Evening star., 1905-11-07
PORTO RICAN AFFAIRS.
Gov. Winthrop and Wife to Visit the
States.

Special Correspondence of The Star.
SAN JUAN, P, R., November ], 1905.
Governor and Mrs. Winthrop will sail
next week for the states to remain six
weeks during which time Governor Win
throp will discuss with President Roose
welt and others the unsettled political
state in Porto Rico and the probable atti-
tude of Congress on the coffee question.
Mr.. Julio Larrinaga, commissioner from
Porto Rico to the United States. will sail
with the governor. Discussing his winter
work in Washington, Mr.. Larrinaga said
today:
"When l return to Washington I shall
draft bill to be introduced into the House
calling for duty of cents a pound on all
imported coffee. do not yet know who will
introduce this bill, but do know there are
a number Of Representatives who will be
only too glad to do It, AS Senator For
aker is the father of the Porto Rico consti-
tuition and as he has always taken q deep
interest in Porto Rican affairs. shall first
request him to frame the law and ask one
Of his friends in the House to Introduce IT:
This nonsense about taxing the poor
mans breakfast is an old-fashioned Idea
and Congress must be made to appreciate
this fact. 1 shall try to interest the news
papers in this thing and 1 shall work in
defatigably to have Congress Impose a
duty on coffee and 1 shall insist upon 8
cents.
Another important question which
should no longer be ignored by Congress is
that Of citizenship for Porto Ricans. 1t Is
only a matter of sentiment, and by grant
ing 1t the United States will lose nothing.
as if we were citizens we could not vote
on federal matters or have any hand In
the affairs Of the nation. Citizenship
should have been granted with civil gov
ernment. The two go hand in hand. With
citizenship we would be more respected
abroad and there would be other advan-
tages but we are insisting on citizenship
as a matter Of pride. What are we now?
Citizens of no country at all! We are
even denied the right of naturaliza ton.
The most ignorant worthless European
emigrant has more advantages than we.
He arrives at New York, Immediately de-
clares his intention to become citizen
and in five years he is a full-fedged Amer
lean Is, that right? Is 1t fair? Why,
SpaniarG or other foreigner in Porto Rico
can go to the states and become natural
lied and a Porto Rtcan can't unless he
falsely swears that he is a Spaniard. A
citizenship bill will be introduced, probably
as an amendment to the Foraker act to-
gether with clauses providing for self-gov-
ernment.; and I feel assured that this mat
ter will be taken up by Congress, as the
idea seems to prevail among the legiSla-
tors that the time has come when citizen
ship shall be granted to us. And 1T will
be giving sort OF apology Tor not extend
ing that privilege to us before.
AS to the question Of citizenship Ameri-
cans here very generally agree with Porto
Ricans that no harm can come with such
grant.
When asked his views as to the other
Foraker act amendments Commissioners
Larrinaga replied:
There are several which we would IKE
to see The most important is that of
establishing an tnsular senate, two SEN
ators from each district. elected by the
people, these to form no part of the ex-
ecutive council, and the heads of depart
| with the advice of the senate. We would
then have government by the people"