The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-04
GOVERNMENT OF PORTO RICO.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE HAS COM
PLETED IT'S WORK.

Ricans to BE Given as Much Parttc-
ipntion in the Government as Is
PossibIc-Congress Has Power Out
side of Constitution.
Washington, Feb. 3.-The Senate Com
mittee on Porto Rico to-day concluded its
consideration of the bill providing a form
of government for the island of Porto
Rico.
The bill stands in all essential partlcu-
lars the same as left by the committee at
it's meeting last Wednesday.
The rate of duty provided for articles
brought from Porto Rico to the United
States and for articles taken from the
United States to Porto Rico is % per cent
of the Dingley law rate.
Senator Foraker, chairman Of the com
mittee, prepared report which has been
adopted by the committee, and will be
submitted with the bill to the Senate next
| Monday The report states:
THE purpose of the bill is to provide a
temporary civil government for Porto
Rico, to continue until the laws and ordi-
nances now in force in that island can
be revised and codiied and more perm
anent form of government be framed by
a commission to be appointed by the
President.
Because the legislation now under con-
sideration is intended to stand only tenn
porarily, the committee has sought TO
| limit to only such changes in existing
laws and conditions as appear necessary
to quickly accomplish purposes that are
| thought TO be essential 10 the peace and
prosperity of the island.
The Committees Proposition.
Generally stated, these propositions are:
fFirst. To substitute a civil for mil
| itary government.
Second. To accord to the native Porto
! Ricans as much participation therein as
| it may be for the best interests Of all con-
| cerned to give them.
"Third. To avoid as far as possible rad
| ical changes in the law courts, and codes
of procedure and yet make such modih-
| cations and alterations as are necessary
| to dispense with the most objectionable
| features of Spanish government and judi
| cial administration.
Fourth To provide a legislative au-
| thority that can deal with all domestic
| subjects of legislation.
| Fifth To extend the nasIgatAor laws
| of the United States TO the island and en-
| act such tariff, internal revenue and other
| provisions as are necessary to afford a
| revenue for the support of the government
| and to meet the expense Of such public
instruction and public improvements as
| should be undertaken in this behalf au-
thorize, to a limited extent, the raising of
funds by issuing municipal and insular
bonds in anticipation of revenues.
Sixth. To retire Porto Rican coins now
| in circulation and substitute coins of the
United States therefor.
Seventh. To authorize and regula te
the granting of public and quasi-public
franchises"
Each Case on It's Own Merits.
After citing the productions of Porto
Rico, the report says:
so far as the objection Is concerned
that what is done with respect to Porto
Rico viii be a precedent that must be
followed in dealing with the Philippines
and other islands we may acquire, the
| committee think Is enough to say that
such a result does not necessarily follow
In the opion of the committee each case
stands on its own merits and Congress is
not bound in one by what 1t may see fit
to do in another. Its power is plenary,
and It may do as 1t likes"
1t was decided, however 20 impose the
duty and provide for a duty on goods en-
tering Porto Rico to provide revenues
for the island. Further, the report says:
THE committee recognizes that in not
| extending the constitution and making 1t
apply to Porto Rico, and especially by the
provisions they report In this bill with
respect TO tariff duties, they raise import
ant questions as to the constitutional pow
er of Congress to enact such legislation
Notwithstanding all that has been said to
the contrary, a majority of the committee
I,are OF the opinion that Congress has such
power.
Speaking for the majority of the COM
| mittee, it is no longer open TO question
that the United States has complete SOW
/ hat
is the political equal I'm that respect to
| any other government. 1t may acquire
! territory by discovery, by conquest or by
! treaty. If it acquire territory in any of
| these ways il follows as necessary con-
sequence rhat ii has a right to govern
such territory and the inhabitants thereof; ;
| and ii also follows that the government
so to be established by it must be such
as meets the requirements of the case
Contingencies That May Arise.
"If the territory should be inhabited by
| a people of wholly different character illt-
crate and unacquainted with our insti-
| tGtions, and capable of exercising the
| rights and privileges guaranteed by the
constitution 20 the states Of the Union
| IL would be competent for Congress to
| withhold from such people the operation
| OF the constitution and the laws of the
| United States and continuing to hold the
| territory, as a mere possession of the
| United. States to govern the people thereon
| as their situation and necessities OF their
case may seem to require.
With respect to citizenship the report
| states:
1T IS within our discretion to make the
| inhabitants of Porto Rico citizens of the
| United States or not, so u Is within the
| power and discretion Of the Congress to
make the inhabitants Of The Philippines
| and other islands we may acquire citizens
| or Withhold that quality from them. 1t is
| also within the power Of Congress TO reg
| uate and restrict and prohibit, II thought
advisable, the passing OF the inhabitants
| of the Philippines or other Islands from
| their coustry into ours or to- prevent the
| products OF their labor from coming into
unjust competition with tho labor of this
| country"
INDIAN BILL WAS PASSED.
Contract Education Amendment Was