Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-11
ISLAND OF PORTO RICO
Special Message of the Presi-
dent on 1t.
AMERICAN CITIZENSHIP
Recommended to Be Conferred in Full
on the People.
MOST PROSPEROUS YEAR
In History Of the Island Was Last
Year-Government Especially
Commended.
PROSPEROUS

The President today sent the following
| special message to Congress:
| To the Senate and House of Representa-
| tives:
| On November q visited the island Of
Porto Rico, landing at Ponce, crossing by
the old Spanish road by Cayey to San Juan,
| and returning next morning over the new
| American road from Arecibo to Ponce; the
scenery was wonderfully beautiful. espe-
cially among the mountains Of the interior.
| which constitute veritable tropic Swift
zerland. I could not embark at San Juan
because the harbor has not been dredged
| out and cannot receive an American battle
ship. do not think this fact creditable to
| us as a nation, and earnestly hope that
immediate provision will be made for
| dredging San Juan harbor.
I doubt whether our people as a whole
realize the beauty and fertility Of Porto
Rico. and the progress that has been made
| under its admirable government. We have
| just cause for pride in the character Of our
| representatives who have administered the
| tropic island which came under our nag as
| result of the war with Spain; and of no
| one of them is this more true than of Porto
Rico. It would be impossible to wish a
| more faithful, more efficient and a more
| disinterested public service than that now
| being rendered in the island of Porto Rico
| by those in control Of the insular govern
ment
I stopped at a dozen towns all told, and
| one of the notable features in every town
was the gathering Of the school children.
| The work that has been done in Porto Rico
| for education has been noteworthy. The
| main emphasis, as is eminently wise and
proper, has been put upon primary educa-
| ton: but in addition to this there is a nor
| NAL school, an agricultural school. three in
dustrial and three high schools. Every ef-
fort is being made to secure not only the
| benefits Of elementary education to all the
Porto Ricans OF the next generation, but
also as far as means will permit to train
and commercial opportunities of the island
can be utilized to the best possible advan-
tage. 1t was evident at a glance that the
teachers, both Americans and native Porto
Ricans, were devoted to their work, took
the greatest pride in 1t. and were endeav
oring to train their pupils, not only in mind.
but In what counts for far more than mind
| in citizenship, that Is, In character.
I was very much struck by the excellent
character both Of the insular police and Of
| the Porto Rfcan regiment They are both
| of them bodies that reflect credit upon the
American administration of the island. The
insular police are under the local Porto
Rican government. The Porto Rican
regiment Of troops must be appro-
prlaCeQ TOT Dy the congress-. earnestly
hope that this body will be kept perma-
nent. There should certainly be troops in
the island, and 1t is wise that these troops
should be themselves native Porto Ricans.
It would be from every standpoint q mis-
take not to perpetuate this regiment.
Most Prosperous Year.
In traversing the island even the most
cursory survey leaves the beholder struck
| with the evident rapid growth in the Gull
y,1t1. 80 kInA kah
The fruit industry is also growing. Last
year was the most prosperous year that the
island has ever known before or since the
American occupation. The total OF exports
and imports of the island was forty-fve
millions Of dollars as against eighteen mil
lions in 1901. This is the largest In the is
lands history. Prior to the American oc-
cupation the greatest trade for any one
year was that Of 1895. when 1t reached
| nearly $23, 100000. Last year. therefore,
there was double the trade that there was
in the most prosperous year under the
Spanish regime. There We're 210.273 tons Of
LAT .. the and yaas Of
800 pounds Of coffee Of the value Of s., 4S1.-
1O2. Unfortunately, what used to be Porto
Rico's primo cup-coffee-has not shared
from the disaster of the hurricane, and
moreover, the benefit of throwing open our
market to 1t has not compensated for the
loss inflicted by the closing Of the markets
to it abroad. call your attention to the ac-
companying memorial on this subject of the
board Of trade of San Juan. and earnestly
hope that some measure will be taken for
the benefit of the excellent and high grade
Porto Rican coffee.
In addition to delegations from the board
of trade and chamber Of commerce of San
juan I also received delegations from the
Porto Rican Federation of Labor and from
the Coffee Growers Association.
There is q matter to which I wish to call
your special attention. and that is the de-
c;vo of American IL
Zenship upon the people OF Porto Rico.
most earnestly hope that this Will be DONE
I cannot see how any harm can possibly re-
suit from 1t, and it seems to me matter
of right and justice to the people of Porto
Rico They are loyal, they are glad to be
under our flag. they are making rapid
Surely we should show our appreciation of
them, our pride in what they have DONE
and our pleasure in extending recognition
for what has thus been done, by granting
them full American citizenship.
Under the wise administration OF the
present governor and council marked
progress has been made In the difficult
matter of granting to the people of the
island the largest measure Of self-govern-
ment that can with safety be given at the
present time. 1t would have been very
than we have already gone in this direc-
ton. The Porto Ricans have complete and
absolute autonomy in all their municipal
governments, the only power over them
that Of removing corrupt or incompetent
municipal officials. This power has never
of corruption or of incompetence-such as
to jeopardize the interests Of the people of
this land, and under such circumstances 1t
has been fearlessly used to the immense
benefit Of the people. It is not a power
with which 1t would be safe, for the sake
Of the island itself, to dispense at present
The lower house Is absolutely elective
while the upper house is appointive. This
scheme Is working well; no injustice Of any
kind results from 1t. and great benefit to
the island, and II should certainly not be
changed at this time. The machinery OF
the elections IL administered entirely by
the Porto Rican people themselves, the gov
ernor and council keeping only such su-
pervision as L. necessary In order to in
e,,ra ordorly olocfiau ANY profesf tn