Early in this, the formative period of the insular government, the practice had been established of having the heads of departments meet the governor at the executive mansion on Tuesday and Friday afternoons to talk over the matters arising in the course of business, and it was found to be a most useful and helpful measure. The terrible effects of the hurricane of August, 1899, which had caused great devastation, loss of life and property, and general distress in the island, were fast disappearing. Something like 32,000,000 pounds of rations had been distributed by the Army during the ten months succeeding the hurricane, and the result, in general estimation, was considered not to have been helpful to the people in its ulterior effects. So, upon the advent of the civil government, the special distribution to the planters had been promptly discontinued and the general distribution throughout the island, after due notice, was stopped on the 15th of July. It had been usual to circulate reports of destitution and starvation, and such conditions, or something approximating them, may have to some extent prevailed. There have always been poverty and destitution in this as well as in other islands of the Tropics, and, on reflection, it is not very surprising. Where nature has done so much for man and requires so little in return, the problem of subsistence requires but a modicum of energy for its practical solution. A policy of "no work no ration" was promptly instituted, apparently with good results throughout the island, as it soon became more clearly apparent that the cry of "destitution" was raised more for political effect than from any necessities based upon actual conditions. There were two other causes which contributed more or less to the unsettled condition of the island, both of which, like the distribution of rations, were based upon kindly and charitable motives. The first of these was the remission of taxes because of losses caused by the hurricane, and the second the suspension of the law providing for the foreclosure of mortgages. The continuation of this order was reluctantly issued by the military authorities in April, 1900, for the last time. This postponed the foreclosures until the 19th of January, 1901. It was thought to be the duty of the civil government to let it be publicly known at as early a date as possible that the enforcement of the mortgage law would not be further deferred, and that all people possessing means and able to pay their taxes would be expected in future to bear their proper share of the burdens of government. To succeed the two members of the executive council who had resigned on the 6th of September, the President appointed Dr. José Gomez Brioso, who qualified on the 24th of November, and Mr. José Guzman Benitez, who qualified on the 3d of December. The appointment of the full complement of officers and the complete organization of the legislative assembly, in addition to relieving to some extent the executive of a very onerous responsibility, was a long stride in the direction of local self-government, and could not fail to give the native population great satisfaction. The house of delegates being almost unanimously purely Porto Rican, and the executive council being largely so, the assembly could be fairly considered as reflecting the capacity of this insular people for local legislation. Of course, the result of their labors was awaited with great interest by all concerned in the island's welfare, continental and insular alike. In considering, then, the march of events as connected with this local government the 2d of December may be taken as closing the second period and the 3d of that month as ushering in the third and last period historically treated of in this report. The third or progressive period, then, of the administration properly begins with the organization of the legislative assembly on the 3d of December, 1900, and continues to the present time. The two chambers having duly organized, notified the governor of such action on the 4th of December. On that day both branches of the assembly met in joint session at the theater in the Plaza de Colon, that being the only building in the capital city large enough to accommodate the crowds of people endeavoring to attend the opening session of the legislature. The executive council, headed by Mr. Secretary Hunt, its president, and the house of delegates, led by Mr. Speaker Rossy, marched in procession, from their respective halls through the principal streets to the theater. This auditorium is the largest hall in the city and capable of holding about 2,000 people. It was beautifully decorated with American flags, palms, and a great variety of potted plants. These gave it a holiday aspect, and, with the tasteful costumes of the ladies present, formed a most attractive picture, and one not easily forgotten by any spectator. Upon one side of the stage were seated the members of the executive council, and upon the other facing them were arranged the members of the house of delegates. At a large table in the center, and facing the audience assembled in the body of the house, were seated the president of the executive council, Judge Hunt, and the speaker of the house of delegates, Mr. Rossy. The parquet of the theater was floored over, bringing it to a level with the stage, and was filled to overflowing with a deeply interested and very orderly throng of spectators. The boxes on the first floor of the hall and on the tier above were reserved for officers of the Army and Navy, the supreme court, and various other public functionaries, and were brilliant with the full-dress uniforms of the officers and the bright and beautiful apparel of the ladies. Officers of the British war ship Psyche were in attendance in full uniform as interested spectators of this unusual The upper gallery was packed with a quiet crowd of native islanders. No audience in any country, no matter where it may have scene. been found, could have been more respectful in demeanor or conducted itself with better order and decorum. As soon as the legislative assembly in joint session was seated, the governor was notified and made his appearance, accompanied by several officers, both civil and military. He was met at the entrance by a joint committee of the legislative assembly and escorted through the broad central aisle to the seat reserved for him upon the stage between the two presiding officers. In the meantime the large audience, which filled the building to its utmost capacity, had been entertained by the inspiring strains of American and Porto Rican music from the band of the U. S. S. Mayflower and the local band of San Juan. The proceedings consisted principally of the address of the governor to the legislative assembly, which supplied the usual place of an opening message. This being the first discourse of the kind ever delivered in Porto Rico, was listened to with great interest by the very large and intelligent audience. It was read by the gov ernor in English, and topic by topic was translated into Spanish by a competent interpreter, so as to be understood by all. Every recommendation