Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1909-05-10
SITUATION UNUSUALLY GRAVE.
LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FAILS
TO PASS ALL APPROPRIATION
MEASURES.
CAUSES TROUBLE IN HOUSE
QUESTION OF THE PROPER COM.
MlTTEE TO TAKE UP MATTER
CAUSES FIGHT.

Washington, May 10.--For want OF
"a quorum the house took no action
un the presidents message, recon-
lrending remedial legislation for the
island of Porto Rico. Cannon fought
to have the message referred to the
ways and means committee but Gar
lett, of Tennessee, who wanted 1t sent
! IL. the committee on insular affairs
orened the question Of house rules.
The house finally adjourned after a
debate without action. In the senate
it was referred to the committee on
Forte Rico.
Text Of Message.
Washington, May President
Taft today sent to congress a special
message recommending legislation at
the present extra session, amending
The Foraker act under which PortoI
Rico is governing. The president
directs the attention Of congress on
aTairs on the island, laying particular
stress on which he terms "a situation
of unusual gravity deveioped through
the failure Of the legislative assembly
ol porto Rico to pass the usual ap-
p-cpriation bills, leaving the island
without support after June 80 next.
Porto Ricans have forgotten the
generosity of the U. S., the president
says, in the desire of certain of the
islands, political leaders for power and
be adds, that the present situation
indicates that the U. S. has gone too
fast in the extension of political pow
er to the Porto Ricans. He concludes
that the absolute power of appropria-
tion should be taken away from
those who have shown themselves
TOO irresponsible to enjoy it,
The president suggests to congress
the wisdom Of submitting to the ap-
preparation committees the question
Of qualifying some of the provisions of
the fundamental act as to the respec-
tive jurisdictions of the executive
council and the legislative assembly.
Rut no action Of this kind, the .presi-
dent says, should be begun until the
Foraker act is amended so that when
the legislative assembly shall adjourn
without making the legislative appro-
pr alton necessary to carry on the
government, Sums equal to the appro-
p~iations made in the previous year
for the respective purposes shall be
available for the current revenues and
shall be drawn by the warrant of the
auditor on the treasurer and counter,
sigIed by the governor Such pro-
vision applies to the legislatures Of
the Philippines and Hawaii and at
has prevented IN those countries any
misuse Of the power OF appropriation"
The president reviews the estab-
lishment of the present government
OF Porto Rico by the Foraker act He
says the statute directing how the ex-
penses Of the government are to be
provided leaves some doubt whether
this function is not committed solely
to the executive council, but in prac-
lice the Legislative assembly has ap-
lropriated for all the expenses other
than for salaries fixed by congress
and the president adds, ''it is too late
to reverse that construction"
The president saws that ever since
the institution Of the present assem-
bly, the house of delegates has uni
fornIy held up the appropriation bills
until the last minute Of the session
and has sought to use the power to
do as means Of compelling the con-
crrrence OF the legislative assembly