rto Rico and give her products free access to our markets.

As a result of the hurricane which swept over Puerto Rico on the 8th of
August, 1899, over 100,000 people were reduced to absolute destitution,
without homes, and deprived of the necessaries of life. To the appeal
of the War Department the people of the United States made prompt and
generous response. In addition to the private charity of our people,
the War Department has expended for the relief of the distressed
$392,342.63, which does not include the cost of transportation.

It is desirable that the government of the island under the law of
belligerent right, now maintained through the Executive Department,
should be superseded by an administration entirely civil in its nature.
For present purposes I recommend that Congress pass a law for the
organization of a temporary government, which shall provide for the
appointment by the President, subject to confirmation by the Senate, of
a governor and such other officers as the general administration of the
island may require, and that for legislative purposes upon subjects of a
local nature not partaking of a Federal character a legislative council,
composed partly of Puerto Ricans and partly of citizens of the United
States, shall be nominated and appointed by the President, subject to
confirmation by the Senate, their acts to be subject to the approval
of the Congress or the President prior to going into effect. In the
municipalities and other local subdivisions I recommend that the
principle of local self-government be applied at once, so as to enable
the intelligent citizens of the island to participate in their own
government and to learn by practical experience the duties and
requirements of a self-contained and self-governing people. I have
not thought it wise to commit the entire government of the island to
officers selected by the people, because I doubt whether in habits,
training, and experience they are such as to fit them to exercise at
once so large a degree of self-government; but it is my judgment and
expectation that they will soon arrive at an attainment of experience
and wisdom and self-control that will justify conferring upon them a
much larger participation in the choice of their insular officers.

The fundamental requirement for these people, as for all people, is
education. The free schoolhouse is the best preceptor for citizenship.
In the introduction of modern educational methods care, h