New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-04

Porto Rico is represented In Washington Ivy
an able and aggressive Resident commissioner
- one who has followed the career OF the hon
Federico Degetau viii deny that the peopH oil
Porto Rico have found in MIN an untiIinG ana
q persuasive champion Of their desires and n'er-
ests. Ny Degeiaus natural and cTeditabe am
billion Is 10 win for himself and his country
men the rights OF fun American Citizenship. he
wishes TO see Porto Rico brought beneath the
Gcis OF the Constitution ana within the circle
Of the Union. With that end In view, he has
let no opportunity pass TO press the iS.aha
claim TO fuller political recognition or to broaden
bis own status as It's representative anu spoheS-
msn al the national capital
The Foraker act OF 1900 provided for the cleo
ton by the people OF Porto Rico OF q Resident
Commissioner He was 10 appear In Porto Rico'S
behalf before the committees of Congress and
Incidentally. TO represent the Islands interests
In cases before the courts or the executive de-
partments. At FIRST be enjoyed the privileges
Of the foor" OF the House OF Representatives
and his name WAS appended In The congress
sionnl Directory" TO the list OF Representative
and Delegates. In the last three years, now
ever his functions have gradually widened-
The House began by changing his term 10 cor
respond with the terms OF Representatives and
Delegates and giving him the salary or MEM
Der OF Congress Later II passed bill. which
failed IN the Senate. allowing Porto Rico 10 be
represented IN Congress by Delegate instead
Of q commissioner and giving that Delegate the
81 me status as Is now enjoyed by the Delegates
from Arizona. Hawaii Oklahoma and New
Mexico. Now, without waiting for the repass-
zee OF that measure the House has. by sim
ME change OF rules, admitted Mr.. Degetau. as
Commissioner. TO all the privileges allotted to a
Delegate. making him a member OF the Com
mittee on Insular Affairs and giving him the
right TO Introduce bills and 10 be heard on the
door In their advocacy. So far as Appearances
20. the House OF Representatives has committed
itself TO the theory that Porto Rico Is entitled
"a the same consideration IN Congress as the
four organized Territories.
We DO not Quarrel with the estimate the
House has put on Mr.. DeGetau's political ca
naeity. He is 20 he congratulated on the recog-
milton he has won In body not ordinarily
lavish in the distribution OF personal and po-
UticaI favors But we do contend that Congress
should 90 slow In inysstinc-or seeking to IN
vest-the Resident Commissioners Of Porto Rico
with sny mowers that might Imply an equality
Of status between Porto Rico and the organized
continental Territories we now hold In tutelace
for future Statehood. II is not good national
policy TO treat or seem to treat, our lnsular de-
tendencies as already on the road 10 lncorpora-
ton into the Union No bill creating Porto
Rico Territory should he allowed TO become
law-at least In our generation; and any acton
In the House OF Representatives tending IN give
the insular government a clearer Territorial
semblance Is to be condemned as raising Porto
Rican hopes which neither can nor should be
realized.