The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1900-04-20
Porto Rioan Measure Goes Into
Effect On First Of May,
PROVISIONS ARE OF WIDE SCOPE
Sections Relative 20 Civil Government Of
the Island VIII Prove Inter
estinE Reading.

and civil government BILL thus max
ing it a law. 1t applies to the islands
Of Porto Rico and to the adjacent is
lands lying east of the sOventy-fourth
meridian, which are designated Porto
Rico.
The duties collected under the tariff
section Of the bill shall be placed at
the disposal Of the president to be used
for the government and benefit Of Porto
Rico until the government Of Porto
Rico shall have been organized, when
the moneys collected shall be turned
into the local treasury Of Porto Rico.
Goods imported from Porto Rico and
under bond shall pay only the duty
imposed by this act,
The government provisions of the
bill are:
The capital shall be at San Juan.
Persons who were Spanish subjects
April II, 1899, and who have not
elected to preserve their allegiance to
Spain, are held to be citizens Of Porto
Rico, and entitled to the protection Of
the United States. The designation
Of the body polite is under the name
of The People of Porto Rico.
The laws and ordinances of Porto
Rico now in force shall be continued
in full force and effect, except as al
tered by this act, or by military orders,
and which are not inconsistent with
the laws of the United States.
The old law forbidding the marriage
of priests and ministers is repealed.
The vessels of Porto Rico are to be
nationalized and admitted to the ben
efts of the United States coasting
laws. Quarantine stations are to be
established. Porto Rico coins are to
be retired, the peso being rated at go
cents in the exchange. Three months
after the act takes effect Porto Rico
: coins are not to be legal tender. Prop
l erty usually under the control of the
United States will so continue, and
other properties acquired from Spain
will be administered by the Porto
Rican government. The governor is
to be appointed by the president, and
9 is to hold his Office for four years,
having the powers conferred on gov
8 ernors of the territories of the United
States, but is to make his reports
through the secretary Of state to thu
= president.
: An executive council, appointed By
the president and confirmed by thu
senate, consisting of secretary, at
3 torney general, treasurer, auditor
commissioners of the interior and ed
! ucation and Eve other persons to hold
= Office for four years. The council i
y II the upper branch of the Legislature
= five of whom shall be natives of Port
u Rico. The other branch shall be
- house of delegates, to consist of thirty
~ five members, elected biennially b.
q the qualified electors.
~ Porto Rico is divided into eleve
~ districts, each with FIVE delegates
The qualifications for voters are SO
~ such elections all citizens of Port
10 Rico shall be allowed to vote who hav
" been bona fide residents for one yeal
- and who possess the other qualities
" tons of voters under the laws an
40 40 military orders in force on March ]
% Ne person shall be eligible to men
20 bership in the house of delegates VIII
a! is not twenty-five years OF age an
IL able to read and write either tt
as Spanish or the English language, {
~ who is not possessed in his own rigl
q of taxable property, real or persona
VI situated in Porto Rico.
Provision is made for snacting lei
f. islation similar to that in other terri
no tories. The judicial power is vestt
y in courts already established, Il
~ chief Justice and associate iustic
GU and marshal to be appointed by Il
:. president, judges of the district cour
N and other officers by the governor
Ia Porto Rico. There is also q Unit,
IT, States district court established sin
lar to other territories. Tue salari
IN of all officers appointed by the pre-
n dent are:
10 Governor, SO, 900; secretary, ATTIC
ney general, auditor, commissioner
interior, 81, 900 each; treasurer, So, 0C
commissioner of education, So, 0C
ia chief Justice of the supreme court al
y. United States district judge, $50
on each; associate justices, 81, 500 eaC
ted two marshals each, $4,000; district
SUI torney, $4,000.
God No export duties are to be collectC
ted but taxes and licenses may be levi'
nal On the regular election day in !
,rm vember and every two years thereaft
of Porto Rico may choose a commission
Nc. to represent the island at Washingt
lip salary So, 900. A commission of tn
,on- members, one native of Porto, is
IN be named to revise and codify the il