The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-04-13

q perfect bill, but bsoauss It was found
that any attempts 10 change IL would lead
10 the defeat Of any and ell issislAtion
In regard 70 tho island at this session.
The bill passed By the Houss and sent
&c tie Senate was simply q revenue
measure. IL MAIDS no provision for the
government Of the islaad. The Senate
took 1t, modified it slightly and then
Joined 1t TO Its own bill for the govern
ment OF the Island. AS 1t was finally
passed IL 10 therefore both revenue bill
and y tin providing the island with .
government. The revenue part OF the
measure makes the MoKinlsy tariff Law
apply TO all Imports into ths island from
foreign countries and also imposes . dnty
OF five cents psr POUND upon ell ooIss
imported into the islAnd-this by way Of
protecting Porto Rioan ostfee. AZ be-
tween the United States and the island II
Imposes . tariff OF 10 por can't of the Me-
Kirlsy rates, all the proceeds OF which
are to be used for the benefit OF the
island. This tariff is to continus In any
event only until March l, lS92, but II be-
fore that time the Porto Ricans shall
rave devised system OF internal taxa
ton that shall yili sufficient revenue to
gay the Islands expenses, then 1t shall
ceasa The hill within two years Will
bring about free trade hstween the Island
and the United States. but 1t DOES not
establish II Immediately. for the reason
that immediate free teads would leave
the island without any means OF raising
revenue.
The government feature Of the bill lie
modelled 10 some extent upon the scheme
Of government that lie In vogue In our ter
ritories, but there are important dintr-
ences. There Is to be a governor ap-
pointed by the Presidents, and an exsou-
tive council, consisting Of seoretsry.
an atteornsy general, a treasurer, an
auditor, a commissioner Of education and
commission of interior, together with
flve other persons who must be native
Porto Rioans. There Is to be House
and Delegates OF thirty-fivs members
chosen bisnninlly by the lawful electors
empowered to l,sislate. though CSa-
gress can veto Its measures. In
stead of a delegate to Congress there IL
to rs commissioner who shall reside In
Washington and look after the interests
Of the island. The judiciary system lie
to consist Of chief justice and four asso-
ciate justices appointed By the PRESIDENT.
aud . district judge. Ttis scheme OF
government Is. OF course, to large extent
experimental, since there are conditions
In Porto Rico which we have never had
any experience In dealing with. and IL
would not be strange II 1t we're found
eventually that it would te necessary
to modify 1t in many particulars. In
deed the House was not satisfied with
It. several Republicans who voted
for IL expressing strong disapprob alton
Of some OF Its provisions, and accepting II
merely beoAuss tine choice was between
this scheme and tne leaving Of the
island entirely unprovided for. 1t will
be observed that the amount OF reel
home rule In 1t is not great, but per-
haps 1t Is all that 1t lie safe to grant at
present. How the Porto Ricans
will like 1t remains to be seen, but prob
ably they will much prefer 1t 60 continued
military rule which was the only other
alternative.