made in the message was received with approbation and applause. The message in extenso will be found in the Appendix hereto, Chapter XIV. This address, opening the legislative assembly, being regarded by the people as an indication of the purposes of the American Administration with respect to the island, was received throughout its extent with great cordiality and many expressions of entire satisfaction. A congratulatory dispatch was sent to the President of the United States. At the close of the proceedings the legislative assembly took an adjournment, and the members were subsequently entertained by the governor at the executive mansion. At their ensuing sessions the two houses at once proceeded to consider the various recommendations which had been made to them by the chief magistrate, and to offer bills concerning the same. When it is considered that there was not a single member of the house of delegates who had heretofore had any experience whatsoever in American forms of parliamentary procedure, the work of that body is entitled to very great credit. Many bills were introduced, but comparatively few were passed. However, the executive council having been in frequent sessions since the 28th of June, had from this experience acquired all the steadiness of a reliable legislative body, as it soon proved itself to be. By the organic act the session of the legislative assembly was limited to sixty days. Though some time was probably lost during the early days of the session through inexperience, the members, as soon as they became accustomed to legislative business, worked diligently and steadily, holding during the month of January two or three sessions daily, and finally adjourned late at night on the last day of that month, in entire cordiality and good feeling, having placed upon the statute book thirty-six laws, all of them believed to be wisely enacted. Altogether there were introduced in both houses one hundred and thirtythree bills, and of these one hundred and five were house bills, and twenty-eight were council bills. Of the house bills fourteen became laws, and of the council bills twenty-two. A joint resolution originating in the council and a memorial to Congress originating in the house were also passed early in the session. All the enactments of the legislative assembly, with one exception, received the executive approval. Though the governor by the organic act is vested with the veto power, it was not necessary, except in a single instance on technical grounds, to use it. In fact the entire session was characterized by the utmost harmony and good feeling between the legislative and the executive departments. During the first thirty days, the house of delegates, which was composed, with but one exception, of Porto Ricans, found it difficult to adapt itself to American legislative ways, but thereafter it fell into line and moved along with creditable aptitude and intelligence. The more important measures enacted into laws are as follows: An act to provide revenues for the island, based largely upon American assessment laws. An act to authorize the condemnation of lands for cemetery purposes. This will enable new cemeteries to be constructed, thus remedying a lamentable condition of affairs heretofore existing. Two educational acts, one providing for the education of twenty young men and women in the various arts and trades which may best qualify them to assist in the improvements of the conditions in Porto Rico, the education to be had in the United States, and another to provide for the education of twenty-five young men who are poor and who are to be educated in the United States. An act establishing a code commission; the object of this law being to provide for the appointment of commissioners who shall report appropriate codes to the next legislature, the commission to be appointed by the governor. An act to create the office of director of charities; the purpose of this law being to abolish the old board of charities and put a direct responsibility upon one director for the government of charitable institutions. An act to establish a modern penitentiary in Porto Rico. An act to establish a system of public schools; this bill being in the lines of the most advanced systems of public school education. An act regarding foreign corporations; this bill requiring them to file copies of their charters in certain offices in the island and to designate agents upon whom process can be served. An act to create a director of prisons, who shall have control of penal institutions and exercise the authority generally performed by boards of prison control. An act to provide for the organization of police courts, the purpose thereof being to make a police judge who shall be paid by salary instead of fees and from whose judgment there may be an appeal, which has never heretofore been allowed. An act making all cemeteries, where the ground is owned by a municipality, free, and so removing burial grounds from the domination of any religious control. An act appropriating $10,000 to exhibit the products of the island at Buffalo. An act relating to notarial practice, the effect of this law being to enable all lawyers to perform the notarial work which has heretofore been only performed by a limited number. An act declaring the 25th day of July a legal holiday, to commemorate the landing of the Americans at Guanica on that day in 1898. An act authorizing municipalities to levy certain taxes. An act to authorize the cities to issue bonds for the purpose of constructing sewers, streets, and other public improvements, the bonds to be issued for twenty years and to bear not to exceed 6 per cent interest, payable semiannually. The house of delegates refused to further continue the time in which suits for foreclosure of mortgages might he brought, and by this action Porto Ricans themselves announce that the law of contracts shall be inviolate in this island. The house of delegates also passed an act authorizing the government to contract a loan of $3,000,000 for the benefit of the agriculturists of the island. This bill was defeated in the council, and was the one instance of the session where a clean-cut line between Continentals and Islanders was drawn, the five Porto Ricans voting for the measure, and five of the Americans against it. Throughout the session good feeling prevailed among the members and between the two houses, and after one or two experiences the defeat of a measure was accepted in good part by those who desired its passage. At the close of the session the usual resolutions of thanks to the presiding officers were passed, and a stranger casually visiting the assembly would never have known that one of the most interesting experiments in the formation of a new government was just about closing. THE COURTS OF PORTO RICO. On May 1, 1900, the courts were the same as they had been under the Spanish system, except where they had been changed by military orders. Two of these orders had been issued, Nos. 118 and 195. The organic act also provided that the justices of the supreme court should be appointed by the President, and the judges of the district |