Speech #610186951

For instance. one of the most important features of the bill. in the estimation of many Porto Ricans. the most important feature is that which relates to citizenship. The bill as reported to the Hotise. the bill in its present form. does not confer American citizenship upon the Porto Rican people. It merely provides a method of naturalization by which they may become citizens of the United States. It is but just. however. to Inform the House that the Committee on Insular Affairs has agreed upon.. and will propose later on. an amendment which will confer upon them collectively and as a people American citizenship. I can not doubt but that this amendment will be adopted. I hope unanimously adopted. For one. I was both astonished and grieved when the Committee on Insular Affairs reported a bill to the House which required every native Porto Rican to go through a process of naturalization before he could become a citizen of the United States. I am pleased. therefore. to be able to say that an amendment has been agreed upon which will correct this great injustice. and save the Porto Rican people the humiliation which otherwise would have been theirs. More than once in the past the Committee on Insular Affairs. indeed upon three separate occasions. this committee has xeported bills to make the people of Porto Rico citizens of the United States. and therefore my astonishment was great when I discovered that this boon was to be denied them. My astonishment was all the greater because I remembered that the Republican party at Its last national convention had solemnly promised them American citizenship in these words: In Porto Rico the Government of the United States has met with loyal and patriotic support. Order and prosperity prevail. and the well being of the people in every respect promoted and conserved. We believe that the native Inhabitants of Porto Rico should be at once made. collectively. citizens of the United States. and that all others properly qualified under existing law residing In said Island should ave the privilege of becoming naturalized. In view of such an explicit and emphatic declaration as this on the part of the Republican party at its last national convention. It is difficult to understand how the Republican membership of the Insular Affairs Committee could ever have supported a measure which so completely repudiates a solemn pledge of their party as does the provision of this bill which relates to citizenship.