Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-03
Other Provisions.

have one judge at salary of 5000 per
annum.
Other Provisions.
The bill provides that the legislative
body SHALL besides enacting local laws
providing for native army and navy.
&C., make such commercial treaties with
foreign nations as may be beneficial to
the country, and, in long series of ar
ticles defines the rights and privileges of
the citizens, and abOlishes the death pen
atty. Among those articles the following
are worthy of notice, viz:
The right of habeas corpus shall never
be suspended, not even in time of war,
instruction or rfOting.
Freedom of thought, speech, worship
and of the press is insured. The people
shall be permitted to make use of what
ever weapons or arms that may be needed
for the safety of their persons and prop
erty
No person shall be obliged to give evil
dence in any judicial case. no matter
what its nature may be. if he be not
willing to give such evidence.
No person shall be deprived of his
liberty until the crime for which he is
arralgned be duly proven. and in every
case he may give personal bail answer
ing therefor with whatever property he
may possess.
Every plaintiff shall be responsible to
the defendant and pay damages to the
same should he not prove his suit
NO laws shall be enacted in the state of
Porto Rico inflicting on criminals pun
lshment other than temporary or per-
petual Imprisonment, fines or hard labor
or both penalties.
only such laws shall be enacted as to
give Porto Rico the most ample and ra di-
car FORM OF republican government. and
the just application of the laws shall he
guaranteed W
Inc legislative assembly shall decide
the affafrs of the elections and determine
seat. ~ ~ ~
No Porto Rican or United States em-
pio9e shal! be member of the legisla-
tive assembly -
Inc native courts shall settle all questions
arising on treaties made either by the state
Porto Rico N'a'e' III
me justices of the supreme court dis
T.; ilict courts and territorial courts shall act
III stflct accordance with law, in spite of
to the contrary. '
Inc representatives, judges and all en-
pio!eS small swear to support this law and
an oIhers emanating from it for the secllr-
lty OF the state of Porto Rico.
No justice of any court NAV be removed
from ONCE except convicted of ill conduct
negligence or incapacity.
Hour for Rebuke Has Come.
American business men and others NOT in
the public service, whose mouths are not
closed by diplomatic bandages. do not hes-
take 10 say that the hour has come for an
outspoken intelligent rebuke of the anti
American agltators, either. by the President
or by the governor. Liberties given to ma
yves are too often perverted into unwar-
ranted license, especially in the house of
delegates, and eXcitable outsiders spread the
olstu dances. Senseless twaddle and the
consideration of fool bills exhaust valuable
tme and funds and vital legislation is neg
lected because of the warning of petty poli-
tlcfans, who would gladly see every Ameri-
can driven from the island
In Ponce, city which received the Ameri-
Gains IN 1913 with open arms and was ALWAYS
conceded to be the most American in senti-
ment OF any town In Porto Rico, the anti
| american feeling Is now openly and bitterly
expressed: There are but seventy Ameri-
cans LETT in the Ponce district and of these
forty-flve are school teachers
everywhere the natives are demanding all
the o1llces and greater power along all lines
Ihe1r new delegate to Congress will echo
ms demand at washington, but he cannot
be heard until the next Congress conyenes.
The situation now is entirely in the hands
OF the governor, young and inexperienced
man. The insular treasury is depleted and
hundreds of thousands are idle and starving.
Capitalists grow timid when they come here
to study the situation A battle royal is on
between the government and the Roman
Catholic Church as to the title of valuable
church lands. The Spanards continue to
draw big revenues which are spent in Spain
and so a long list of troubles might be
continued.
Such is the present state of affairs in the
island, which is bowling for statehood or in
dependence. 1t is pretty nearly up to some
one to read the riot act if better conditions
are to be brought about in fair Porto Rico.
AS to territorial rights or statehood, to
grant either of them now would be a DO
litical crime of first magnitude