New-York tribune., 1902-03-05
NEW LA WS FOR PORTO RICO.
\ LONG STEP TOWARD LOCAL SELF
GOVERNMENT IN THE ISLAND.

Washington. March 4-The commission revise
and compile the laws OF Porto Rico. appointed by
virtue OF the act of April II. 1900 has submitted
it's report to the Attorney General The commits
sion consisted of Joseph F. DAILY. Of New-York;
l.. s. Rowe. Of Pennsylvania. and Juan Hernandez
Lopez of Porto Rico The work undertaken was
the revision and compilation of practically all the
old Spanish laws. The report is In two volumes.
in English and Spanish. The first volume Is de-
voted to n commentary the Spanish system and
the changes proposed by the commission. The
second volume contains the legal text.
The commission. after exhaustive study ot
the Spanish system. proceeded to make the most
necessary changes. such the reorganization OF
the judicial system and the system of local gov
ernment. the revision OF the law Of marriage and
divorce and wills and intestacies. and a number
of other important branches OF the civil and
criminal law. The most important work of the
commission the revision of the organic act OF
Porto Rico. commonly known the Foraker act
The system Of local government proposed by the
commission includes a county. city and village or
ganizatlon. Under Spanish rule the island was d.
vided into sixty-seven divisions known as "muni-
Cipios." which subjected to the strictest form
of control by the central government. The mayors
appointed by the governor general and the
members of the town council subject to his
will in fact If not in law Local elfgovernment
was unknown. The committee has taken long
step in the direction of local autonomy, but has
guard agains the dangers &c Of local or
incompetence; Briefly stated the system leaves to
fairs but presCribes definite standard of efficiency
in the most Important services such santat ton.
drainage water supply. cleaning, etc. If the
local governments fail to meet these standards, the
insular government has sufficient power to meet
every emergency
The habeas corpus act Is another of the tmPor-
tant changes proposed by the commission. The
subject OF marriage and divorce also. is fully
treated. The Spanish civil code does not recognize
divorce. though separation proceeding is pro-
vided for. This branch Of the law has been
brought into close harmony with the system pre-
vailing in such States New-York and Massa-
chusettS. In regard TO wills and inteStaCies the
Spanish civil code leaves little freedom TO the
testator. Here again an adaptation of the system
prevailing in the United States has been made,
At the expiration of the term fixed by Congress
presentation of this report, the Governor OF
Porto Rico appointed code committee continue
the work Of the first commission The member
ship of the second commission the
that of the first, with the exception of the substi-
tuition of j. NJ. Keedy, of Maryland. for Joseph +.
DAILY the latter being unable TO serve. The second
commission OF which DR.. l.. S Rowe Is chairman,
has utilized the work of the first commission in
general revision of the existing code. The report
of this second commission. which will be published
soon includes a political code. penal code,
code of criminal procedure and a civil code.