The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-06-20
The Porto Rico BaII.

On Wednesday the House gave ia
approval TO a hin which il in effect
9haGE Constitution for the island 81
Porto RiccA. The measure had fall and
fair consideration both In committee
hearings and in discussion on the floor
Of the House. II Ia a good law. even an
excellent law. Il does not Of course
meet TIE unqualified approval Of all, but
universal approval Of important meas-
urea u an exceedingly unusual expert
ence In legislation. There was differ
enct Of individual opinion regarding the
method II granting to the Porto Rioans
the much desired citizenship. The new
bin confers citizenship collectively by a
blanket clause which declares that -all
citiDens Of Porto Rico are hereby de-
clared and shall be deemed and held 10
be citizens Of the United States"
This changes the original plan Of the
House committee. but il Is far more sat
isfactory IN the people Of the Island than
. citizenship by individual certificate. For
twelve years they have lived peaCaable
and orderly lives under the American
flag. and the plan to require an oath
az allegiance was dispIeasing 10 many.
A Representative OLssrED expressed
it: They do not like to come in thsouRh
a door 20 narrow that they can enter
only one at a time. They point 20 the
fact that the citizens Of Hawaii and Of
Alaska were by act Of Congress declared
citizens Of the United States. They feel
that they are entitled 10 equally gener-
Gus treatment. Admission by oerttf-
cate has seemed to us and 70 others 10
be preferable. but II Is not a vital mat
ter and the blanket method IL not OBJ
jectionsble. The main point il that
justice will be done and citizenship
conferred Il the bill is not upset in the
Senate.
The issue next in importance Ia the
defnite separation Of the executive and
legislative branches Of the Government
and the creation Of an insular Senate.
The body is TO be in part elective and in
raTt appointive under progressive sys-
tsm which will gradually increase the
number elected and decrease the num-
Der appointed. There IL desire in the
island for fully elective Senate. The
new bill does not meet that desire. but
itgoes far beyond the earlier condition.
and a. far a. il il thought best 20 20 at
present. The decision was reached
Sfter q very thorough and sympathetic
Investigation, and while no serioua
results might follow the more liberal
provision, there were possible oOmplica-
tons which II was deemed best 20 avoid
by restriction The demand that the
Senate be made fully elective came more
from the politicos than from the people.
The demand for collective citizenship
was general. Il came from the people
~ well a. from the politicians.
The new btu provides means for
material advancement Of the aRricul-
tural interests Of tho island. and its pro-
visions FOR sanitation and hygiene ars Of
the greatest Importance. An exceed
ingly difficult question arises IN romeo
ton with land holdings. There Is fear
probably not fully warranted. that oor-
porasioDs will in some way secure own
ership OF control Of all the land and 40
establish an abOminable system Of land
lordism. The difficulty is 10 limit land
holdings, whether by OWnership or BY
lease. without undue limitation Of the
sugar industry, the successful conduct Of
which depends upon the planting Of very
extanhive areas. The Foraker law linn
ned holdings 10 500 acres, but the law
heSfiean ineffective through lack q a
b"14ty nor violation After careful IN