PORTO RICO.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 505, 12 May 1909, Page 7

PORTO RICO.

'.'■ : ,'.■ ■'■■' •-,. '■ '. » '.; ~, > ■■' ■■'.■/■•■/-•.■<. NOT EQUAL TO. SELF-GOVERNMENT.' AMERICAN INTEEVENTION. (0T TELIOUAI-H—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPIRIOnT.) , (Eec. Hay 11,, 11.20 p.m.)'' " ■'.•!.;.- ': ■Washington,.' May 11. . ' President Taft,'in : a Message;to Congress,' points out that .there is a grave situation in Porto Rico owing to the failure of tho Porto Rican Assembly to pass. Appropriation Bills. . . .•■'.., i ■ ■ , : ■The President states that evidently the island is incapable of self-government, and that political 'power has been, extended to it too soon.' ■"."'.' .'i:,:. : Ci:'vi'.: ':■, ■'.-. Ho recommends the : compulsory appropriation of the necessary"; fu'nSsitio oafry on government; ' '' " ; ... ..■. • • ,■■-■. , J..V-*: -•■"■';■■ :'■■■,' [Porto \ Eico, until. 1898 a Spanish : 1 colony, but then ceded' to tho United' ■ States'-'.by tne Spanieli-Amerioan treaty of .peace, , ; lies'to the east otSan Domingo, in the: West Indies., It is administered 1)5; a Governor, \*ith an'Exeoutivo Council, consisting of sii bfficials'and five natives appointed by .the President,'' and/ a Legislative Assembly. of : thirty-nvei members oleoted for two years oh a franchise'restricted by a: small'property .qualification, and ,a.low educational tost. The island:of. Cnlebral'" ; between, Porto '■ Eico and St, Thomas; has been madoa .U.S. naval base. The island is: mountainous,. tho climate healthy, and tho chief exports, nre'ooffeo, fruit, sugar, tobacco, and timber. Free, trade betwoen tho island and the United States was inaugurated in July,' 1901, with very beneficial results on the sugar arid tobacco. tTades. ■ TholUnited Stntosi send ,the great-bulk of the imports and • take 'most' of the exports. There are-200 of railway. The area is 3-135 square miles, and the population 1,000,000/ of whom about 60,000 are negroes, about 300,000 mulattoes, ■ and about 530,000 whites'.] : ..." - '■-. ■':'.' •'. ..