Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-12
SINGLE RULE PLAN
FOR ISLANDS URGED
Senator Bingham Advocates
Coordination of Power
in Forum Address.

Generalization of the insular posses
sions of the United States and the CEN
tralization Of jurisdiction under the In
terror Department was advocated last
night by Senator Hiram Bingham OF
Connecticut, chairman of the Senate
Committee on Territories and Insular
Affairs, speaking in the National Radio
Forum arranged by The Washington
Star and broadcast over coast to coast
network of the Columbia Broadcasting
System.
Senator Bingham pointed out that
there are almost as many kinds OF in
sular governments as there are island
possessions. Hawaii and the Virgin
Islands. he said. are under the Interior
Department: Guam and Samoa are
under the Navy Department, and the
Philippines and Porto Rico are under
the War Department.
Some bureau of the Interior Depart
ment. Senator Bingham said, should
handle the affairs Of all OF the insular
possessions.
Favors Coordination.
'@The problems of the Secretary OF
Interior" he said, "are generally the
problems of civil administration deal
ing with wide range of subjects, many
of which are similar to the problems
which confront our island governments.
I hope the day may soon come when ne
viii be permitted to coordinate all OF
our insular activities. I believe this
VIII be to the benefit of the national
defense and will also make for the hap
pf11ess of our wards who look to us for
protection and guidance"
The United States. Senator Btrlg-
ham. explained, has islands that are
virtually an integral part of the United
States and just as much under the
Constitution as the States OF the main
land, and it also has possessions where
the Constitution and even the eight
zenith amendment has no influence.
The Philippines were mentioned par
tdcularly as an oasis flying the Amert-
can flag where citizens can buy and
sell alcoholic beverages as they please.
But. he added, the Filipinos do not
abuse the privilege. and seldom is there
any evidence Of drunkenness.
He said he does not feel that the
United States should give up the
Philippines at the present time, but
predicted that legislation granting in
dependence would be passed by the
Iiext Congress.
Says Transfer Logical.
Senator Bingham described the re-
cent transfer Of the Virgin Islands
from the Navy Department to the In
terror Department as logical move.
AFTER ALL" he said, "the primary
business Of the War Department and
the Navy Department is national de-
tense.
.eT& ...,.. - - Te~ioafB - 400
tinued, that the departments which
must attend to making the Army and
Navy keen, alert, efficient and effective
are essentially untitled to conduct the
affairs of civil government. We do not
elect professional soldiers to be gov
errors of our States, at least not while
they are in command of troops.
Similarly, 1t seems to me, contrary to
wise policy, to appoint naval officers
as governors of our island possessions. "
Senator Bingham declared that the
government of the Virgin Islands Is
difficult and expensive and their tax
laws are antiquated and should be re-
vised. He also said that their export
duty on sugar should be removed, but
that this could not be done until the
tax laws are changed.
Government Cost High.
4uS OAALeu 0IaCSS, ne explained. mas
been spending more than 100000 a
year on the Virgin Islands which have
a population of 10000. The people OF
the islands themselves contribute an
other S250,000, he said, which makes
the government of these very poor peo-
pie cost $3.50 per capita.
No city or county of the United
States" he declared, would think of
supporting government as expensive
as that
What are we going to do about it?"
ne asked. That is a question on
which the new governor and the Sec
rotary Of the Interior will have to ad-
wise the Congress and to which we must
give attention before very long"
The fun text of Senator Bingham's
ADDRESS may be found in the editorial
section Of today's Star.