New-York tribune., 1906-11-17
TO PROTECT PORTO RICO
GUARDIAN IS NEEDED.
President WW Urge Congress to
4dUance Islands Interests.
from Ths rrfbuns Bureau. ]


W washington. Nov 16-The President in his
forthcoming message will urge Congress in
uncertain terms TO conf1de TO the bureau OF in
sular affairs supervision of the interests Of
Porto Rico To that bureau. organized orgi-
nally to care for the interests of the Philippines.
nave already been confded al cuuan affairs,
and there is reason to believe that his great
increase or It's work will make necessary T~ors
or less reorganization. so that the adninistra-
ton deems the time particularly appropriate
Tor efecting a reorganization which will be per-
manent and which Will provide for proper rep
resentation OF Porto Rico in the national capital
AT present Porto Rico is a sort OF orphan,
adopted by the nation, represented in the legts-
IatlVe branch of the government by delegate
to Congress, but wholly unrepresented in the
administrative branch, and this leads con-
fusion and Inconvenience. Porto Rican officials
who come to Washington on the business Of the
island find no to represent them at the
Presidents Cabinet table-nO but the Pres-
dent himsef-whose duty ii is to assist them
In their work. no matter how important it may
be- and the island is actually in a more home
less condition, in far as Washington is con-
cerned, than foreign countries represented by
| ministers or ambassadors and with legations
and embassies here
The Presidents recommendation sser,,s likely
10 ma quick response in Congress. for already
some members of that body have discovered
now essential some such arrangement is 10
Porto Rican interests
Senator Lodge. speaking to The Tribune cor
respondent in the course OF the last session
said: There is no doubt that much Of the ex-
perlence gained in handling the affairs Of the
| philippines would prove of incalcuable value in
directing those Of Guam and Porto Rico; per-
maps to a less extent those Of Hawaii Colonel
Clarence r. Edwards. the present chief of the
lnsular bureau. has demonstrated exceptional
ability IN organizing his bureau and Iii promot-
ing the interests of the Philippines so that con-
ftding to his bureau the interests Of all our in
sular possessions may prove the best possfbIe
solution Of the present problem. Be that as II
may, the necessity for taking some step in the
direction of confdinS the interests OF our insuIar
possessions TO a single bureau and under sin
gle head appears to me to be obvious"
When Senator Lodge made this statement the
af1alrs OF Guam. Hawaii, Alaska and Turuila
were under discussion. Hawaii and Alaska are
now under the supervision OF the Secretary OF
| the Interior. Guam and Tutuila are under the
Secretary Of the Navy and are governed by
naval officer designated for the purpose The
Philippines, cared for by the insular bureau, are
under the Secretary of War. and Porto Rico
alone IS out in the cold with no represent a ton
| IN the Cabinet, an anomalous position which no
| one believes should be permitted to continue.
| dation will revive the proposition set forth In
these dispatches last winter to place all OF the
insular possessions because of the similarity of
| their interests and the problems which their
| government presents under q single bureau
There is growing belief that sooner or later the
! President will have to make room at his Cab
met table for a secretary OF insular possessions
| and in some quarters the view Is advanced that
| the bureau of insular affairs Of the War De-
| partment should be organized now as to form
| the nucleus for such department Be that as
It may. there be little doubt that Porto
| Rico Will receive a Washington foster father
before the close of this fiscal year, and the pros
poets are that its new foster parent Will be the
Secretary Of War.
Excellent work in promoting the interests Of
| Porto Rico has recently been done in WASHINGTON
| by George Cabot Ward, a New Yorker who is
| now the Auditor OF the island. Mr Ward. who
| is enthusiastic in the interests OF Porto Rico
| came to Washington TO perform the preliminary
| work necessary to effect a sale OF bonds which
Porto Rico has issued with view TO improving
| her roads and thus facilitating the transporta-
| ton Of her magnificent products TO the
board. Although working against great obsta-
Cles Mr.. Ward seCSred from the Secretary OF the
| Treasury every advantage usually accorded TO
| United States bonds The issue will be
| graved by the bureau of engraving and print
/ ing will be accepted as security for government
deposits and will in all ways rank with the bonds
| issued by the federal government, that there
IS every prospect that they Will meet with ready
| sale at top prices.
Had Porto Rico been under the Jurisdiction
/ and protection Of the insular bureau, however
| Il would not haye been necessary for Mr.. Ward
/ TO tourney all the way to Washington and TO
! encounter numerous difficulties to perfect the
| details Of the sale Of bonds which are as good
| as the gold they pledge
| During Mr.. Wards stay in Washington he had
several conferences with the President who
| manifested the greatest interest in Porto Rico,
and il is probable that the interest which the
| Porto RiCan Auditor excited in the Executive
| was largely responsible for the visit which the
! President is about to pay 70 the island