Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-12-04
CUBA AND Porto RICO.
What the President Says Concerning Thess
Two Islands.

Two Islands.
The civil government of Porto Rico
provided for by the act of the congress
approved April IL, 1900, is in success
full operation. The courts have been
sociates working intelligently and har
moniously, are meeting with comenda-
BILE success. On the 9Th of November
a general election was held in the ISL
and for members Of the legislature, and
the body elected has been called to con-
vene on the first Monday of December.
! recommend that legislation be en-
acted by the congress comforting upon
the secretary of the interior supervis
ion over the public lands in Porto
Rico. and that he be directed to ascer-
tain the location and quantity of lands
the title to which remained in the
crown of Spain at the date of cesson
of Porto Rico to the United States, and
that appropriations necessary for sur
veys be made, and that the methods
of the disposition of such lands be pre-
scribed by law.
On the 18th of July. 1900, I directed
that call be issued for an election in
Cuba for members of a constitutional
convention to frame a constitution as
a basis for stable and independent
government in the island In pursu-
ance thereof the military governor is
sued the following Instructions:
Whereas, the congress of the Unit
ed States by its Joint resolution of
April 20, 1898, declared that the people
of the island of Cuba are, and of right
ought to be free. and independent.
That the United States hereby disclaims
any disposition or intent to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over
said island except for the pacification
thereof, and asserts it's determination,
when that is accomplished, to leave the
Of he c1a nj
to it's people.
and, whereas. the people of Cuba
have established municipal govern
ments. deriving their authority from the
suffrage of the people given under just
and equal laws and are now ready, in
like manner to proceed to the estab
lishment of general government which
shall assume and exercise sovereignty,
jurisdiction and control over the isl-
and;
Therefore, It is ordered that gen
eral election be held in the island of
Cuba on the third Saturday of Sep
TENDER, in the year nineteen hundred,
to elect delegates to a convention to
meet in the city of Havana at 10
O'Clock noon on the first Monday of
November, in the year nineteen hun
dred, to frame and adopt a constitu-
ton for the people of Cuba, and as a
part thereof to provide for and agree
States upon the relations to exist be-
tween that government and the govern
ment of Cuba, and to provide for the
election by the people Of officers under
such constitution and the transfer of
government to the officers so elected.
The election will be held in the several
voting precincts of the island under,
and pursuant to. the provisions of the
electoral law of April IS, 1900 and the
amendments thereof"
The eelction was held on the 18th af
September, and the convention assem-
bled on the 9Th of November, 1900, and
is now in session When the convention
concludes its labor l will transmit to
congress the constitution as framed by
the convention for its consideration and
for such action as 1t may deem advis-
able.
I renew the recommends ton made in
my special message of Feb. 10, 1899,
as to the necessity for cable commune
cation between the United States and
Hawaii, with extension to Manila Since
then circumstances have strikingly en-
phasized his need. Surveys have shown
the entire feasibility of chain of ca
bles which at each stopping place shall
touch on American territory so that
the system shall be under our own COM
plete control. Manila once within tele-
graphic reach, connection with the sys-
tens of the Asiatic coast would open
increased and profitable opportunities
for more direct cable route from our
shores to the Orient than is now af-
forded by the transatlantic, CONT
mental and trans-Asian lines. ! urge
attention to this important matter.