The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-04

follows the recommendations OF the Presi-
dent and of Governor General Davis. Gen.
eral Davis will be in the city tomorrow
and will make statement before the COM
| mittee which will embody his views OF
| what character of legislation Congress
| should provide. The bill is necessarily
voluminous.
1t does not undertake to constitute the
| island a Territory or give IL a territorial
! form of government such as ii is understood
! in this country and as exemplifed in the
existing governments of Arizona and New
/ Mexico. As Senator Foraker expressed 1t.
| the bill is intended to answer certain pur-
| poses until more mature form of govern
ment can be devised. The following Of
| ticers are provided for: governor. to be
appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate; a SUI
preme court. consisting of a chief justice
and five associate justices. just as that
/ court is now organized under the military
rule at present in force: five district courts,
| one Tor each district TO consist of such a
| number OF judges as the legislative assem-
| bly,. authorized by the bill. shall provide;
seven heads of departments. TO be known as
secretary. attorney. auditor. treasurer,
commissioner OF posts and telegraphs COM
missioner of the Interior and commissioner
OF education; commission of five persons
two of whom shall be natives, TO revise
the system Of laws and judicial procedure
OF the island. with instructions to report
a bill as soon as practicable; delegate in
the House of Representatives of the United
states, with power to speak. but to have no
vote
The general assembly of the island is
constructed in the following manner The
President is directed to appoint five native
citizens of the island. who are to cooper
ate with the seven heads of departments
provided for. These twelve men, with the
Governor form what is known as the exec
utiYe council or upper house of the legis-
latiye assembly. The lower body is des-
ignated as the house of delegates and is
TO consist of 81 members, to be elected by
the qualified voters. Seven of these dele
gates are 10 be elected from each of the
five districts above referred to. the island
by the bill. being subdivided into five dis
tricts for legislative. judicial, and general
administrative purposes.
The present laws and municipal ordi-
nsnces of Porto Rico. subject to the modl-
fcations imposed by the commander of the
American military forces. are continued
until the legislative assembly provided for,
or the Congress OF the United States,
shall provide otherwise
II is expressly stipulated that no fran
chisc of public quasi public character
shall be granted except upon the approval
of the Governor General and the President
OF the United States.
The Constitution and laws OF the United
States are extended to the island so far as
they may be applicable. The inhabitants
OF the island are made citizens OF the Unit
ed States.
On tariff and revenue matters the pro-
visions Of the bill stipulate that there shall
be no export duties on products shipped
from the island; ii admits free of duty
into the United States all products of the
island; admits TO the island free of duty all
products Of the United States, thus estab
fishing absolute free trade. 1t provides.
further, that imports into the island from
all countries other than the United States
shall pay the same duties those imposed
by the United States. All internal revenue
taxes imposed by the United States are
likewise imposed in Porto Rico.
The customs duties collected in the leland
are to be deposited in the insular treasury
to the credit Of Porto Rico and for the
support OF its government. The internal
revenue taxes collected are to he CON
verted into the Treasury OF the United
States for the uses and purposes Of the
Federal Government.