Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-11
OUR WARDS FORGET GENEROSITY
Says American Government Has
Become Rapid in Extending Politi-
cal Powers 20 people Of Its Island
ssessfons-Some of Provisions
Of Act Should be Qualified.
(By Associated Press.l

dcnt lait iouay sent 10 congress al
special message recommending leg
islation at the present extra session
amending the Foraker act under
which Porto Rico is governed. The
President directs the attention OF
Congress 10 affairs Oh the island,
laying particular stress upon what
he terms "a situation of unusual gray
ity" developed throughout failure of
the legislative Appropriation bill,
leaving the island without support al
Ter June 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 thai the
present situation in the case that the
United States mas gene 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 themselves too ire
sponsible to enjoy it"
The President suggests 10 Congress
the wisdom of submitting to the APP
preparation committee the question
Of qualifying some of the provisions
of the fundamental act as 20 tie re-
spective jurisdictions of the executive
council and the legislative assembly.
But no action of this kind, the
President says, should be begun an
til the Foraker act be amended so
that when the legislative assembly
shall adjourn without making the ap-
h.n
government, sums equal to the ap-
preparation 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
4 provision applies to the legisla-
lures of the Philippines and Hawaii.
and il has prevented in those two
countries any misuse of the power OF
appropriation, said the President.
The President reviews the estab'
lishment of a present government for
Porto Rico by the Foraker act. He
says the statute directing how the
expenses of the governDsat are to
be provided leaves some doubt whetn-
er this function is not committed sole
" to the executive council, but in
practice the legislative assembly has
appropriated for all expenses other
than for salaries, fixed py Congress,
and the President adds, 1T IS too late
20 reverse that construction"
Held Up Appropriations.
The President says that ever since
the institution of a present assem-
bly, the house of delegates has uni
formly held up the appropriation
bills until the last minute of the regu-
lar session and has sought to use the
power to do so as a mean of COM
pelling the concurrence of the execu-
tive council in legislation which the
house desire. In the last regular leg
islative assembly the attitude Of the
executive council in refusing to pass
bills led the house of delegates to re-
fuse to pass the necessary aPpropria-
ton bills.
Mr.. Taft discusses the acts Of the
legislature and Of the council in de-
tail and SAYS the facts recited dem
ons tTatc the willingness CT the rep
resentaives of the people in the
LUIrt u NfAN --e-tt1 ~ rMRHfAN AAN
government in order to secure the
passage Of certain legislation. The
question whether the proposed legis-
iation should be enacted into law
was left BY the fundamental act TO the
joint acton OF The executive council
and the house of delegates as the
legislative assembly. The house Of
delegates. SAYS the President. pro
poses itself to Secure this legislation
without respect TO the opposition OF
tn, executive council. ~or else 10 pull
down the government"
This growing spirit shows that too
great power has been vested in the
DELEGATES. The message presents an
exhaustive economic review Of condi-
tons on the island. Is trade and its
wealth its Improvement. educational
facilities. the suppression Of the
hoop worm epidemic. and discusses
other matters and points out ;has
there never was a time in the his
tory Of the island when the average
prosperity OF the Porto Ricsns has
been higher. when his opportunity has
been greater. when his liberty Of
thought and action was more secure %
For the FIRST time in It's history. Porto
Rico. he says. IS living under laws