The Washington times., 1909-04-29
Delegates Leave for Home
Disappointed and Dis
couraged.
HELP MUST COME
TO SAVE ISLAND
Commissioner Larrinaga Says For
aker Law Is Vicious.

Commissioner Tulio Larrinaga, of
Porto Rico. today said the special dele
cation sent by his cOuntrymen to
Washington to obtain an abolition of
the Foraker act and better local govern
ment, had left for home dissatisfied
with the reception here, completely dis
couraged, and Of the opinion that in
some respects American rule was less
desirable than the old Spanish regime.
The three special commissioners, who
for forty days have been in Washing
ton and with the aid of Commissioner
Barrinaga have been attempting to in
terest the President and Congress ic
the Porto Rican muddle, will sail from
New York tomorrow minus any definite
assurances that their visit has been
a productive one. The hope that later
the President and Congress. the tariff
disposed of, may interest themselves in
Porto Rico, is all that the delegates
carry home with them.
The special commissioners, all of the
lower house. elected by the people, are:
Luis Munoz Rivera, president of the
union party of Porto Rico. and chair
man of the delegations; Cay Coll Cuchi,
and Eugenio Benitz.
Emphasizes Islands Woes.
Commissioner Larrinaga's approval Of
the rather disgruntled statement issued
by Senor Cuchi before his departure,
gives additional official interest to the
peculiar woes of Porto Rico.
The commissioners will face a pe-
culiar situation upon their arrival home
for no way has as yet been discovered
to reach an agreement between the
lower house OF delegates, which they
n he
pointed by the government, on the ap-
preparation bills for the next year
Consequently, because of this deadlock
the island is without an appropriation
budget.
Porto Rico's- people. the delegation al
leges. are anxious that both governing
bodies be made elective, and that the
Foraker act shall be practically abol-
ished.
Disappointed In Taft.
From remarks made by a member of
the delegation. it is inferred that the
Porto Rican representatives are some
what disappointed at the reception ac-
corded them here by President Taft and
Secretary BallinEer. The consideration
of the tariff. they argue consolingIy, has
prevented their claims being given the
consideration that they might otherwise
have received.
Qualifying their present disappoInt-
ment, the commf fssionerS say they have
hopes that President Taft will recon-
mend in his next measure to Conoress
such changes as will give the island the
virtual self-government asked for
The pique OF the delegation evidenced
/ itself following a dinner given TO the
Cuban minister to the United States last
night by SenOr Cuchi. one Of the spe-
Cial commissioners, who, on the eve of
his return. said.
1T may seem strange, but Ii is a fact
that under the Spanish monarchy we
enjoyed more liberty in Porto Rico than
under the American republics rule.
| This Is the opinion of some Of those
who fought to rid us of Spanish rule.
Object To Governors.
We 90 not object to American con-
/ troll, bC> we do object to the persons
who are sent there and appointed 10
govern Us, and to the Interpretation
which they arbitrarily place upon the
Foraker act. The people Of the island
/ are united on this question and we hope