Evening star., 1909-05-27
Porto Rico Wants Some of the
Rights of the States.
HOUSE CHEERS tARRINAGA
Resident Commissioner Speaks in Be.
half Of His Island.
DEBATE ON THE 1NsULAR BILL
Foraker Act Criticised by Garret Of
Tennessee, Who Urges Exten-
sion Of Self-Government.

When called to order today the House
of Representatives assumed it's wonted
aspect. There was an unusually large
attendance and general disposition to
proceed with the transaction of business.
After disposing of some routine matters.
consideration of the Porto Rican bill was
resumed.
Mr.. Douglass (Ohio). the first speaker,
arraigned the house of delegates of Porto
Rico for making 1t a condition precedent,
as he charged. to its assent to appropria-
tions that the executive council or upper
body agree to certain legislation.
1T amounts to revolution-nothing else"
he exclaimed.
He declared in response to question
by Mr.. Fitzgerald New York; that while
he was willing to admit that revolution
may be justified in cases of oppression.
there had been no oppression In Porto
Rico calling for such a course. He de-
Tended the bill as we'll as the policy of
the government toward the island posses
sion.
Foraker Act Criticised.
Criticism of the Foraker act was made
by Mr.. Garrett (Tennessee). That act,
Ricans as was the Constitution to the
United States, but he maintained that
affairs were more in the hands of the
people of the island under Spanish rule
than they were under the Foraker act.
Mr. Garrett yielded for a moment to
Mr.. Larrinaga. resident commissioner of
Porto Rico. who charged that the whole
fault regarding affairs in the island rested
with the executive council. They would
M orNrt, he rn6
''They think he said, with some Bit
terness of feeling, that the minute they
yield the least little bit of right or con-
sideration the whole structure of the colo
NAL system of Porto Rico will fall and
dry to dust"
Resuming his argument Mr.. Garrett
contended that the Porto Ricans should
not be compelled to bear the expense of
their federal court. Tennessee. he said.
did not bear such expense, nor did any
other state.
He was reminded by several members.
however. that Porto Rico got the benefit
Of her customs and internal revenue.
House Cheers Larrinaga.
Jumping up from his seat. Mr.. Larri-
naga got a round of applause when he
declared that Porto Rico would be will
ing to surrender her customs duties and
much more in exchange for rights and
privileges enjoyed by the states.
Give us some of those he exclaimed,
''and you will hear here in Washington
hurrah from Porto Rico blessing this
government"
Contending that the United States was
not dealing with infants, Mr.. Garrett
made strong plea that the Porto Ricans
be given such a voice in the affairs of
their government as would make them
feel that their government was at least
controlled by themselves.
In advocating the passage of the bill
Mr.. Olmsted of Pennsylvania pointed out
that unless the appropriations for the
island were made without further delay
the schools. the courts. the administra-
tion of justice and in fact, all the gov
ernmental functions of the island would
stop. In consequence, he declared that
not only Porto Rico, but the United
States, would stand disgraced in the eyes
of the world