Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-04

CoIIlinlttce on IOrto ltlcO to-day con-
cluded It's consideration of the bill pro-
viding Il form of government for the
island of Porto Rico. The bill stands
in all essential particulars and same as
left by the committee at its meeting
last Wednesday. The rate of duty pro-
vided for articles brought from Porto
Rico to the United States and for ar
ticles taken from the United States to
Icy law rate.
THE REPORT.
committee. 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, 10 continue until the laws and or
dinanceS now in force in that island cam
be revised and codified and a more per
manent form of government be framed
by commission to be appointed by the
President
Because the legislation now under
consideration is intended to stand only
temporarily the committee have sought
70 limit to only such changes in ex-
listing laws and conditions as appear
necessary to quickly accomplish pur-
poses TINT HTc thought TO be essenfIaI
TO the peace and prosperity OF the ISL
and.
THE PROPOSITIONS.
Generally stated, these propositions
Il. To substitute a civil for mill
tary government
:. To accord to the native Porto
Ricans as much participation therein
az 1T may be for the best interests
OF all concerned to give them
80. To avoid as far us possible radi-
cal changes in the law courts and
codes of procedure, and yet make such
notifications and alterations as are
necessary to dispense with the most
Objectionable feature of Spanish gov
eminent and judicial administration.
"A. To provide a Legislative authority
that can deal with all domestic sub
jects OF legislation.
IS. To extend the navigate laws of
the United States to the island and
enact such tariff. internal revenue and
other provisions as are necessary to af-
ford q revenue for the support OF the
government and to meet the expenses
of such public instruction and public
improvements as should be undertaken
in this behalf authorized, to a limited
extent. the raising OF funds by Issuing
municipal and insular bonds in antici-
patton OF revenues.
b. To retire Porto Ricln coins now
In circulation and substitute coins of
the United States therefor.
"a. TO authorize and regulate the
granting of public and quasi-public
franchises"
THE POWER or CONGRESS.
After citing the productions of Puerto
Rico, the report says:
so far as the objection Is concerned,
that what is done with resacct to
Porto Rico will be q precedent that
must be followed in dealing with the
Philippines and. other islands we may
acquire. the committee think 1t enough
to say that such a result does not nee
essarily follow. In the opinion 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. It's mower is plenary and it
may do as 1t likes"
1t was decided, however, 10 impose
the duty and provide for a duty on
goods entering Porto Rico as to pro-
vide revenues for the island.
Further the report says:
The committee recognize that in not
extending the constitution and making
1t apply to Porto Rico and especially
by the provisions they report in the
bill with respect to tariff duties, they
raise important questions as TO the con-
stitutional power OF Congress to enact
CIR n1, r;c1o
that has been said to the contrary, a
majority of the committee arc Of the
opinion that Congress has such power.
ADJOURNMENT OF TERRITORY.
Speaking for the majority of the
committee, it is no longer open to uues-
ton that the United States has COM
plete sovereign power TO acquire ter
ritory; that it is the political equal in
that respect to any other government
ut may acquire territory by discov-
cry, by conquest. or by treaty. If It ac-
quire teri -, in any of these ways. it
follows as 4 necessary consequence that
1T has n right to govern such territory
and the inha bitants thereof; and it also
follows that the Government so TO be
established by it must DC such as meets
tho requirements of the case.
III the territory should he inhabited
by IL people OF wholly different charac-
ter. illiterate and unacquaintcd with our
institutions. and incapable of cxcrcis-
ms the rights and privileges guaran-
tced by the constitution to the States
of the Union, 1t would be competent for
Congress to withhold from such people
the operation OF the constitution and
the laws of the United States, and con-
tinuing to hold the territory as a mere
possession of the United States to gov
ern the people thereof as their situation
SsxNa, ey,g9sA WY gaE