Evening star., 1917-01-07

to provide free trade at the end OF two
years II the revenues OF the island from
other sources than the customs proved
to be sufficient for its needs. There was
no trouble in meeting this reouire-
ment and at the end OF the two years
free trade was established. Since then
Porto Rico has been customs district
the same as New York. New Orleans or
Georgetown.
While the removal of the tariff has
enabled Porto Rico to enjoy the full
measure Of prosperity that the United
States enjoys, il has not stiiied the
longing for American citizenship, and
for an organic government OF its own.
In the United States. and especially In
Congress, it has been difficult for the
Porto Ricans to get any kind of .
hearing. Since they were doing 30 well
in the material sense the view taken
was that they could wait n while longer
for full political rights. President
Roosevelt. in one of his eighteen-thou-
sand word messages. gave a paragraph
to the claims OF Porto Ricans for citi-
zenship and let II go at that President
President Wilson has indorsed the de-
mand of the Poto Ricans for recogni-
ton. Accordingly, there is no question
that. should the bill pass. it would be-
come a law.
The measure which is now pending
in Congress seems to be n pretty con-
servative one. 1t meets the citixenship
fofo gcsS ss %As1f Citizen sn'sy ~
the United States. The Spanish SUBJ
jects still remaining in the island,
if they prefer to keep their Spanish
make declaration of allegiance to
Spain In the years after the war,
when they felt bitterness. many OF
them doubtless would have taken this
action. but the proba bility is that now
they would be glad to become FULL
fledged citizens of the United States.
They are very substantial people and
would he an element of strength to
any government.
In its organic provisions the pending
measure gives a larger degree OF local
elf-government than is now con-
the Porto Ricans would seem to be en-
titled to a further extension of our own
political institutions.
In so far as relates to the revenues
and expenditures. the organic act af-
fords sufficient protection against ex-
travagance. The requirement IL that
the appropriations for any year shall
not exceed the amount of The revenues
for the same year. Under this pro-
vision pork barrel legislation would be
impossible and economy In the affairs
OF the island would seem to be as
sured.
Under the proposed act there would
be a popular Legislative body OF two
branches. Under the present law
there is an elected legislature and =
made up OF heads of depart.
nehts appointed by the President.
In the initial stages of Porto Rican
this was a necessary
provision. 1t was not unlike the gov.
srnment of the territories os the United
states. 1t is not similar to the prac-
lice In some of the Latin-American
which have "A single branch
egislature without any council, but
here the executive authority always
controls the legislature. Some of the
provinces of Canada have single branch
legislatures, but the conditions are in
10 way similar to those which obtain
n Porto Rico.
Altogether, Porto Rico's plea, as
lear neighbor to the United States to
,e made really part Of the United
States. has considerable merit