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ever participated in any legislative or other vital self-
governing function. They had no conception of any govern-
ment that did not require of them compliance and sub-
3. Such changes in the judicial system were
mission. "1
made as were necessary to bring that system more in
accordance with American procedure and with the
General Davis's appraisal of the "autonomy regime" is
American view of individual rights and liberty.
a
correct one. Nevertheless, advocates of independence
for the island have repeatedly referred to this nominal
"4. A department of education was established,
autonomy as evidence that (a) the United States took a
boards of health were organized. The public works
self-governing country and made a "colony" of it, and (b)
were reorganized, and progress in road building was
Spain had no legal right to cede the island without prior
greater than in all previous history of Porto Rico.
consultation of the inhabitants,
"And, finally, the government was reorganized in
The reason for giving possibly inordinate attention
accordance with the act passed by Congress to estab-
to General Davis's views is that the Senate Committee
lish a civil government in order that there might be
which prepared the Organic Act placed reliance upon his
a minimum of friction in changing from the military
11
counsel. Senator Foraker spoke as follows of General
to the civil government.
Davis in Congress on March 8, 1900: "He is a very able,
a very careful, a very conservative, and a very painstak-
Yet more data on the island, combined with recommenda-
ing man, and his statements impressed the Committee as
tions for future policy, were contained in a report, dated
absolutely reliable. "2
May 1899, by a three-man Insular Commission appointed by
the Secretary of War, which arrived in Puerto Rico in
President Coolidge, in February 1928, gave the follow-
March 1899 to conduct a survey of the island and make
ing estimate, which is on the conservative side, of the
recommendations. Underlying the report's conclusions is
accomplishments of the interim military regime of 1898-
the assumption that "Porto Rico is now and is henceforth
1900: 3
to be a part of the American possessions and its people
are to be American. "1
"1. Order was reestablished and an insular
police force was organized.
The entire report is permeated by a facile optimism.
At the root of the basic evils of the island, in the view
"2. The more obvious burdens of taxation as
of the Commission, lay the Spanish policy of keeping the
they fell on the very poor people were abolished and
people in ignorance in order to dominate them more easily.
a careful study made by an expert preparatory to the
The United States could alter the situation because unlike
adoption of a proper revenue system for the island.
Spain it believed in "educating, lifting up, and making
them capable and fitted for self-government. The report
and recommendations are charged with the conviction,
explicit and implied, that through intensive utilization
1 Ibid. pp. 37, 101-2. See also Appendix B, "The
of the media of education and legislation the people,
Government of Porto Rico Under Spain", pp. 239-61.
basically tractable and receptive, could become, and were
2congressional Record, vol. 33, part 3, pp. 2645-46.
3 Ibid. vol. 69, part 6, April 12, 1928, p. 6336.
1
Report of the United States Insular Commission to the
Secretary of War upon Investigation Made into the Civil
Affairs of the Island of Porto Rico, With Recommendations
(Washington, Government Printing Office, 1899), pp. 53, 61.
2 Ibid., p. 30.
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"ocrText": "-6-\n-7-\never participated in any legislative or other vital self-\ngoverning function. They had no conception of any govern-\nment that did not require of them compliance and sub-\n3. Such changes in the judicial system were\nmission. \"1\nmade as were necessary to bring that system more in\naccordance with American procedure and with the\nGeneral Davis's appraisal of the \"autonomy regime\" is\nAmerican view of individual rights and liberty.\na\ncorrect one. Nevertheless, advocates of independence\nfor the island have repeatedly referred to this nominal\n\"4. A department of education was established,\nautonomy as evidence that (a) the United States took a\nboards of health were organized. The public works\nself-governing country and made a \"colony\" of it, and (b)\nwere reorganized, and progress in road building was\nSpain had no legal right to cede the island without prior\ngreater than in all previous history of Porto Rico.\nconsultation of the inhabitants,\n\"And, finally, the government was reorganized in\nThe reason for giving possibly inordinate attention\naccordance with the act passed by Congress to estab-\nto General Davis's views is that the Senate Committee\nlish a civil government in order that there might be\nwhich prepared the Organic Act placed reliance upon his\na minimum of friction in changing from the military\n11\ncounsel. Senator Foraker spoke as follows of General\nto the civil government.\nDavis in Congress on March 8, 1900: \"He is a very able,\na very careful, a very conservative, and a very painstak-\nYet more data on the island, combined with recommenda-\ning man, and his statements impressed the Committee as\ntions for future policy, were contained in a report, dated\nabsolutely reliable. \"2\nMay 1899, by a three-man Insular Commission appointed by\nthe Secretary of War, which arrived in Puerto Rico in\nPresident Coolidge, in February 1928, gave the follow-\nMarch 1899 to conduct a survey of the island and make\ning estimate, which is on the conservative side, of the\nrecommendations. Underlying the report's conclusions is\naccomplishments of the interim military regime of 1898-\nthe assumption that \"Porto Rico is now and is henceforth\n1900: 3\nto be a part of the American possessions and its people\nare to be American. \"1\n\"1. Order was reestablished and an insular\npolice force was organized.\nThe entire report is permeated by a facile optimism.\nAt the root of the basic evils of the island, in the view\n\"2. The more obvious burdens of taxation as\nof the Commission, lay the Spanish policy of keeping the\nthey fell on the very poor people were abolished and\npeople in ignorance in order to dominate them more easily.\na careful study made by an expert preparatory to the\nThe United States could alter the situation because unlike\nadoption of a proper revenue system for the island.\nSpain it believed in \"educating, lifting up, and making\nthem capable and fitted for self-government. The report\nand recommendations are charged with the conviction,\nexplicit and implied, that through intensive utilization\n1 Ibid. pp. 37, 101-2. See also Appendix B, \"The\nof the media of education and legislation the people,\nGovernment of Porto Rico Under Spain\", pp. 239-61.\nbasically tractable and receptive, could become, and were\n2congressional Record, vol. 33, part 3, pp. 2645-46.\n3 Ibid. vol. 69, part 6, April 12, 1928, p. 6336.\n1\nReport of the United States Insular Commission to the\nSecretary of War upon Investigation Made into the Civil\nAffairs of the Island of Porto Rico, With Recommendations\n(Washington, Government Printing Office, 1899), pp. 53, 61.\n2 Ibid., p. 30."
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