chairman. Senator
Foraker. The paragraphs extending the GUS
tom, laws and internal revenue laws OF the
United States over Puerto Rico, establishing a
Federal court for the island and providing for
ia representation Ia Congress by a Delegate.
were passed over until the next meeting OF the
committee.
Tn. most important change made by the
M was str king out Of the bill the ex-
tension OF the Constitution OF tho United
state. over the island. This action was TAX an
hecause the committee was convinced that the
,sople Of the island were not yet ready for the
duties OF full-feiged citizenship, One o! the
rpeciac objections was In applying the trial-
hy.iur, system TO tho islam 1. which the extern
sIon of the Constitution would entail, It being
rho opinion OF the committee that that system
could not be- successfully operated under pres
ent cond tons there.
speiiing OF the name OF tho island. which had
hean decided by tha Board on grap hlc
Names should I've Puerto Rico. the SPANISH
method. The committee decided that It should
he called Porto Rico. on the ground that II was
the common-sense way OF spelling and pro-
nounclng II.
tee proviiesfor the REDEMPTION and reco.nnge
Of the silver and copper coin, q; Puerto RIco
now ia circulation mot I,nrind.n any vi en-
may be- imported alter + ID. at the ri'lo oil
10 cents per peso. Three months q ter the act
take- effect no only CONS which will be legal
tender in Puerto REQ viii bo those OF the
United states,
The act on o. the committee was practically
unanimous eXrrp upon the section relating TO
The iIsular Legislature. IN IL 70 consist OF
two h, uses. the upper 70 be- known as the Lx-
equity. Council. the members NJ which are to
be appointed by the resident. some OF the
men brrs OF the committee wish the thl'ty-hve
sim,iarly appointed. hut after Il rro'rac'el dis
cussiOn the committee ALLOTTED, Mr.. forakers
idea that the member, ~ the, House oi Dei"-
gates re elected by the qualified voters Of the
The action Of the committee in eliminating
The paragraphs extending III" provisions 81 the
passing over the subjects Of tarif. internal
revenue. Federal courts and Representations n
Congress-, j. taken as 4 change or S"nt'ment, a.
10 the manner the island shail be governed In
the immediate future. The testimony taken
by the committee has shown That the alar rs
NJ the island are not well enough settled orth-
conditions sufficiently understood 10 warrant
the passing Of permanent legislation a. pres
ant. l. Is also apparent HAT lhn \ lniu,slra-
ton has reached the same oohC'u, lp'. l. -
therefore, probable thdt instead OF cnn'tn.
legislation giving the island Il Territoria. form
of government and making It an integral
mart o, the Tn ted States. Congress may
adopt a resolution on tr' same Inc IL that
uft red by senator Spooner IN relat on 10
the Phil ppinrs, which would trca' Puerto Ricu
practically AS a colony. The r'spluirOns pro.
posed would vest in III" Pres dent all military,
civil and judicial powers necessary e. govern
he islani until otherwise provided 10y ton
gross, and Is Identical, except ~ proper nnmeS
,,,,b cha raanlntfnn nnlpT WItnll lInlIlin M
was governed for four years after its ac'
QUESTION from France.