Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-05-10
GRAVE SITUATION
N PORTO RICO
PRESIDENT TAFT ASKS CONGRESS
TO RELlEvE CRITICAL slTuA.
TloN IN ISLAND.
PORTO RlcANs FORGET
UNCLE SANS GENEROSITY
President Tells Congress United States
Has Conc Too Fast Extending PoIit-
ieaI Power to People of Island and
That lrresponsibles Should be curbed
Finances Of Island in Bad Shape.

IN8S uTr06pOnSlpIeS 0nOulQ DC NuVOSQ
Finances of Island in Bad Shape.
Washington, May 10--President Taft
today sent to congress special mess
age recommending legislation at the
present extra session. amending the
Foraker act under which Porto Rico is
governed. The president directs the at
tention of congress to affairs on the
island, laying particular stress on what
he terms "a situation of unusual grav-'
ity developed thru the failure of the
legislative assembly of Porto Rico to
pass the usual appropriation bills,
leaving the island without support af-
ter June 30 next.
Porto Ricans have forgotten the gen.
erosity OF the United States. the pres
ident says, in the desire of certain of
the islands political leaders for pow
er. and he adds that the present situ
alton indicates that the United States
has gone too fast in the extension of
political power to the Porto Ricans. He
concludes that the absolute power of
appropriation should be taken away
from those who have shown them
selves 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 respect
i've jurisdictions OF the executive coun-
Gil and the legislative assembly. But
no action Of this kind, the president
says, should be begun until the For
aker act is amended so that when the
legislative assembly shall adjourn
without making the appropriation
necessary to carry on the government,
sums equal to the appropriations 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 countersigned by the
governor. Such a provision applies to
the legislatures of the Philippines and
Hawaii and ut has prevented in these
two countries any misuse Of the power
Of appropriation"
Doubt as to Authority.
The president reviews the establish
ment of the present government for
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
Tho avon11tfua onnnNi1 in ioo
the legislative assembly has appropri-
ated for all the expenses other than for
salaries fixed by congress, and the
president adds, 1T is too late to reverse
that construction"
The president says that ever since
the institution OF the present assembly
the house of delegates has uniformly
held up the appropriation bills until the
last minute Of the regular session, and
has sought to use the power to do so
as a means of compelling the concur
renee of the executive council in legis-
lation which the house desired. In the
last regular legislative assembly the
attitude Of the executive council In re-
fusing to pass bills led the house of
delegates to refuse to pass the neces-
sary appropriation bills.
Mr.. Taft discusses the acts of the
legislature and Of the council in de-
tail, and says the facts recited demon
strate the willingness Of the represen-
tatives OF the people in the house of
delegates to subvert the government In
order to secure the passage of GER
tain legislation. The question whether
the proposed legislation should be en-
acted into law was left by the funda-
mental act to the joint action of the
executive council and the house of del
egates as the legislative assembly. The
house OF delegates, says the president
proposes itself to secure this legisla-
ton without respect to the opposition
Of the executive council, "or else pull
down the government"
Delegates Have Too Much Power.
This growing spirit shows that too
great power has been vested in the
delegates. The message presents an
exhaustive economic review of condi-
ttons on the island, its trade and its
wealth, Its improved educational facil-
tiles.
1t points out that there never was
time in the history OF the island
when the average prosperity OF the
Porto Rican has been higher, his op-
portunty greater. his liberty in
thought and action more secure" For
the first time in Its history Porto Rico
he says. IS living under laws enacted by
its own legislature.
The president points out that II the
Porto Ricans desire a change in the
form OF the Foraker act this is a mat
ter OF congressional consideration, de-
pendent upon the effect Of such a
change on the real political progress
on the island. Such change, ne says,
should be sought, in an orderly way
and not brought to the attention Of
congress by "paralyzing the arm Of the
existing government"
The president says that the fact Of
the Porto Ricans' forgetting the gen
erosity Of this government SHOULD not
be an occasion for surprise, nor in
dealing with a whole people can 1t be
made the basis Of a charge Of In
gratitude"
No Action on Message.
Washington. May 10.--For want of a
quorum. the house took no action on