The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-05-14
IS NOW WITHOUT
any FINANCE
PRESIDENT TAFT CALLS ON CON.
GREss TO RELIEVE PORTO
RICO.
MESSAGE SAYS ISLANDERS HAVE
FORGOTTEN GENEROSITY
OF STATES.

Washington, D. c., May II.
President Taft today sent to con-
gress a special message recommends
ing legislation at the present extra
session, amending the Foraker act
under which Porto Rico is governed.
The president directs the attention
of congress to affairs on the island
laying particular stress on what he
terms "A situation of unusual CRAWL
ty," developed through the failure
OF the legislative assembly of Porto
Rico to pass the usual appropria-
ton bills, leaving the island with
out support after June 80, next.
Porto Ricans have forgotten the
generosity of the United States, the
president says, in the desire of GER
tain of the islands political leaders
for power, and he adds that the pres
ent situation indicates that the Unit
ed States has gone too fast in the
extension Of political power to the
Porto Ricans. He concludes that
{ the absolute power of appropria-
ton should be taken away from
Those who have shown themselves
too irresponsible to enjoy it,
The president suggests to con-
gress the wisdom of submitting to
the appropriation committee the
question of qualifying some of the
provisions of the fundamental act
as to the respective jurisdiction f
the executive council and the legis-
lative assembly. But no action of
this kind, the president says, should
be begun until the Foraker act is
amended to that when the legis-
lative assembly shall adjourn with
out making the legislative appropri-
alton necessary to carry on the gov
eminent, sums equal to the appro-
priations made in the previous year
for the respective purpose shall be
available for the current revenue,
and shall be drawn by the warrant
of the auditor on the treasurer and
countersigned by the governor. Such
provision applies to the legisla-
lures of the Philippines and Hawaii
and cit has prevented in those two
countries any misuse of the power
of appropriation. !"
The president reviews the estab-
lishment of the present government
for Porto Rico by the Foraker act.
He says the statute directing how the
expenses of the government are to
be provided leaves some doubt
whether this function is not commit
ted solely to the executive council
but in practice the legislative as
sembly has appropriated for all the
expenses other than for salaries fixed
by congress and the president adds
sit is too late to reverse that con-
struction.'
The president says that ever since
the institution of the present as
sembly the house of delegates has
uniformly held up the appropria-
ton bills until the last minute of
the session and has sought to use
the power to do so as means OF
compelling the concurrence of the
executive council in legislation
which the house desired. In the
last regular legislative assembly the
attitude of the executive council in
refusing to pass bills led the house
of delegates to refuse to pass the
necessary appropriation bills.
Mr.. Taft discussed the act of the
legislature and of the council in de
tail and says the facts recited dem
onstrate the willingness Of the rep
resentatives of the people in the
house of delegates to subvert thu
government. in order to assure tn,
passage of certain legislation. TIL,
question whether the proposed leg
islation should be enacted into Law
was left by the fundamental &C
to the joint action of the executive
council and the house of delegate
as the legislative assembly.
The president says that the fac
of the Porto Ricans forgetting tn
generosity of this government shoul
not be an occasion for surprise
nor in dealing with whole peopl
can it be made the basis of charg
of ingratitude. 2
The message concludes: '.Whe
we with the consent Of the people {
Porto Rico assumed GUARDIANSHIP
over them and the guidance of the
destinies we must have been col
scious that a people that had e,
joyed SO little opportunity for educ
ton could not be expected safe
for themselves to exercise the fu
power Of self government and Il
present development is only an inc
cation that we have gone somewh
too fast in the extension of polite
s 2.s, power to them, for their own goo
"The change recommended m,
not Immediately convince those co
trolling the house of delegates
the mistake they have made in t
extremity to which they have be
willing to report for political pl
poses but in the long run 1t "
5S secure more careful and responsil
exercise Of the power they have:
There is not the slightest e
sdence that there has been on
rtspf the government OF. any me
the executive council q d
II s; m - ~ ,,aurn authority Or