The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-05-11
! TAFT WANTS CHANGE
IN PORTO R|CAA RULE
In Special Message Urges Con-
gress to Take Action at This
Extra Session.

WASHINGTON. May 10.-President
Taft today sent 10 congress special
message recommending legislation at the
present extra session, amending the
Foraker act under which Porto Rico is
poverned The president directs the
attention of congress to affairs on the
island, laying particular stress on what
he terms Ga situation of unusual grav-
itv,' developed through the failure of
the legislative assembly of Porto Rico
Ia pass the usual appropriation bills,
having the island without support after
juno 80 next.
Porto Ricaus have forgotten the gen.
erosity of the United States. the presi
dent says, in the desire of certain of
the island s political leaders for power.
and he adds that the present situation
Indicates that the United States has
gone too fast in the extension Of 20.
litical 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,
Might Apply Discipline.
The president suggests TO congress The
wisdom OF submitting to the appropria-
tion committee the question of dual.
jfying some of the provisions of the
fundamental act as 10 the resnectiye
jurisdiction of the executive council
and the legislative assembly. But no
action of this kind. the president saws.
should be begun until the Foraker act
is amended so that, when the legislative
assembly shall adjourn without max
ing the legislative appropriation ne
ccssarv 10 carry on the government,
sums equal to the appropriations made
in the previous year for the respective
purposes shall be available for the cur
rent revenue and shall be drawn bv
the warrant of the auditor of the trea-
surN and countersigned by the gov
eruor. Such provision applies to
the legislators of the Philippines and
Hawaii and >'it has prevented in those
Two countries any misuse of the power
Of appropriation.
The president says that ever since
The institution Of the present assem-
bly, the house OF delegates has uni
1otmiX he'd ny. the appropriation bill
until the last minute OF the session and
has sought 30 use the power TO do so
rs means of compelling the concur
renee OF the executive council in legis-
latlon which the house desired In the
last regular legislative assembly the
nftitude OF, the executive council in
refusing 10 pass bills led the house of
delegates to refuse TO pass the neces-
sarv appropriation bills
The house OF delegates, saws the
president, proposes itself TO secure leg
islation without respect to the opposi-
tlon of the executive council, cor else
10 pull down the government" This
growing spirit shows that FOO great
power has been vested in tho delegates.
The message presents an executive
economic, review of conditions on the
island, its trade and its wealth, its
educational facilities. 1t presents that
there never was n time in the history
of the island when the average pros
perity of Porto Rican has been higher,
or opportunity, his liberty in thought
and action more secure''
For the first time in its history, Porto
Rico, he says, is living under the laws
enacted by its own legislature,