The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-07-26
S. AND PUERTO RICO.
.cent legislation for The Island Discuss.
ed by lion. ?. K. living.
RESIDENTS ADDRESS BEFORE TEXAS BAR
,,as Talk Upon This Governments
Revenue Measure, Showing IL In
Unjust and Unwarranted.

The following address was delivered
sfors the Texas Bar association, by Hon
resley X. Ewing, president OF the asso
ation:
ntlemen OF the Texas Bar Association
"A WISELY and with thoughtful foresight
s the constitution of this association
dained that the president shall, in his
hpual address, indicate the noteworthy
Ranges in statutory and constitutional
W. The insertion of this provisi II
believed to have been in the broad
brit Of American patriotism. This In
rpretaton conforms not only to the ira.
tIops but actual history OF the American
r. Abreast with the tide of statutory
Id constitutional changes in law, that
r has ever stood as breaker to waves OF
sson, as conservative force to anchor
safety, as guardian to the institutions
I'D high IDEALS of the Republic. The
esence of the influence Of learned law
rs IN popular government has always
ben a safeguard and refuge, and the
bsence of the influence ofttimes attended
Nth various evils floating triumphant on
lives Of passion or misguided zeal.
Daniel Wait Howes recent work,
#he Puritan Republic" it is argued wi h
Hrce that the religious prosecutions )
Hevllent under the dominating influence
n the clergy among the Puritans in
IA sachusetts bay would have been
#nch mitlgated ii not avarted, had there
- been absent from that community The
Use COunsels OF skilled and tra.neI
MYERS such as at a later day contrib
He'd to the advancement and progress If
DC commonwealth. De Tocqueyille, writ
hg on American life, observed that.
N hen the American people IS intoxicate
" passion or carried away by the inn
etuoslty of it's ideas, it Is checked and
|5opped by the almost invisible influence
4 its legal counselors"
Milne editor of a popular legal review.
¢ly commenting on the EXCERPT lust
poted, adds that when tides of passi n
a. high, the conservatism of the legal
foiession is like an anchor; when fads
spurious reform or fallacious and
pecious theories threaten to clDtlvate III,
PISS IF the people, the trained iatell
vince and leadership of many LAWYERS
pntribute a powerful influence for the
reservation of sound judgment" Con
puing the provision touching the pre l.
fnts address, as indicated, we shall
emeWhat depart from the course usually
prsued by our predecessors, in confn-
rs their review to State legislation; am
Yer cursory glance at recent CHANCES
\ state law. We SHALL devote this ad.
fess to consideration OF Federal meas
fe In its bearings and assumption co,-
9ived to be the most transceudert IN
ppontance since the creation of t,e
hion. VI 'ie
Atter brief review of recent Texas
Sslation the speaker began an eloquent
yoIoe and instructive discussion OF The
f''o R!oan government and revenue
fasure, speaking as follows.
&c nIty-siHth congress, during tho
FEM year, passed an oct known a. the
paEer bill, providing for Puerto Rico
fNIi government and reyenle system
act as passed, fixes the cdpital al
4 Juan recognizes the inhao .tants -
pens OF Puerto Rico and entitled IN
protection of the United STotes AZ
IL the payment f the eATeIses of
established goyernm mt o,u Of ~ |
L. revenues, extends 10 tho territory
| Statute laws of the United States not |
laiF lnapplicable, except the internal |
enue laws, recognizes the laws of Tia |
tDd not inconsistent, makes provision
commission TO compile and revise
rn laws for nstionalizing certain Puerto |
Fsn vessels and for admission to The |
est fa1e of the United states. es.ah
'nes legislative department composed
On appolntive executive council and
FvtNe house of delegates, latter con-
lIns OF thirty-tlve members. provides
au Sppolntiye Judiciary. fixes the an
ealarleS or officers of the judicial
partment and executive council at from
HUI TO ANtltlit gniaoa n,,I
pance OF bonds in anticipation OF taxes
revenues to tho extent of per cent
'ne aggregate tax valuation. etc, etc.
Dill also (section p extends to Puerto
70 the arm rates of the United states
an imports from foreign countries,
'iaes cents per pound on coffee max
exception as to certain books. The
further (section 81 imposes on goods
ported from the United States into
erlo Rico and from the latter into the
iteo States 10 per cent of the existing
lH rates of the Dingley bill, providing
u the duties and taxes collected in
erto Rico shall be expended for the
'ernment NId benefit )f the island in
20 OF being paid into the United States
nsury.
me facts making the history of this leg
itlon are few and -ir:,-.N. p -Acto ~
into the hands OF the United States
a conquest of the late war with Spain,
was held by military occupation. The
sohants. however, instead of resisting [
hostile army, welcomed as friends the
aiding foe. General Miles. commander
the United States army, on July %,
. greeted their welcome with the as
ance proclaimed as military command
'nat We had come to bestow upon them ,
g immunities and blessings OF the lib 4,
institutions of our government. (SS
~ Rec, 777O.) Shortly after came the
iV OF Paris December s, 1S9S). which {
tatined and exchanged before the act !
question was passed, by the terms of t
en- it was provided: /
spain cedes to the United States the S
nd OF Puerto Rico and other Islands {
under Spanish sovereignty in the q
5, indies, and the island of Guam il I
Aeranas or Ladrones The e
rights and political status OF the ter v
res hereby coded to the United states Z
:. De determined by the congress-" c
Oong. Rec, 7770,l The further facts o
NEST the apparent view entertaiaed c
pe status OF the island at that time. c
Wagon, In his original rep 'rt to Y
secretary OF war, referred TO Puerto ?
as Incorporated, by the ratification |
~ treaty OF Paris. within the ter,l- 2
= limits OF the United States, and sub I
| q