The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1905-02-17
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Congress.
Porto Rocco, as possession of the
United States Government, was given
bv Congress an "lnsular Government, "
enioving 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 a 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-ofiieio
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 thirty-five elected delegates.
The Hawaiian Legislature is restrict
/ ed in regard to special legislation,
while there is no restriction on the For
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 Rican Legislature has greater
legislative power than the Constitutions
of some States allow to their Legisla-
lures. .
immigration laws drafted for condi.
tions existing in the temperate zone OF
the States are made to apply to our
tropical, isolated condition. In Porto
/ n. 10 mo ttarq 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. It is true that we
enioy 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 Unlteo
States gave it as his opinion that the
President could not set aside 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
orto Rico, in this respect, on the same
plane as n 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
ca All importations from foreign
countries. consumed by our people, pay
the regular tariff The receipts from
the customs and internal revenues are
collected by the Treasury Department
on the same basis as on the mainland
and are likewise turned into the Treas
ury for the support of the Federal Coy
eminent.
Our commerce is subjected to the
coastwise laws-no foreign vessel car
carry passengers or freight between oul
ports and the mainland.
Like Hawaii, Porto Rico has absolute
free trade to and from mainland ports
But, unlike Hawaii and the other States
and Territories of the Union, Porto Ri
co is not required to contribute to thu
national defense or for any other ma
tional purpose, its entire customs rev
enue, less the cost of collection by tn
Federal Treasury Department, beinj
held as separate fund and turned owe
to the people of Porto Rico
, It's internal revenue is of its owl
, making and is at rates some 40 pc
! cent less than those established by Con
, gress. Thus it vii. be seen that ever.
dollar of taxes accruing from its com
mercial activities, accumulated wealt
or other sources, remains in the islam,
to be used for public veal in accord
ance with the policies established b.
its own local Legislative Assembly.
. We have what is unusual in Terri
/ tory, a Supreme Court similar to tn
j courts of last resort of the variou
States, whose decision is final; and ais
a Federal Court. Porto Rico is equall
g independent in regard to it's Suprem
Court, and is also provided with Fed
. eral Courts.
5 The salaries of our officials appoints
by the President are paid by the Fed
eral Government. The people of Port
; Rico pay the salaries of all their of
Gals, including the Federal Court OF
ficials.
The foregoing statement must lea
any one who studies the form of gov
t eminent given to Territories annexed t.
: the Union previous to Hawaii, to tn
r conclusion that in no other case in tn
j history of the American Government
e has the new accession been granite
: such extensive privileges, nor has Con
: gress, previously, ever shown more lib
erality toward new territory than ia
ward us. But it is also evident from
!, comparison Of conditions that Porto RI
co, acquired subsequent to our annexa
tion, is comparatively free to pursue it
own course of development unburdsne'
by national exactions, and is, in fact
3 at liberty to work out its own destiny
= COMPARISON OF RESULTS.
g Hawaii, with population of abou
100000 people, collected revenue 70
local purposes, in 1902, Of some $2,S5S
a 922.71, and expended very nearly lik
= amount in maintaining the standard o
: public service to which it had Ion