New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-05-11
TO CURB PORTO RICANS
1IR TAFT SENDS MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS-.
UrouH Take POzcer to Hold Up
appropriations -17cay from
House Of Delegates.
rFrom The tribune Bureau

rFro1 The tribune Bureau
--.sbfr--on May IG.-The President sent
-,sr message to Congress to-day calling atten-
.ion 70 the necessity Of immediate legislation 10
--s,d the organic act OF Porto Rico as to pro
= that in the event OF the legislature failing to
&c ,ra necessary appropriat tons those Of the
-s14ous year shall he continuing. as is now the
as. in the Philippines and Hawaii.
The Porto Rican House of Delegates. the lower
.ousA o. the legislature. has sought 20 compel
=. Executive Council. which is the upper house
,n6 is appointed by the President to accept Ger
..,r legislation by refusing pass the necessary
,,n-oprfation hill. and without legislation there
I'll he no funds IN carry or the government after
June 81
-ne message IN which the President severely
.-i,i,fses the Porto Ricans for their course. was
s.6 in both houses of Congress Senator Depew.
chairman Of the Committee on Pacific Islands and
po--o Rico Immediately called meeting OF his
committee for next Thursday. when the leEsla-
81, asked h,- the President will be framed and as
,oon thereafter as possible reported 10 the Senate
senator nepevv said this evening that II would he
,r,rrs rtfcable to call up the measure until after
the massage or the tariff bill. but as soon as that
7,er. 10 conference the measure would he adopted
~ the Senate Mr.. Depew Will have the cordial
su,po-r Of Senate leaders i'm his effort 10 handle
The matter eNpeditiously-
The House adjourned without dispOsing OF the
message hut the Republican leaders expect that
= -,or7,r77 Will he present on Thursday and they
the wavs and Means Committee 1t is probable
-bs+ hin yrin be reported the House soon
IS the Philippine tariff has been disposed Of
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
The text Of the message follows:
To the Senate and House Of Representative:
An emergency has arisen in Porto Rico which
n ne congress 70 the affairs Of that island and
recommend legislation at the present extra session
amending the act under which the island Is GOV
erned- 30. ,....,-.,--, ,--.-,,,,.
IF Porto Rico adjourned March Il last without pass
ing the usual appropriation bills special session
- me hly was at once convened by the Gov
ernor but after three DAYS. on March IS It again
adjourned without making the ,appTopriatiioIns
presented is therefore. Of unusual gravity.
llshed hy what Is known as the Foraker act passed
ami l. 1917. and taking effect May l, 1900 Under
ihat act the chief executive Is d Governor APP
pointed by the President and confirmed by the Sen
Auditor. Commissioner of the Interior and Commits
toiTees Of tie President constitute the Executive
Council The Executive Council must have in its
The legislative power is vested in the Legislative
Assembly, which has two coordinate branches.
SCRIBE sno NE sS2s "a bov with members
elected hy qualified electors Of The seven dis
tricts into which the island is divided
eminent 5r are to be provided leaves some doubt
whether this function is not committed solely TO the
Assembly has made appropriations for all the ex-
othe Than salaries fixed by Congress,
AM f. is too late To reverse that construction
APPROPRIATIONS HELD Up.
Ever since the institution Of the present Assem-
fly the House OF Delegates has uniformly held up
TIE appropriation bills until the last minute Of the
regular session and has sought TO use the power
"a do 50 as means II compelling the concurrence
Of the Executive Council in legislation which the
In tbe last regular Legislative Assembly the
House OF Delegates passed bill dividing me ls1lIu
into several counties and prov COUNTY st1is
rents bill to establish manual u ;G G t
bin for the establishment Of an agriculture JAM
mayors and Councnen he nled 10y a Eole Oh IN
e. - es icTal 5is-rir- The selection in great
es II ta,'h HllLellS-I ~
The Executive Council declined 10 concur in these
the ground that the revenues Of the island were not
sufficient carry out the plan proposed ana 10 le
istion of the Foraker act. j. objected the
pToperty on the ground that the law was intended
10 put too much power IN respect Of the appTalse
those having the most property TO tax ne GHlsi
issue was bill making all the judges ia munIciyaL.
Lwenty-siX municipal judges who are elected 20 OF
elective judges from tveTtysix 10 sxty-six in num-
ber and al The same time 70 abolish the 9usliGes on
the peace The change was objected 70 on ,IiSS
ground that the election Of municipal Judges naq
already interfered with the efficient and imparuai
administrator OF Justice. had made me J1dSes aii
Of one political faith and mere political in ms ~
Tnionist or dominant party. The attitude Of the
Executive Council in refusing pass these bills
necessary appropriation bills
TOO GREAT POWER IN HOUSE.
The facts rected demonstrate the willingness OF
the representatives Of the people in the House OF
Delegates 10 subvert the government IN order TO
the passage Of certain legislation The ques-
zion whether the proposed legislation should be
the joint action Of the Executive Council and the
House Of Delegates the Legislative Assembly
The House Of Delegates proposes Itself 10 secure
this legislation without respect to the opposition
OF the Executive Council else to pull down the
whole government. This spirit. which has been
that too power has been vested IN the House
q Delegates and that its members not sutfcient-
" alive their oath-taken responsibility Tor the
maintenance OF the government TO JUSTIFY congress
n further repOsng in them absolute power 10 VIII
HE
For these reasons I recommend an amendment
g the Foraker providing that whenever the
legislative Assembly shall adjourn without making
The appropriations necessary to carry on the gov
ernrnent. equal 10 the appropriations made in
fhe previous year for the respective purposes shall
be available from the current revenues and shall
be drawn by the warrant Of the Auditor the
provision applies the legislatures of the Phil
Ippines and Hawaii. and IL has prevented in those
two countries any misuse Of the power Of appro
tristion.
The House Of Delegates sent a committee Of
three 20 Washington. while the Executive Council
ponsisting of the Attorney General and the Auditor
referred both committees 10 the Secretary of the
Interior. whose with letter from Governor
Post and the written statements of both COM
nitteee. accompanies this message