The Washington herald., 1909-04-29

On the eve OF their departure for Porto
Rico. the special commissioners. at the
Sew Willard last night. declared their
eoBntry's liberty had been curtailed by
american rule
Their statements were made following
q farewell dinner gwen by Senor Cuchi
to Senor Don GonzaIo de Quessda, Cuban
Minister to the United States, and his
wife and daughter.
The nucleus or the statement vas that
Porto Rico had enjoyed more liberty
and local self-government under the
Spanish monarchy than under the au-
tisority Of the American republic. It
was asserted that the present council.
as provided under the Foraker act. must
be abolished and an elective upper house
Substituted IN its place.
a Startling DeeIartiou.
startling declaration was that the
commissioners are disappointed AZ the re-
.cepton accorded them By President Taft
and Secretary BaIlinger. OF the Depart
ment Of the Interior They tempoTized
their expression Of dissatisfaction with
the expression Of a hope that the prom
ised message Of the President 10 Congress
would indorse their vie-s relating 70
American sovereignty IL Porto Rico
Senor CGchi said:
We are sorry We have not had bet
ter chance TO be heard The tariff and
others matters seem to have prevented
the administration from taking much IN
terest in the affairs OF Porto Rico. We
are not exactly disappointed with Ameri-
can rule but the people OF Porto Rico
object strongly 10 the Foraker act which
IS had enough in itself and Ehich IS
made even worse by the Interpretation
put upon II by the council of SIX Ameri-
cans who form our upper house Condi-
tons are much worse under Gov Post
than under Gov Winthrop Mr VIM
throp was a strong man. and had the in
terests Of the Porto Ricsus at heart
The situation Is made acute By the dis
pg1e between the house Of delegates and
the council on the appropriation bin for
next year The bin was introduced by
the council and the house reduced the
budget By about s3la eeo Il vas 10 settle
this dispute that We were sent 70 Wash
iEgton
BY unanimous vote OF the house of
delegates and by expressed resolutions OF
mass meetings all over the island. attend
ed by hundreds OF thousands Of Porto Ri-
cans. President Taft has been urged 10
give the people o. the island g chance.
Like the Americans. the Porto Ricans re-
sent taxation without representation. and
e. -
not z small council Of Americans. should
determine how We should spend or
money.
Score the Foraker Act.
At present the Unionist party. which
wishes the abolition Of the Foraker act.
has every seat in the lower house. and
il VIII probably hold it for twenty-five
years 10 come. The Republican party.
which. by the way, has nothing to do
with the Republican party OF this coun-
Try. is in favor Of the Foraker act
Under the present situation either the
power Of concurrence must be taken
away from The lower house or the FoT-
aker act rsust BE- abolished and an eIec-
tive house substituted We sincerely hone
President Taft viii recommend TIRE latter
course. # the power Of concurrence is
taken away from the house OF delegates
the people Of the island viii feel so out
ragged that they MI refuse 10 legislste
al all
we were sent he~e By the house OF
delegates 2nd our mission has been in
dorsed by popular assemblies throughout
the island. Yet We have been here for
forty days. and so far rave accomplished
little We leave merely with the hope
that President Taft viii recommend 70
Congress the abolition o. the Foraker act
1t may seem strange bur Il e q
fact that under the Spanish m8narchv
Ne enjoyed more liberty IN Porto Rico
than We do under the American repuf-
lc This Is the opinion OF those Nho
fOissnt TO rd rs Or the Spanish rule
We do no. object 20 American rule but
We do object to the people who are
sent there % govern US and TO the
Interpretation vhica they arbitrarily
aUt upon the Foraker acJ.
People Are n Unit
+The people Of the island are unit
on this subject and We hope the Presi-