BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-10-27

the wise and prudent provisions of the
Foraker law, under which Porto Rico is
being taught the grand principles OF
self government, will always stand as
splendid monument to the craftsmanship
and foresight of its creators. i
Already the island had been under
the physical control Of our victoriotis
army, AMI a military government, with
ample authority to establish and mar
tain tranquility and order, was the i'm
mediate and effective result of an exc
cutive order Too much scredit cannot
be given~t0 the wise, prudent and con-
lservative administration of affairs un-
der the representatives of the United
States army, who acted during the Pc
! riod of TEN Porary military control, and
many of the general orders having the
| force of law which we're promulgated
during that time are still in full force
and effect, and will undoubtedly become
parts of the permanent structure for the
government of the island. The great
problem, however, which confronted
congress was the establishment of form
of civil government suited to the si.,a-
ton, history and apresent necessities Of
the Porto Rican people, ard by the
terms of which the greatest possible
degree of participation should be secar-
ed consistent with their own best in-
terest and their own protection.
Great events of Porto Rican h;stor1-
had been transpiring with such star
ting rapidity that even the best informed
were wholly unable to keep pace with
the changes in the law in many res
poets, and the duty confronting those
who were selected to face this situation
and to administer the existing laws re-
der the terms of the Foraker act; vas
well calculated to cause grave anxiety
in the minds of all flowers of sin,1i-
city and directenss in governmental
methods. But now, after two years Of
earnest effort in the direction of Are
ricanization, it vii be interesting 70
hastily review the progress which has
been made, and to voice the ho2es
OF those who are engaged in this wor!!:.
BY tAe terms of the Foraker act
practical autonomy was granted to the
lnsular government for which it FRO
vides, and a large majority of all the
officials throughout the island are left
to the unrestricted choice of its own ci. |
tizens. The governor and the heads Of
the various executive departments are
chosen by the president with the ap-
proval of the senate, and the executive
council, which constitutes one of the
branches of the legislative assembly,
consists of the six executive depart
ment heads so chosen, to which are
added five natives of Porto Rico, who
are also appointed by the preside1+.
The house Of delegates, or popular
branch of the legislative assembly, cor
sistit1g of thirty five members, are
selected by the voters from the seven
election districts into which the island |
is divided; and in the judicial depart
ment the supreme court, consisting OF
i've members is appointed by the pre-
sident, but a majority of the members
chosen for that tribunal of last resort
are native citizens of the island: and Of
the judges of the various district courts
who are appointed by the governor,
the large majority are also selected T
from among the native population.
5 The greatest change which was
created by the institution of the new
government was the introduction of that
keystone of the American governmental
system which provides for the creation
Of three great coordinate and indepen-|
dent departments, the executive, the /,
legislative and the Judicial, each having
It's own powers, duties and responsible ,
!litles and each performing its indepen- +
lent functions, while combined together
To be continued tomorrow II