The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-03-25

Attending this commercial development
there has been corresponding progress IN
all depa rtments Of the life Of the Porto
Rfan people. The principal causes OF
cOmpla Int have heen political and the COM
patnAnts are with few exceptions profess
aional politicians. They objected to the
Z Foraker n and seem inclined to even more
, strenuous objection to tho proposed Ohm
sted law because 10 limits greatly In some
| respects their influence and their power.
Sect ION 81 the proposed law 10 In effect
q bill Of rights" section I relates 10 duties
and "a Ne- section hxes nan Juan as the
| 90 pi,al city SECTIONS 5. =. : and = provide
for citizenship and naturalization, hitherto
matters of grievouR complaint Sectton
q provides that. subject to the limitations
Of section 5 rsGa riding spanish citizenship.
"any citizen Of Porto Rico Who - over
/ twenty-ons years of age may hereafter
4 ba admitted 10 become = citizen 81 the
| United States nv taking prescribed oath
60 support and defend tho Constitution
! and laws 81 the tinted States and hear
| true faith and allegtA nce - the same
The details of the ~, make proper pro-
vision for all who desire ~ become Ciiizsn~.
/ for women and minors a. well a. for men.
' The act ~ PeTmlssive and not mandatory
and 10 therefore far more commendable
I than The proposals for blanket law con-
ferTing citizenship on all residents irre-peC-
| ON this point at least the new Law il excel
lent and worthy % highest approval Sec-
! lions to 10 cover various important Diet ais
| Of little public interest Section ~ vests the
| supreme executive power in tho Governor
Of Porto Rico. Who shall ne appointed ny
! the Preaident. by and with The advice and
consent Of the senate. and hold his orace at
/ he pleasure OF the PrerIdenI The section
also pre~CTibe@ the duties 81 the Governor.
section 70 provides for ak executive de-
/ partments Justice Finance. Audts. Int
rtor Education and Health. II authorizes
| the IocaI legislature % create = department
Of Asrtc ulrure. Commerce and Labor. The
depart ment heads are - he appointed NV
he Presiden, with the advice and consent
~ the senate sections 10 20 - inclusive
relate 10 the duties NJ these ofhctals
Covering fourteen ~ ges ~ the bill 50
/ printed sections - to - inclusive relate
/ to health. sanitation and charities TheSs
matters nave made trouble in the islA nd a nj
tho new hill - heinE vigorously attacked
/ by the politicians. Who have found the
health and santa kon depa rtments hereto
fore very useful political institution.
Itecause nj its use a. political instrument
/ the service has detertorated. much to the
, loss and INJURY Of the island. Section ~
dee IN res that the Comm missioner of Health
I 1.-The head 81 the depa Ttmen'l WAY he an
/ ofi~er Of Tho army 0r navy of tho 7 nited
7 NfofeH ms eNtlfes mo Nruih ana in1ig-
ma ion % the polit ician-. Who ~ more inter
( ested in politics and political cont ol tina n
in health and sanitation GOrEas. an
I Ash ford or . kean would ne q wicked dts
turber of their political machinA tons
+ The provision should sand. however.
and competent American znouId p~ APP
pointed. even thou Oh such q course ofends
Sehore- Rivera. Toll Cuchi 81 al They
and their followers may No displea sod. nut
tk Ra. nd fla faaF - nF
Ricans Will no the better satisfied
section 81 PROV tdes for Civil service and
sections - 80 and AZ cover de'ails Soc
lions II 10 a. inclusive deal with Anot her
bone Of polttical contention. The legislative
branch and elections The Foraker law Of
ipOo created an upper house. EnoWA a. the
Executive Council, and q BODY snow n a. The
House ot Delegates The council consists
Of ave other persons 81 good reputs and
the az heads Of The executive Departments
~ 'hs island ~ are appointed by the
President The HOUSE 81 DelegR'~- - an
eIective body 81 'hirty-hv m~mb~rS the
island being divided into seven elect orai
Districts. with Ave delegates from each dis
trict The system - doubtless open to Oh
iect ion hut u has served HS purpose Fric-
lion has occasIOnsll " risen bet ween he Coun-
81 and the House and there has been niue h
opposition 10 the Investment Of control IN
the American officials. Who form a maiorit v
IN The Council
Conditions now appear 10 warrant an
experiment on higher political plane.
There II even a question whether fhe nov
rIAn gos. far enough. and n - slr~ady cer-
tain hat the politician are utterly opposed
Ito ~ The new hail creates q senate of
ihir'een members. eight TO he appointed by
The President and Ave to he cho-sn by The
qualiNed electors 81 the island The polit
zeal leaders demand that the whole body
-
marked objection TO an appointed Ameri-
can Governor with power Of veto. and he
appointment of Americans a. depart mont
headx - accepted without serious protest,
The provision for 81 ght appointive Senators
encounters opposition. the real fore 81
whtch - difficult of estimate b~-ause -
much II the noise IL evidently due 20 the
ACTIVITIES ~ the Leaders of the Unonist
psriv
The point 10 highly Interesting In .
number NJ 10 Me~t Indian possessions
England employs he combination systen1
Of nonina led and elected IeGisla tors, bur
that docs not 81 necessity prove thst the
United states will show greatest wisdom
IN continuing that system in Porto Rico
II may even he counted 20 tho credit ~
tho Porto Rtcans " the desire for = larger
pa rticipatiOn IN affairs - general The
question IL whether the opposition zprin Ra
from . resl public demand for = fully
elective senate or whether II is merely
the work Of a limited and noisy Erou ,
81 ambitious politicians. Presumably the
question has been thoroug hly Investigated
~ Governor Cotton. q man 81 level head
and good Judgment Much must he left
20 his Judgment. and u may we'll he that
the people are not vet fully prepared for
oT even a. whole DESTROYS of a territorial
form Of Government Clearly the sureat
way for them 20 ret the larger form az
a. -.
u and are properly htted for IT,
section q is another cause vt trouble
The FORAKER law divided the island int q
seven eiertOTAl districts. With ave delegates
sIerted 10 tho lower house from earh dis
trict This has we'll suited tho maiOFit '
party. which virtually controls the whole
Of the island The new bill provides for a
division into thirt y-ive representative d.
tricts -cOmpo~ed ~ CONTIGUOUS territory
and established. 80 far a. prarticable UNION
basis ~ equal population Each district
will be entitled 10 one member IN the House
Of Representative II u the hope and belief