New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16
PORTO RIoAN POLITICS.
-ur OLD ORDER GRADUALLY GIVING
PLACE TO THE NEW.

= IMAM Porto Rico. Dec. I0.-The Legislative
~-.,blv AZ Porto Rico. as created by the Foraker
srI Is now fact The House OF Delegates has
-. organized a week to-day. and already nine
- hills have been introduced The House got
-, aovrn 10 business az its first meeting. To in
s,cs nineteen bills In six days after organizing.
= ,rsu az forming the regular committees, is not
- work when IL is considered that not one OF
-. members had the slightest idee OF parlia-
,,srv procedure During the session one OF the
-srhsrs may be seen making frequent trips 20 the
Vr,ecutive Mansion. where he confers with Secre-
- tF,rut IN regard 10 some doubtful point. II is
80 by some that I'm short time the lower house
III he controlled entirely by the portfolio mem
,,.rs Of the Council IL is known that the five
porto Rican members OF the Council when
aering the question OF franchises, etc. often vote
or.rsry 70 their ideas In order that the Coun-
"A NAV continue harmonious. But IL is not likely
,bst the heads OF departments VIII be able 10 con-
rro the thirty-hve members OF the House. The
House although regularly elected. is not repre-
tentative OF the island; the Federals refraining
from voting kept over half the natives from the
pous The Federal party, 81 is asserted. is made
an Of the richest and best element Of Porto Rico.
the Republicans though IN power. do not feel that
,hev are able 70 run things alone so the majority
Is willing be dictated 10 by the Council Never
,bsless there Is a certain element in the House
q. vhich viii not be dictated 10 So as any
really important bill up for debate It is pre-
5icted that the House will divide against itself.
nd a
pet Bill snd the Council rejects II, the House VIII
probably restgn in a body. II IS natural trait OF
the people.
AT The first days session some OF the members ar
rived 10 full evening dress. which a Spanish Gus
tom in regard 10 attending serious functions.
Cigarettes were freely smoked in all parts OF the
House for the first three days. but they We're
forbidden by the temporary rules and regulations
adopted
After selecting secretary and sergeant-at-arms
the House actually took vote the question
whether the secretary should have a vote There
was al first formality whatever observed. Mem
bers addressed each other and the Speaker by
name. interrupted speeches and even votes. At
one dime the third day there were four motions
and seven amendments pending at time. A
motion would be made and seconded. While pro-
oeeding a vote another motion would be made
and the first would be forgotten.
The Irregular proceedings OF the FIRST meetings
must be overlooked. The House is improving every
day. and IN short time no fault win be found
United states House OF ReDTesentatives.
Among the important House bills are measures
"tor the re-estabhshment Of the Mortgage law"
"for sale By auction OF public lands adjacent 10
The oicers Of the House are as foioWs: SPEAKER
Manuel ROssy; secretary, Salvador RIOS. The
employed at $500 and translators. stenographers
typeNT1ters and an assistant secretary at s. and
s. day The Executive Council Is In daily ses-
The most important bills introduced in the last
provide revenues for Porto Rico and for other
purposes. The latter measure is by DR.. Hollander.
the Treasurer.
A petition signed by the Banco Territorial V
5rsa5s q B Pr Co9ne 10 petion consr Sss
70 repeal Section 80 OF the Foraker bill or much
thereof provides that all franchises, privileges
and concessions shall be subject to amendment
alteration or appeal by Congress, has been intro
duced. A local representative OF Northern cap
ital IN a recent address before the Council in
referring that law. expressed the opinion that
capital would come TO Porto Rico until the law
was repealed modified. As Il IS now, a company
might receive a concession, start work on large
scale ana then have its concession annuned by
Congress