New-York tribune., 1900-03-04

the qualified voters. Under the Senate bill all
the members Of this body are to be appointed by
the President and confirmed by the Senate The
members of the Council shall hold office for four
years
The provisions respecting the House Of Dele
gates and the sessions OF the Legislature the
same as in the Senate bill The members are to
receive 50 day each during the sessions and
mileage at the rate Of 10 cents mile. The pro-
Visions respecting parliamentary procedure, or
ganlZation of the Legislature etc are substan-
TALLY the same in the Cooper bill as those of the
United States House of Representatives. includ-
ing the quorum counting rule. The Governor IS
clothed with the power of veto and he may veto
SPECIFIC items in any money bill. The proceed
lngs on veto messages the in Con-
gress. as are also those respecting the approval
or or failure to approve bills. The Governor, in
case OF the failure of the Legislature to make
appropriations TO meet the necessary expenses of
carrying on the government and meeting its
legal obligations, may authorize such payments
according to the provisions of the appropria-
ton act.
POWERS OF THE LEGISLATURE
The section relating to legislative power is
comprehensive one, and contains many pro-
visions not found in the Senate bill Among
other things it provides that the Legislature
trial associations, and for conducting the busi-
ness Of insurance and banking Except the issue
or circulating notes) and of loan, trust and
surety associations, and a variety of other pur-
poses enumerated; that divorce shall be
granted by the Legislature, shall any di-
vorce be granted by the courts unless the appli-
can't shall have lived in Puerto Rico for
year next preceding the application. Lotteries
ana the sale of lottery tickets are forbidden No
sectarian appropriations of public money are
10 be allowed No subscription either by the
Territorial Government or any political or mu-
nicipal division subdivision to the capital
stock of any incorporated company shall be
made or its credit be in any manner lent there
10; nor shall any Indebtedness be contracted
authorized except to pay the interest the ex
listing Indebtedness to suppress insurrecton
provide for the common defence, except that
loans may be authorized for the erection of
charitable, penal or educational institutions and
Tor public buildings. wharVes, roads and other
public improvements but the total of such in
debtedness authorized in any one year shall not
exceed / per cent Of the value of the taxable
property, and the total indebtedness of Puerto
Rico shall not exceed at any time per cent
OF said assessed valuation, and that of any
municipal division b-dvision shall not
ceed D per cent shall any such loan be made
upon the credit OF the public domain. and all
bonds issued muEt be made redeema BILE in not
more than five wears and payable in not more
than twenty years from date of issue.
The Legislature shall have power TO borrow
money and issue bonds and other obligations
thorized by law to protect the public credit and
to reimburse the United States for expenditures
out of the emergency fund OF the War Depart
ment for the relief of the industrial conditions
produced by the hurricane of August s. 1899
All grants OF franchises. rights or privileges or
concessions of public quasi public nature
shall be subject TO the approval of the Presi
dent Of the United States, who shall report the
same to Congress. The provisions relating to
the judiciary. the compensation of executive and
Judicial officers and other officials the Delegate
In Congress and citizenship are the same in
the Senate bill. The Cooper bill contains no
revenue provisions relating 10 tariff internal
taxation. The Senate bill covers both of these
subjects