The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-02-16
COMPARISON OF FEDERAL RELA
TIONS.

TIoNS.
| Our Territory is an integral part of
! the Union; we are directly under the
Constitution, subjected to all Federal
| laws now in existence or which may be
enacted, unless specially excepted by
! Congress.
Porto Rocco as a possession of the
/ United States Government, was given
! by Congress an ''Insular Government,
| ENJOYING all Constitutional guarantees
of American citizenship and the rights
that are traditional among free people,
and protected from foreign invasion or
/ internal upheaval.
/ We have Legislature of two elected
| houses. Porto Rico has Legislative
| Assembly of two houses. The Governor,
Secretary, Treasurer, Attorney General,
Judge and Commissioner of Education,
executive appointees, are eX-othclo
members of the Upper House. In addi-
ton to these the President appoints five
more members, who must be native Por-
to Ricans. The Lower House consists
of thirtv-five elected delegates.
The Hawaiian Legislature is restrict
ed in regard to special legislation,
while there is no restriction on the Por-
to Rican legislative body. 1t may grant
special franchises and only those affect
ing quasi public utilities require the
Presidents approval. 1t has already
created municipalities. In this respect
the Porto Riean Legislature has greater
legislative power than the Constitutions
of some States allow to their Leglsla-
lures.
Immigration laws drafted for condi-
tions existing in the temperate zone OF
the States are made to apply to our
Tn, Do1sfn
Rico immigration laws are matters for
local legislation.
Our public lands are managed under
special laws enacted by Congress for
the benefit and use of the people of Ha
wall But, under them, we are restrict
ed to five-year leases on agricultural
lands, while some crops in the tropics
often take almost as many years to ma
ture; thus, in order to get the lands put
to the best use our only course seems
to be to sell them. 1t is true that we
enjoy either the proceeds of their sales
or the rentals from them, yet their title
remains in the Federal Government,
and the President may, by proclamation,
set aside any of them for Federal or
public purposes.
Title to the public lands of Porto Ri
co is vested in the people of the island.
The Attorney General of the United
States gave it as his opinion that the
President could not set aside a portion
of the Island of Culebra for naval pur-
poses without the consent of the peo-
pie of Porto Rico, and he stated in a |
Communication on the subject that Con- |
gress appears clearly to have placed |
I ortO Rico, in this respect, on the same |
plane as a State.
No tariff can be levied on our prod
ucts sent to the mainland. We bear our
part of the taxes, duties, imposts and |
excuses to pay the debts and provide
for the common defense and general
welfare of the United States of Ameri-
"a All importations from foreign
Countries consumed by our people. pay
he regular tariff. The receipts from
he customs and internal revenues are
by the Treasury Department
IN the same basis as on the mainland,
md are likewise turned into the Treas
Try for the support of the Federal Gov
Our commerce is subjected to the
oastwise laws-no foreign vessel can
AIRY passengers or freight between our
orts and the mainland.
Like Hawaii, Porto Rico has absolute
rec trade to and from mainland ports.
BUT, unlike Hawaii and the other States
nd Territories of the Union, Porto Ri
o is not required to contribute to the
ationaI defense or for any other ma s
onal purpose, its entire customs rev {
nue., less the cost of collection by the I
ederal Treasury Department, being
ED as separate fund and turned over I
, the people of Porto Rico.
It's internal revenae is of its own 7
aking and is at rates some 40 per $
mt less than those established by Con S
-ess. Thus it vii. be seen that every a
,llar of taxes accruing from its com g
ercial activities, accumulated wealth /
other sources. remains in the island s
be used for public veal in accord
ice with the policies established by u
; own local Legislative Assembly.
We have what is unusual in Terri "
nv. Supreme Court similar to the c
urts of last resort of the various a
ates. whose decision is final; and also o
Federal Court. Porto Rico is equally "
dependent in regard to its Supreme II
urt. and is also provided with Fed m