Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-29
CLASH OVER A LOAN
IN LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY OF PORTO RICO.
It is Expected That the Coming Session
Will Be Marked by Much
Bitter Feeling.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


SAN JUAN, p R., December %, 1903.
Unless, as now seems highly improbable,
compromises are effected through prior con-
ferences, the sixty days session of the
legislative assembly of Porto Rico, which
Will convene January II, will be marked by
much bitter feeling between the house of
delegates and the executive council. The
house represents the people Of Porto Rico,
and Is supposed to reflect native sentiment:
The executive council, composed of eleven
presidential appointees, represents the fed
eral government and American ideas. 1t
is conservative and powerful and supports
the governor of the island.
The house, chosen by popular suffrage,
is often q bear garden because of the
antagonism between the republicans and
the federals. Many of the delegates are
ignorant CT the first principles of legisla-
ton. but they are guided by men who have
served longer, and who have rapidly
learned correct methods. The republicans
have twenty-five delegates and the federals
ten. Next year the biennial elections will
take place and the federals hope to gain
control. The republicans, as a rule, sup
port the present American administration,
and the federals are openly and solidly
against 1t. If the national republican
party formally recognizes the republican
party of Porto Rico and gives 1t admission
II the next republican presidential conven-
ton this state of affairs will continue. If
not, Governor Hunt may expect to lose
some of his republican support.
Money for the Planters.
The most serious clash between the house
of delegates and the council will be, as
heretofore. on the question of borrowing
S., 900 600 for the benefit of the planters of
Porto Rico. The council opposes such leg
islation, and the house favors it. The coun-
ell, on the other hand, Is said to be con-
sidering the introduction of $2.OOO 900 loan
bill for the building of roads, the trust fund
previously devoted to road building having
been nearly exhausted by liberal expendi-
lures. This bill the house is sure to defeat.
Whether the s. 600 600 bill will be intro
duced by a republican or a federal is not so
certain as the fact that when it is intro
duced both parties will support 1t as they
have always done. the proposition having
been proposed and unanimously approved
by each house of delegates since the organi-
cation of the civil government in Porto
Rico, and each time turned down by the
American members of the executive
council.
The form of the bill which will be pro-
posed this session will be practically the
same as that introduced at the last session,
except that some minor details will prob
ably be modified. providing the federal
measure is the one which passes the house.
The supporters of this bill claim that such
a loan would insure the future prosperity
of the farmers of Porto Rico by paying on
their mortgages. restocking their planta-
lions and putting more money In circula-
ton. The opponents of the bill say that
most of the money would soon go to Spain
to pay mortgages who hold big claims
with eXorbitant interest added. The poll
ticians, of course. want the money to help
them in their respective districts.
Public Feeling Running High.
Feeling is running high, and the native
press is urging delegates TO refuse to sup
port any administrative measure unless the
farmers loan bill passes. Even the annual
appropriat ton bill is threatened. and long
deadlock seems sure.
In short. the situation is that the admin
istration is not willing to trust the money
in the hands of commission controlled by
the Porto Ricans, and the Porto Ricans are
not willing to see the money expended by
the Americans 1t is sort of tit for tat.
Among the other important bills which
will be introduced at the next session will
be measures providing for revision of
the insular codes for reducing the number
of district court judges for consOlida ting
all the insular charitable, penal and cor
rectional institutions; for the abolition of
capital punishment; for protecting Porto
Rfcan coffee and tobacco by official stamp
ing; for the distribution of public lands
allotted six months ago by President Roose-
welt, and for other important purposes The
usual pleas for territorial government and
statehood and for reciprocal commercial
treaties may also be expected.