New-York tribune., 1909-05-28
TO AMEND FORAKER ACT
PORTO RICO DISCUSSED.
ReDresentQtire Olmsted FaUOrs
Granting Citizenship to Island.
TFrom The Tribune Bureau. 7

Washington MAY 27.-That there will be re-
vision of the Foraker act under which the govern
ment of Porto Rico is administered at the next seS
sion of Congress was clearly indicated to-day. when
Representative Olmsted who is thought 10 De uie
prospective chairman OF the Insular Affairs COM
mittee. declared himself favorable to such action
during the consideration of his Porto ldcah Dill
Just what form this revision will take was no. III
dicated by Mr. OImsted but he believes that ctlzHh-
ship should be granted TO the island within the next
few years and will probably recommend le8lsldlion
! to that end. There no opposition 10 MT O'ii
sted's Porto Rican bill authorizing the eXpenoltuIe
this year Of the appropriations as were H''io
year. because OF the failure of the Porto hcaH
Assembly to make the required appropriations MT.
Omsted explained that unless the House authorlzeu
this expenditure the school teachers Would De uH
paid and the entire administrative functions OF lhe
, government would be paralyzed Owing 10 the aD-
sence Of a quorum the bill was not voted on out
il Is certain to be passed at early date. 1he
measure so changes the organic law as to make the
last enacted appropriations continuing whenever t1e
Assembly fails to pass a new budget
M. Douglass, OF Ohio. the first speaker To-Day
arraigned the House of Delegates of Porto Rico
for making il a condition precedent, as he charged
to its assent to appropriations that the Executive
Council upper body, agree TO certain iegisIa-
/ tion. 1T amounts 10 revolution nothing eise'
/ he exclaimed. He declared in response 10 ques-
ton by Mr. Fitzgerald. of New York. that while
he was willing admit that revolution may be
justified in of oppression, there had been no
oppression in Porto Rico calling for such course
! He defended the bill well as the policy OF the
/ government toward the island possession
GARRET CRITICIsEs FORAKER ACT.
Criticism Of the Foraker act was made by Mr..
! Garrett of Tennessee. That act, he said was
the same to the Porto Ricans as was the Const-
! tuition the United States. but he maintained
that affairs more In the hands OF the people
! of the island under Spanish rule than they were
under the Foraker
Mr. Garrett contended that the Porto Ricans
| should be compelled to bear the expense OF
their federal court Tennessee. he said, did not
bear such expense, did any other state lie was
reminded by several members, however. that Porto
| Rico got the benefit Of her customs and internal
revenues
Jumping from his seat Mr.. Larrlnaga got a
/ round applause when he declared that Porto
/ Rico would be willing surrender her customs
| duties and much more in exchange for rights and
! privileges enjoyed by the states Give US some
! Of those" he exclaimed "and you will hear here
| in Washington hurrah from Porto Rico blessing
| this government"
| Opposing the bill in its entirety and entering a
/ general defence OF the Porto Rican people. Mr.
! Martin OF Colorado. declared that President Taft
/ should "go SLOW in his recommendations regard
! ing that island. He said that some hope should
| be held to the Porto Ricans that their condi-
! ton would not only be remedied but remedied for
/ their benefit instead for the benefit of carpet
| bag government"
Having only recently returned from Porto Rico.
where he and some Of his Congressional colleagues
/ made a study Of conditions, Mr.. Scott, of Kansas
produced statistics tending TO show that since the
| American occupancy there had been extraordinary
! business progress in the island Such showing.
/ he said, could not have been made except under
! government conditions that at least reasona-
! bly, satisfactory. lie entered general defence Of
/ the executive council and declared It had shown no
disposition defeat the wishes judgment of tho
! lower house. Mr. Scott gave II the decision Of
! the best citizens Of Porto Rico that under cir
I cunstances would they return the conditions
/ prevailing under Spanish rule.
AMERICAN RULE BENEFICENT.
! "Our rule has been benehcent." he declared and
| the system Of government which have estab-
! lished there has proven to have been fully war
| rauted." He attributed the widespread un-Ameri-
can sentiment in Porto Ric5 to politics. III which.
| he said. the demagogue the dominating force.
The wisdom OF a bill. such the one under dis
crssiou was pointed out by Mr.. Scott. lie strong
ly supported the present policy. by which the Gov
| eruor instead Of committee OF the dominant
party. as desired by the Assembly. fills vacancies
| in the various Offices. The aim OF the Assembly.
! he asserted. which he said admitted by its
| members. was simply 10 control greater amount
! of political patronage.
| Was not that charged against this House by
! President Roosevelt inquired Mr.. Fitzgerald.
Mr. Scott would not commit himself. but he was
! reminded by the New York member that that was
! the Presidents charge In connection with the cen
! sus bill which led to his veto of II.
! The measures adopted toward Porto Rico. said
/ Mr.. Scott. were end for the best interests Of
/ those people They conduced orderly govern
! ment. Without them chaos would return.
/ Consideration Of The bill will be resumed to-
| morrow.