Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-07
Probable That Congress Will
Finally Recognize People of
Island of Porto Rlco
MAY BE MADE TERRITORY
Citizenship Bill Reported FavorabIy-
TiIImar Expects Opposition to Reso-
luton Demanding Report on New
York Loans - Land Grants to Be
Investigated.

Especial Washington Correspondence
Washington, March THE people
of Porto Rico are at last, apparently,
to be given political status under
the United States Heretofore their
situation has been most anomalous and
uncomfortable.
Porto Rico is not a territory. as
Hawaii is. Neither is it referred 10 as
a district" as Alaska was Tor so
MANY wears. Its people have the right
of trial by jury, but it was given TO
them in the organic act OF congress
for the organization of their govern
ment They have for years been plead
ing for some action which would al
low them to become citizens OF the
United States, which they are not. or
course, they aren't citizens OF any
other country, and when the mayor o1
san Juan. the chief city of Porto
Rico. once declared in Il hearing be-
fore congressional committee ihal
he was literally Il man without couh-
try. he told the truth.
The house insular affairs committee,
headed by Representative Cooper, mas
AT last recognized this anomalous con-
dition, and recommended tor passage
the bill 10 confer citizenship In the
United States on the people OF Porto
Rico, This will not assure that the
island will ever be made a territory
or a state. but it will give the people
certain rights as citizens which are
not now assured to them.
There is no assurance that this ls-
land will ever be territory or
state. tho it is likely to be made a
territory soon, as Hawaii already IS.
Hawaii, indeed, has serious aspira-
lions for statehood 1t has about
million people, and is very wealthy.
No good objection can be made to
admitting it to the union of states,
and there is strong desire on the
Pacific coast that it be so treated. lts
people are reported to be quietly NOV
ing to effect organization for this pur-
pose.
Senator Tillman expects that there
is going 20 be vigorous opposition I'd
his resolution calling on the comp
troller of the currency for informa-
ton about loans of New York banks,
but he proposes to press 1T none the
less. The resolution stirred up d Wig
orous opposition at the very start.
Yes, they're going to fight it; OF
he said when asked about Its
prospects "How do l know? Because
they have told me so already
This was within two hours after the
resolution had been introduced Il
don't know whether I can get 1t
but I'm going to give 'em a
chance 10 go on record on it, insisted
the senator Il can make them vote
yea or nay, and show whether they
want to get to the bottom of these
charges or not There has been 50
much talk here about loans being
made on unsatisfactory collateral. ana /
about the danger of letting matters
come to a showdown While the funds
were thus tied up, that | want to get
20 the facts
The resolution calls on the comp
roller to send to the senate the facts
about loans. by New York City ma
5ional banks. during the six months
ending December 1. 1907, on collateral: |
j, list of the borrowers. the amounts,
description and amounts of the col
aterals held as security. and statement /
If whethe~ officers or directors of the !
banks authorized the loans.
Such a statement. it is urged by /
people who object to the resolution
would simply amount to opening to the
world the whole array of secretism of
Eew York business. 1t would show
Who borrowed and in what amounts.
md from whom. 1t would give the bus
ness rivals of manv concern infor-
nation for which they would be glad /
o pay great premium. They would |
Uncover huge and most interesting pri-
ate resources of information about |
business relationships AMI conditions. |
t would permit the public to know
Who is holding stocas. and on what |
conditions they are held. 1t would b"
most ,lnheard- of and stupendous
evclation of business conditions, or
linarily the most private and sacred.
II the city where more business is done I
han in any other in the country
That the resolution will pass is not
eriouslv believed. 1t would be sub
Get to TIE objection that no public
.xigency now existing iustifies such a /
preach of business confidence. On this :
Fl