New-York tribune., 1906-12-12
PORTO RICO MESSAGE.
CITIZENSHIP rs URGED.
President Tells of Trip to Island
and Its Needs.


sage TO Congress- giving the result of his recent
observations in Porto Rico and making recon-
mendations concerning the government Of that
island. was delivered 20 the Senate and House
to-day 1t was read at length and received
careful attention. The message was as follows:
To the Senate and House of Representatives:
on November p / visited the island OF Porto
Rico landing at Ponce, crossing by the ola
Spanish road by Cayey 10 San Juan ana re-
turning next morning over the new american
road from Arecibo 10 Ponce. The scenery was
wonderfully beautiful. especially among the
mountains of the interior. which constitute q
veritable tropic Switzerland. / could not EN-.
bark at San Juan because the harpor mas HoI
been dredged out and cannot receive an amer
battleship. 1 do not think this IacI CIeu- @
itable TO US as a nation and l earnestly nope %
that immediate provision viii be maoe ioi
dredging san Juan Harbor-
i doubt whether our people as a whole reaI,
tze the beauty and fertility of Porto hnco. anu
the progress that has been made under m lls <a t
Inirable government. We have just cause @ Iot
pride in the character of our representa- y 80
who have administered the tropic islahos Mhith ,
carne under our flag as a result of the war with
Spain and of no one OF them is THIS more true
,tlar ~ Porto Rico 1t would be impossible to
wish a moro faithful. a more efficient and
more disinterested public service than that now
being rendered in the island Of Porto Rico oy
those in control of the insular government
L stopped at dozen towns All tolo, ana one one
OF the notable features in every town was the
gathering OF the school children Inc WORK
that has been done in Porto Rico for educa-
ton has been noteworthy. The main emphasis,
as Is erninently wise and proper, has been put
rlpOY1 primary education; but in addition to tnis
there Is a normal school, an agricultural school,
three industrial and three high schools Every
eefort g 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 them so that the IN
Sustrial agricultural and commercial oppor-
tunities Of the island can he utilized TO the Dest
possible advantage il was evident at glance
that the teachers. both Americans and native
Porto Rfcans. We're devoted TO their work, TOOK
the greatest pride in il, and were endeavoring to
train their pupils not only in mind but in what
counts for far more than mind in citizenship,
that is. in character.
AN EXCELLENT ADMINISTRATIONS.
I was very much struck by the excellent char
acter both Of the insulaT police and OF the Porto
f2ican regiment. They are both Of them bodies
that reflect credit upon the American admin
5stratiOn of the island. The inSular police are
under the local Porto Rican government. The
Porto Rican regiment Of troops mnst be apprO-
priated for by Congress / earnestly hope that
this body will be kept permanent. There should
certainly be troops in the island, and II Is wise
that these troops should he themselves netlve
Porto RicanS. II would be from every stand
point q mistake not 20 perpetuate this regiment.
In traversing the Island even the most cursoTy
survey leaves the beholder struck with the evil
dent rapid growth In the culture both Of the
sugar cane and tobacco. The fruit Industry ls
also growing Last year was the most prosper
Gus year that the island has ever known before
since the American occupation. The totAI
of exports and imports Of the island was Tcrty-
i've millions of dollars as against eighteen mill
ions IN 1901. This IS the largest IN the isladd =
history. Prior 70 the American Occupation Lne
greatest trade for any one year was that or
1896 when II reached nearly twenty-three mill
tons OF dollars. Last year, therefore, there was
double the trade that there was in the most
prosperous year under the Spanish regime
There were 2lo273 tons Of sugar exported last
wear Of the value of S14 1S6 819: 50 300 163 of
tobacco and 2S 2qOIS22 pounds of coffee. of the
value of S},4S1.1O2. Unfortunately, what used
to be Porto Rieo's prime crop-cofee-has not
shared this prosperity. 1t has never recovered
from the disaster Of the hurricane, and, more
over the benefit OF throwing open our market
TO it has not compensated for the loss inflicted
by the closing OF the markets 10 IL ABROAD L
call your attention 70 the accompanying memo
rial on this subject Of the Board Of Trade OF
San Juan, and earnestly nope th'tt some meas
rIre Will be taken for the benefit Of the excellent
and high grade Porto Rican coffee
In addition 70 delegations from the Board Of
Trade and Chamber Of Commerce Of San Juan.
] also received delegations from the Porto Rican
Federation Of Labor and from the Coffee Grow
ers' Association
SHOULD HAVE FULL CITIZENSHIP.
There is a matter 10 which I wish to call your
special attention. and that is the desrability Of
conferring full American citizenship upon the
people Of Porto Rico. 1 most earnestly hope
that this viii be done. cannot see how any
harm can possibly result from it, and II seems
10 a matter Of right and justice 20 the
people Of Porto Rico. They are loyal, they are
glad 20 be under our flag. they are making rapid
progress along the path Of orderly liberty.
Surely should show 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 rIreseut
N Governor and council marked progress has been
" shade in the difficult matter OF granting TO the
people Of the island the largest measure OF self
government that can with safety be given ct the
present time. Il would have been a very serious
mistake 10 have gone any faster than we have
already gone in this direction. The Porto Ricans
have complete and absolute autonomy IN ali their
municipal governments. the only power over
them possessed by the insulsr government being
that OF removing corrupt incompetent mu-
nicipa1 officials. This power has never been ex-
ercised save on the clearest proof Of corr1pEiOn
or of incornpetence-such as TO teopardize the
interests of the people of the island; and under
such circumstances II has been fearlessly Used