The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-02-06
PORTO R|CAuS TO
HAVE CIVIL RULE
Temporary Form of Govern
ment Framed.
T Nt1ANTN Cthf
THE CHANGES ARE FEW
THE CONSTITUTION NOT IN
TENDED TO TIE ISLAND.
THE POWERS AND RIGHTS OF CONGRESS
The Report Of the Senate Committee Makes
Them Practically Unlimited. Ho" il
May Deal With the Philippines
and Their Peonle.
and Their People.

arr tfSH ! cVtiS'
Washington. Feb. 3.-The Senate Com
nittee on Porto Rico today concluded
its consideration OF the bin providing a
form Of government for the Island If
Porto Rico. The bill stands in al IS
sential particulars the same as left by
the committee at its meeting last We'd
ne>day. The rate Of duty provided Tor
articles brought from Porto Rico 10 the
United States and for articles taken from
the United States TO Porto Rico j. -
per cent. of tht. Dincley law rate.
Senator Foraker. chairman of the Com
mittee prepared a report which has been
adopted by the committee. and Will be
submitted with the bill 10 the Senate
| next Monday.
The report states:
The purpose of the bill is to provide
a temporary civil governments for Por;o
Rico. to continue until the laws and
| ordinances now in force in hat island
can be revised and codified and n more
permanent form Of government be
framed by a commission to be appointed
by the President.
because the legislation now under
consideration Is intended to stand only
temporarily the committee have sought
to limit it to only such changes in eNls-
ing laws and conditions az appear ncces-
sary to quickly accomplish purposes that
are thought to be essential 10 the peace
and prosperity Of the island.
THE CHANGES 70 BE MADE.
"Generally stated, these propositions
are:
Ito SUI ti,ate 4 civil for a military
government.
"2.-To accord to the native Porto
Ricans as much participation therein as
it may be for the best interests Of all
concerned to give them.
"3-To avoid as. far as possible radi-
cal changes IN the law courts. and codes
of procedure and Yet make such modlhca-
tiOnS and alterations rs are necessary TO
dispense with the most Objectionable fca-
turc of Spanish Government and judicial
Administrations.
Ito provide a legislative authority
that can deal with all domestic subjects
Of legislation.
"5-To extend the navigation laws Of
the United States to the island, and
enact such tariff, internal revenue. and
other provisions aS are necessary TO af-
ford a revenue for the support OF the
Government and to meet the expenses of
SUCH IiiFilC tl1d ptbIlN IN
provelnentS rs should be undertaken and
in this behalf to authorize, to Il limite,
extent. the raising Of funds by issuing
municipal md insllar bonds III anticIpa
ton Of revenues.
"6-To retire Porto Rican coins now in
circulation and substitute coins Of the
United States therefor.
ITO authorize and regulate the grant
cling Of public and G~uasi-public fran
chi>cs.'
;. THE POWER OF CONGRESS.
After citing the productions Of Porto
Rico. the report says:
$50 far as the objection is conccrnec
thar what IS done with respect TO Port
j Rico vii be 4 precedent that must be fol
/, lowed in dealing with the Philippine,
and other islands We may acquire, tn
: committee think il enough TO say thai
, such a result does not necessarily fol
| low. In tho opinion of the committee
each case stands on its own merits. anC
! Congress is not bound in one by wha
: il may see fit to do in another. IL
power is plcnaly and it may do as |
1 likes
o. 1t was decided, however. to imp0s" tn'
. duty and provide for a duty on good:
i entering Porto Rico so as TO provide
revenues for the island.
f Further the report says:
: The committee recognize that ID NJ
; extending the Constitution and maxim:
it apply to Porto Rico and especial.
by the provisions they report in this bii
with respect to tariff duties. they ral>'
important questions as to the constitn
ional Eower Of Congress to enact sucI
: legislation. Notwithstanding all TIA
has been said to the contrary a majorlt.
|. Of the committee are Of the opinion thu
: Congress has such power.
speaking for the majority Of III
3 committee. it is no longer Open t" Guc>
ton that the United States has con-
u pletc sovereign power to acquire teri
tory; that it is the political equal in tina
respect Of any other government.
I MATTERS OF DISCRETION.
1T may acquire territory by discover!
p, fy conquest, or by treaty. If it acqulr
II territory in any ii these WAYS. 1t follow
n as Il necessary consequence that IT has
right To govern such territory and III
inhabitants thereof; and il also follow
hat the Government 50 to be c~tab?>i
ed by it must be such as meets the |,
puir,mens Of the case.
If the territory should be inhabitc
by a people Of wholly different charactei
II iillteraIe ana undcIuaintctl With our IL
: StitutionS. and capable Of exercising III
| rights and privileges guaranteed by IN
Constitution to the states of the | ntoi
9 it would be competent for Congress |
withhold from such people the Operatlo
"a of the Constitution and the laws of IN
Cnitel States and continuing TO hol
i. the territory AZ Il mere possession OF III
ii United States To govern the people there
of rs their situation and necessities {
their ease may seem 10 require
With respect to citizenship the rcpOl
states:
c- 1T is within cur discretion to make ii
: inhabitants. of Porto Rico citizens :