The Washington herald., 1909-06-08

The House yesterday passed the bin or
Gered by Representative Olmsted. OF Penn
sylvania, 10 remedy the deadlock existing
between the executive council and the
house OF delegates IN Porto Rico. The bill
amends the Foraker act as follows:
That II at the termination OF any ses-
sion the appropriations necessary for the
support OF government shall not have
been made. an amount equal 10 the sums
appropriated in the last appropriation
bills for such purpose shall be deemed to
be appropriated. and until the legislature
shall act IN such behalf, the treasurer
may. with the advice Of the governor.
make the payment necessary for the pur-
poses aforesaid.
That all reports required by law 10 be
made by the governor or members Of the
executive council OF Porto Rico TO any
official In the United States shall herein
after be made TO an executive department
OF the government OF the United States,
10 be designated by the President, and the
President is hereby authorized to place
all matters pertaining 10 the government
Of Porto Rico in the jurisdiction OF such
department"
Defended by OImsted.
Consideration Of the Porto Rican bill
was begun as soon as the House con-
vened. Mr. Olmsted made a short speech
explaining and defending the bill.
The immediate difficulty which con-
fronts u.s. he said. arises from the fact
that the legislature OF Porto Rico. at not
only the regular session. but also at an
extra session called for the purpose. has
adjourned without making the necessary
appropriations . meet the current ex-
penses OF running the government and its
legal obligations for the fiscal year. which
will begin July l, 1903. II is the object os
the pending bill 10 remove that difficulty
by providing that the appropriations upon
which both houses Of the insular legisla-
ture did agree for the current fiscal year
shall be considered as reappropriated and
used for the payment OF the necessary
expenses until such time as the legisla-
ture shall act In the matter Of appro-
priations whereupon this bill Will by its
terms cease 20 operate"
American Officials,
Mr. Olmsted said about IS per cent OF
the public officials IN Porto Rico are na-
tives. while the remaining Is per cent,
who are American. are able and efficient
public servants selected by Mr.. Roosevelt
after consultation with Mr.. Taft.
"Qf course" he continued, they look
after the interests Of the United States
II is their duty to do so. It is equally
true they have the best interests OF Porto
Rico at heart They could have no earth
ly reason for wishing 10 oppress those
people or TO deny them anything which
might be for their real benefit. They
have never been accused Of lack OF abll-
ity or uhfairness, or Of arbitrary action
until the present controversy arose. The /
only charge IS that the executive coun-
ell, or senate. will not pass bills which /
the lower house desires 70 have passed. |
The bills In dispute are not appropriation ]
bills. They do not form part OF any ap- (
Precipitation bills. There Is no serious dis /
pute about the appropriation bills. II we !
are correctly advised, the lower house will !
not pass any appropriation bills at all be- 4
cause the upper house will not pass GER
tain other desired bills.
THE house OF delegates desires an agri- |
cultural bank bill. The senate opposes
this because, II says. il would require 4
81, 600 Of capital. and they have not the 4
money. The house desires sixty-six 4
Judges, or justices. made elective. The /
senate is willing TO compromise on forty
seven. but will not stand for sixty-six" " |
The demands OF the Porto Rican peo- /
pie, Mr.. Olmsted said, would be salts
fed by giving them more political Offices. /
Porto Rico" he continued. has been /
our favored daughter. For the last eIev- /
en- years we have been giving her con-
tinuous 10Y ride"
amendment providing select committee, /