The Washington times., 1915-01-06
ASKS LAWS OR VOTE
FOR PORTO R|CANS
Gov. Wager Declares Congress
Should LegisIate or Give
Colony Its Freedom.

Hesitate for Porto Rico then 1t ought
to give IL back to the ORIGINAL owners.
This 10 the view of Gov. Arthur Yager.
who has left washington after putting
up the annual nght on behalf Of citizen
ship for tho natives.
Governor Yager says the United States
took Spanish citizenship away from the
Porto Ricans when the island was oc-
cupied fifteen years ago, and since then
they have been national orphans They
support their own government, without
costing the United states a penny. But
they want citizenship; they want
larger voice in their own government,
and Governor wager says they are en-
titled to It.
Porto Rico has adopted American
customs, its citizens wear American
clothes; their children are being taught
the English language in American
schools; they are paying taxes on an
American scale. and they want 10 be
come known as genuine Americans.
"The new organic act,'' Governor
Wager said. undertakes q new constitu-
tion for Porto Rico, and the chief
changes from the present Foraker act
may be summed up under three heads:
granting Of American citizenship to the
Porto Ricans.
Second, the new organic act gives
the Porto Rican people larger participa-
Third. It provides for the appoint
ment Of the majority of the executive
council by the Porto Rican governor,
instead of by the President.
Arouses Feeling.
Most important Of these lie tbs
granting Of American citizenship. This
should have been done at the time Of
acquisition of the islands by the
United States. 1t has been discussed
and argued so much in both countries
that it has become q point Of soreness
all around.
There 10 really only one right way L,
settle 1t, and that is to give the people
Of Porto Rico collectively the right to
be regarded as American citizens.''
To give the people OF Porto Rico al
| most complete self-government. the
new organic act provides that the sen
ate shall be elective, as is the lower
house Of the Porto Rcan legislature at
present. The executive council, con-
| sisting Of the six heads Of executive
departments and f1ve Porto Ricans, all
| appointed by the President, now con-
stitutes the upper house Of the lesisla-
ture. This fails of being a true sen
Yager. because 1t is appointive and not
elective, and because it Is executive in
its chief functions. Moreover. hereto
because the majority Of its members
have been Americans. This feature has
been changed by President Wilson by
reconstituting the executive council SO
that seven are Porto Ricans and -FOUR
Governors Appointees.
| It is also provided in the new bill
that four heads Of the executive coun-
ell shall be appointed by the governor
OF the island, with the consent Of the
Porto Rican- senate. the governor re-
tanning veto power. ..-l
Governor Yager said he was positive
the bill will pass the House after tn.
holidays, and the Senate committee has
promised to take 1t up immediate,
afterward and report it. The bill will
then 60 on the Senate calendar.
Governor Yaser expressed the opinion
that Congress should either give great
er attention TO the insular possessions
! or abandon them. He believes it would
proht the United States commercially TO
give Porto Rico its new constitution,
years.
The trade OF the islands is Of enor-
the governor explained. The total for
eign trade is about s9o.00o0O0, divided
equally between imports and exports.
Almost s. per cent Of the export bust
tically everything the island Raises js
sold in the United States, except coffee.
its total output Of which, 5000 on
worth, goes to Europe.
Would Start Coffee Here.
This year the European wa. has de-
n,oralized the foreign markets for Porto
Rican coffee, and the islanders are MAX
ing great efforts to introduce this coffee
into the United States. where 1t really
ought to be sold"
Porto Rico has made great strides in
education since American occupation.
When the United States acquired con-
troll fifteen years ago. there were 1000"
. in the schools. Today there are co.ooo.
Both English and Spanish are taught.
. but emphasis is placed on English.
!, Decided progress Is reported in enSl-
neering work during the period Of
American government. Fifteen 'yeals
ago, when the Americans went in, ther.
! paving. and no sidewalks. The people
walked in the middle of the street,
through WHICH the sewage ran;
> Governor Wager cont eontrasted the condi,
Z ssnto Domingo, which is only seventy
! miles across the Mona Passage. Santo
Domingo has a debt OF about SIS 900, tc'
| ana little TO snow lot II, ne oeclafss
In Porto Rico, however. there Is =
I national debt of only IS, 000.00 and the
people have S500o.000 irrigation sys
7 tenn, waterworks. paved streets and
. sidewalks and good government to sho"
for their money. the governor added
No Cost to u. s.
Porto Rico does not cost the Unitsh
States a penny" Governor Wager said.
"The customs receipts and internal
, revenue receipts pay government cs-
penses. There has been an effort made
to make it appear that this Cavern
I ment is contributing because res
ment of soldiers is kept there, and be
cause there are lighthouses for the
| maintenance Of which the Government
makes appropria ton There are soldiers
in the Philippines and all other Amer
can possessions. 1t Is hardly fair 10
make it appear that Porto Rico is bein.;
given governmental aid by their pes
/, ence. They have never been needed
Y The lighthouses are needed as a'dS ~
American shippinS.
o. Probably the most marked change lfi
~ Porto Ricans since American occupt aon
W Governor wager said. has been in the
e matter of dress The islands are only
a l,400 miles from New York. Just 40"