The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1909-05-14
PORTO RICO GETS
SLAP FROM TAFT
Message to Congress Scor=
ing Island Politicians.
CALLS SITUATION GRAVE

ton to Forget Generosity of United
States-Declares Government Has
Been ParaIyzed by Effort of House
! of Deiegates to Force Executive
Council to Pass Certain Bills.
President Taft sent the following
message to congress:
| An emergency has arisen in Porto
Rico which makes it necessary for me
| to recommend legislation at the pres
| ent extra session amending the act
| under which the island is governed
| The regular session of the legislative
assembly adjourned March IL without
passing the usual appropriation bills.
A special session convened. but after
three days it adjourned without max
| ing the appropriations. This leaves
| the island government without pro-
vision for its support after June 30th
next The situation presented is there
| fore of unusual gravity.
The present government Of Porto
Rico was established by what is known
as the Foraker act under which the
chief executive is a governor appoint
| ed by the president and confirmed by
| the senate. A secretary, attorney,
treasurer, auditor, commissioner of the
| interior and commissioner of educa-
ton, together with five other ap
pointees of the president, constitute
| the executive council. The executive
council must have not less than five
| native Porto Ricans.
The legislative power is vested in an
assembly, which has two coordinate
branches. The first of these is the
executive council just described, and
| the second is the house of delegates
| with members chosen by the qualified
electors of the island.
Ever since the institution of the
present assembly the house of dele
gates has 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 means of COMPEL
ing the concurrence of the executive
council in legislation which the house
desired.
The house of delegates proposes to
secure this legislation or else to pull
down the whole government.
This spirit, which has been growing
from year to year, shows that too
great power has been vested in the
house of delegates.
recommend an amendment to the
Foraker act, providing that whenever
the legislative assembly shall adjourn
without making the appropriations
necessary to carry on the government,
sums equal to the appropriations made
in the previous year for the respective
purposes shall be available from the
current revenues.
/ had one personal interview with
committee representing the delegates
and suggested to them that if the
house would pass the appropriation
bill without insisting upon the passage
of the other bills by the executive
council, would send representative
to Porto Rico to make an investigation
and report in respect to the proposed
legislation. Their answer, sent by let
ter showed them not to be in com.
promising mood.
N (Here the message points out at
length the great benefits Porto Rico
has gained under the guardianship of
the United States)
If the Porto Ricans desire changes
in the form of the Foraker act, this is
a matter for ongressional considera-
ton. Such changes should be sought
So, ,o1,f ~,
the attention Of congress by para1yzing
the arm of the existing government.
] do not doubt that the terms of the
existing fundamental act might be i'm
proved. But no action of this kind
should be begun until after by special
amendment of the Foraker act, some
power is taken away from those who
have shown themselves too irresponsi-
BILE to enjoy it.
In the desire of certain of their
leaders for political power, Porto
Ricans have forgotten the generosity
of the United States. This should not
be an occasion for surprise, nor in
dealing with a whole people can it be 4
made the basis of charge of ingrati-
tude When we, with the consent of
the people of Porto Rico, assumed
guardianship over them, we must have
been conscious that people that had
enjoyed SO little opportunity for educa-
ton could not be expected safely for
themselves to exercise the full power
of self government and the present de-
velopment is only an indication that
we have gone somewhat too fast in
the extension of political power to
them for their own good.
The change recommended may not
Immediately convince those controlling
the house of delegates of the mistake
they have made in the extremity to
which they have been willing to resort
for political PURPOSES, but in the long
run it will secure more careful and re-
sponsible exercise of the power they
have.
There is not the slightest evidence
that the governor or the executive