The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-03-12

to reflect upon the character of the
men in that body, either then OF now.
l have no fault to find with the per-
sonnel of the body, but with the sys-
TEN which gives over to the power of
an appoiutive body not acquainted
with our needs and our necessities,
Some of them, it is true, could have
been guided by better regard for the
will of the people they We're appointed
to serve. But here is the situation:
They are appointed by the President
for a term of four years, and, there
fore, there ought not to have been
more than twelve members OF the body,
as none have died or had to leave on
account of the loss of health. Yet
there have been twenty-one different
Americans named by the President for
membership In the council. And when
you consider that these men are sent
there to make laws for a people whom
they do not know, for country whose
laws, customs and language they do
not understand, and this for an aver
age period of seventeen months, YOU
may imagine, Mr.. Speaker, the proba-
bllity they have of doing we'll even
if selected from the highest intellects
In the United States.
Ignorant Of Public Needs.
''It has happened, Mr.. Speaker. that
gentleman has landed at San Juan
at O'Clock In the evening and at
9 O'Clock the next morning was sworn
In and seated in his chair, making
laws, perhaps deciding with his vote
very important laws, when he has
practically not seen the face Of sin
gle Porto Ricsn. ] can fairly charge,
therefore, that the government of the
island has been conducted by the abb
solute rule of tyrannical executive
council, or upper House. appointed by
the President, whose motives, as I
have said, ] shall not question, but
whose knowledge Of. and interest in,
question. They make our laws, vote
our taxes collect our money. and ex-
pend IT without any satisfaction being
given to our people At times it seems
as If some of them act IN a manner
10 purposely show the people of the
island that they do not count for any
thing. AS the members Of the council
do not in the least depend upon the
popular vote for their offices, they Will
probably continue 10 do as they please
as long as they can have the approval
OF their creator, the President of the
United States
Mr.. Speaker, it may he said that
we have today about as good a govern
ment as we can have under our present
sLdJuS, pE CpuJu expect TO nave, but
! pronounce that status as entirely re-
pugnant to the people Of Porto Rico,
and wish here to solemnly protest
before Congress and the American peo-
pie against that feature of our or
game act which makes the upper
House appointed by the President and
not elected by the people
We are rich and capable neonlo
We have always met our responsible
ties. We have always held the respect
Of all who came to do business with
us. No armed force has ever been
neasscerv to collect debt against our
island. We have never been noted for
turmoil and disturbances and revolu
tionary tendencies. We have ALWAYS
enjoyed measure of freedom, and
have ever conducted ourselves in a wav
to make us feel that we were entitled
to all the freedom of a free people
anywhere. We point TO our history
TO prove this. We came TO YOU. proud
to become American citizens. because
we appreciated what it meant To be
American citizens. But we are NOT
American citizens, and do not knov
when we will be. American cit.
izens are not represented upon this
floor on sufrance and by courtesy
They are represented here as a sacred
right. and blood would flow if that
right was denied. American citizens
are not taxed by any Legislative BODY
appointed by the President. II that
were attempted you know full we'll
what would happen. No, we are not
yet American citizens. Bur we sol
emnly protest that we ought to be and
that we have earned the right to be -