The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1906-05-23
PORTO RICAN STATUS
NATIVES OF ISLAND NEITHER
CITIZEN NOR ALIEN.
Efforts Being Made in Congress to
Give Them Definite Relations
People Dissat-
iSfied.

Washington administrator inf1u-
ence is being exerted to confer the
rights of citizenship on inhabitants OF
Porto Rico. but with slim chances oil
success at this session Of congress
Identical bills have been pending In
the two houses since early In the WIN
ter, designed to rescue the Porto
Ricans from their anomalous status
In the senate, where Mr.. Foraker has
been most aggressive in his support,
the bill has been favorably reported
from the committee on Pacific Islands
and Porto Rico, of which the ONO
senator is chairman.
1t has not progressed in the upper
branch because of the opposition OF
Mr.. Spooner and other senators who
think with him on colonial problems,
and who fear that giving the island
ers citizenship would necessarily in
yolve extending over them the privi-
leges and protection of the constitu-
ton and other blessings which they
do not deem wise to bestow.
In the house the speakers opposi-
ton to the measure has successfully
prevented any action OF Whatever
character on the proposal, and 1t still
lies in committee. The temper OF the
house committee is believed to be Ia
yorable to action, but Mr.. Cooper has
been unable to get the speakers con-
sent to present the matter to the
house.
Gov. Beekman Winthrop represents
that the people of Porto Rico feel
that they have been rather badly
treated In this matter. There Is no
way in which they can become cit
liens of the United States by their
own action. Not being aliens and
having no foreign sovereignty to re-
nounce, they cannot become natural
lied. They were classed as Spaniards
under the Spanish control, and they
cannot understand why they should
be placed in an inferior position I'M
der a more liberal and democratic
government.
The status of the Porto Rican is
not as good as that of the Spaniards
residing in the island who elected I'M
Ter the organic act to continue sub
iects of Spain, for they have the
rights of aliens, and can, If they sc
desire. become citizens of the United
States by naturalization. Repeated
efforts to so amend the statute as to
permit the naturalization of Porto
Ricans have been defeated.
There was a difference of opinion
in the senate in 1900, when the Porto
Rican act was passed, as to what the
status of the native islanders should
be. and many felt apprehension that
legislation with respect to them
might, as a precedent, prove prejudi-
cial to our interests in connection
with legislation for the Philippines
Senator Foraker contends that since
most of the questions which ther
gave rise to doubts have been solved
there is no longer any reason for fur
Their delay on that account
If Porto Rican should see At tc
come to the United States or to en-.
gage in any commercial transactions
involving shipments to or from this
country, he is required. by our coast
wise and navigation laws. to use
ships of American registry. But
neither in the island nor here can he
sue in the courts as a citizen of the
United States. If he should visit 9
foreign country he is denied the priv
lege of carrying passport or having
any definite status of citizenship thai
is known or recognized by other coun-
tries