Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-02

| the laws, the various codes of procedure
! and systems Of municipal government and
| to frame and report such legislation as may
! be necessary to make simple. harmonious
| and economical government establish jus
| tice and secure its prompt and efficient adj
! ministration. inaugurate a general system
] of education and public instruction, provide
buildings and funds therefor. equalize and
| simplify taxation and all the other methods
| of raising revenue, and make all other pro-
| visions that may be necessary to secure
and extend the benefits of a republican
| form of government to all the inhabitants
| of Porto Rico
Citizens of Porto Rico.
The bill provides that 'all the inhabita
| continuing to reside in the island who were
| Spanish subjects on April II, 1899, and were
then residing therein. and their children
| born subsequent thereto shall be deemed
| and held citizens of Porto Rico" except
| such as shall nave elected to preserve their
Spanish allegiance prior to April IL, 1892
| ana together with citizens of the United
| states residing therein. shall constitute
| body polite under the name of 1.-The people
of Porto Rico
\ as altered or modified by the military au-
| thoritiess in force when the act goes into
| erect, so far as the same not in con-
I ftict with the laws of the United States
| locally applicable. or the provisions hereof
| shall be in full force until repealed altered
| or modified by the legislative assembly or
] Sy congress: The laws of the United
| states relating to commerce, navigation
| and merchant seamen are extended over
Porto Rico, and provision is made for the
| NATURALIZATION of all Porto Rican vessels
| and the same are 10 be allowed to engage
| IN the ocastwise trade between the ports
| or the island and those of the United States
! quarantine stations are to be established in
| Porto Rico under the marine hospital bu-
| reau.
| Exchange of Coin.
| Provision is made for the retirement of
| the Porto Rican coins and the substitution
| of coins of the United States therefor at
| Inc rate of 90 cents of the latter for one
| Porto Rican peso, and the same ratio for
| minor or subsidiary coins. The Porto
| Itican coins shall be recoined at the ex-
] psnse of the United States into such coins
| OF the United States the Secretary of the
| treasury may direct, and from and after
| three months after this act goes into effect
| no coins shall be legal tender in payment
] OF any debt thereafter contracted in Porto
| Rlco except those of the United States; and
| sufficient sum to carry out this provision
| is appropriated,
| House Tariff Retained
| Sections and 10 are substantially the
| same as the provisions of the tariff bill
| which passed the House. Section . extends
over Porto Rico the laws of the United
| states relating to Internal revenue All ex-
| Pehses incurred for salaries of officials the
! conduct of their Office and departrnen and
| Tor the Internal Improvement of the island
not including defenSes, barracks harbors
| lighthouses, buoys and other works Under
| taken by the United States are to be paid
| by the treasurer Of Porto Rico out of the
island revenues
| By section l. the statutory laws of tba
mted States, so far as locally applicable
are extended over Porto Rico. The legis-
lature snail have power to alter, amend or
|
| Iorce by this act. All vested rights or prop
| eft!, an contracts, actions, rights of action
etc.' now existing shall not be affected by
TINS ACT, ana continue enforceable. All Off
Gals authorized by the act, before entering
! upon the duties of their respective Offices
Sh'eh take an oath to support the Constitu-
uoh OF the l nited States and the laws of
Porto Rico.
The Island Governments
Section II provides that the governor of
Porto Rico shall be appointed bv the
PRESIDENT and confirmed by the Senate.
and prescribes his duties. There shall
also be appointed by the President by
ana with the advice and consent of the
SENATE, secretary. an attorney general a
treasurer, an auditor, a commissioner of
.ne interior and a commissioner of educa-
ZION, VINO, together with five other persons
appointed in the same manner shall consti-
lute an executive council, at least five of
whom shall be native inhabitants of Porto
| Rico. " ~
| The duties of the several executive Off
GERS are prescribed by the next five sections
| OF the bill. The other five members of the
executive council shall attend all sessions
OF the same and participate in all business
transacted by 1t. and shall receive such
salaries as may be provided by the legis-
shall constitute one branch of said assem-
bly,, and the other branch shall consist of
thfty-tve members elected bienniaffy At
such elections all citizens of Porto Rico
allowed ybo
quaiifcations of voters under the laws and
nllitary orders now in force, subject to
such additional qualifications and such
regulations and restrictions as the execu
tive council may prescribe
NO person shall be eligible to membership
In the house of delegates who is not twen-
write either the Spanish or English Ian
Suase. or who Is not possessed in his own
right OF real or personal taxable property
in Porto Rico The governor is clothed
with the power of veto, and ali laws nassed
must be reported to Congress. which re-
serves the right to annul the same The
legislature is clothed with the mower 70
pass laws locally applicable Including nower
10 create. consolidate and reorga nize munfc
ipalities. and make alter, amend or reDeal
all laws therefor.
The judiciary.
The judicial power shall be vested in the
courts and tribunals now established
ana In operation. The chief justice and as
SoNii'c JuStiISS VI tue supreme court and
the marshal thereof shall be appointed bv
the President by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate. and the judges of
the district courts shall be appointed by
the governor by and with the advice and
consent of the executive council. The bfiI
also provides that Porto Rico shall constt- 4
tute judicial district which shah fhaj;a4
tached to and be part of the second ID /
dicial circuit of the United States. and die.
trict Judges, the district attorney and mar
shal thereof shall be appointed by the Pres
ia f oy ana with the advice and consent
years: This court, In addition to the ordi-
nary jurisdiction of the district courts ~
the United States, shall have jurisdiction
OF all cases cognizant in the circuit courts
of the United States. The laws Of tho
United States relating to appeals. writs of
error removal Of causes. etc, as befweer
the former and state courts shall govern
as between the courts of the United States
and those of Porto Rico; writs of error
and appeals from the Porto Rico supreme
court to the Supreme Court of the United
States in the same manner as from the
supreme courts of the territories of the
United States.