I
December 2 , 1949
n ..ct to readJust the organic relations now existing between
the United ':>tCites and The ~eo:ple of 'uerto Rico" in order
to estnblish the federated scverei€n 0ommonwenlth of uerto
Rico.
> -
A ACT TO ENAB~E "THE PEOPLE OR PUERTO RICO"
TO RGANI AS T E ASSOO;:ATED STA.,TE OF " HE P~PLE
OF P ERTO ICO", TO ESTABLISH THE ORGANIC RELA IONS
WHIC SHALL EXIST BETWEE SUCH STA~E AND HE UN TED
STATE AND OOR OTH R PURP ES.
Whereas, as a result and under the terms of the Treaty of Paris of
1898, the United States acquired sovereignty over the Island of
Puerto Rico and said Island came under the authority of Congress, and
Whereas, Congress has declared the inhabitants of Puerto Rico to be
citizens of Puerto Rico, has declared such citizens to be constituted
into a body politic to be known as "The People of Puerto RiCO", and
has further declared the citizens of Puerto Rico to be citizens of
the United States.
Whereas, the government ~~~~h republican in form,
i ~t organized in accordance with a constitutiO~~dOP ed by the
~ ~1/ 'ty
said "People of Puerto Rico" t by a law of the ong ess of the
~ (' . Ptfcu1hdt , \...' ~
.tt-,
of Puerto Rico"
1aw5 of
Congress, in whose adoption "The People of Puerto Rico" have not ~
Whereas,
/1
and the Government of the United States are determined by
intervened.
Whereas, in honoring the principals of democracy upon which the people
of United States have reared their whole national existence, it is
deemed fair that "The People of Puerto Rico" as an organized community
of free citizens shall have voice in determining under What condi-
~-t.·/4
tions their political life may develop and thei~ relationships
established.
Whereas, under the charter of the United Nations it has become a
solemn committment of the United states, in the discharge of its
responsibilities in the administration of territorial areas whose
peoples have not attained a full measure of self-government, "to
develop self-government, to take due account of the political
aspirations of its peoples and to assist them in the progressive
development of their free political institutions according to the
particular circumstances of each territory and its peoples and
their varying stages of advancement."
Whereas, at the elections held in Puerto Rico, November ~, ~~8, I 1~~/
I an overwhelming majority of the people of Puerto Rico endorsed a
political program which calls for I'€cognition of' authority to "The
Peopla of Puerto Rico" for the-adoption of a Constitution of their.
oWB-mak-lng, upo-n which their Mea-I. governmental ins ti tut:1:-on may bebased,
as well as for the opportunity to ex~ress its asplrations in
o desirable readjustment~, in the existing relations between
"The Peo Ie of Puerto Rico" and the Gover ment of the United States;, '1
-d ~ /Y ..1 y/ II (P ~ ,/... ~ 1.-,..... /
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the f~
United states of America in Congress assembled:-
/
This Act shall be known as the "Puerto Rico Organic Relations
alil8: Ene:sling Act". It is adopted
veo_........_in. the Unite" S--tates. o~r Puer f
t
Ma es QJ,l e e n :a e.sen.t
I
name 0.; D~n Al.fon8:~ X:1II,
il pUr6Uant to Artlcl~ IX of
s . ~eaty, and for the Purpose of creating a more perfect form
of association between "The People of Puerto Rico" and the People of
the United states in harmony with the federal system of the Government
of the United state~ aftd with due regard to circumstances of the
case. ~~
Note:- See Sec. 1, Jones Act.
SECTION ;- Definitions -
(a) Puerto Rico, as used in this Act, shall mean
The Island of Puerto Rico and the adjacent islands and waters of
the islands lying east of the seventy-fourth meridian of longitude
west of Greenwich ceded to the United States under the &r-G ed
treaty
(b) "The People of Puerto Rico" as used in this
Act shall mean such body politic as was created under Sec. 7 of an
Act entitled "An Act temporarily to provide revenues and civil
government for Puerto Rico, and for other purposes", approved
April 12, 1900.
Note: - See Sec - .1 .. Foraker Act and Sec. 7, Foraker Act.
, ,
:- Puerto Rico i~ he~eby Qeclared eo-graphical
o
SECTION
- the Un~ted ~tates, under the ~er
l~ s af'oYemeotioned·.
te~itorlal area net incc~poratea to, out
See Insular Cases. Supreme Court decisions.
:- The body
-'E:::~~~~~e~ of
~e, n t a member 0 ,
Definition of
status
w~ su h relationships to
.... 1..- ~ ~..J
prescri ed and derived from
states,
SECTION :- Persons born in Puerto Rico~ shall be deemed
to be citizens of the United states equally as if born in any state,
and the United States naturalization laws shall apply to Puerto Rico
equally as in the United States. Citizenship heretofore acquired
under laws applicable to Puerto Rico shall not be deemed impaired
but reafirmed by this Act.
Immigration into Puerto Rico shall be governed by United
States Immigration laws but immigration into the territory of Puerto
Rico shall not be deemed included in the immigration quotas as
established by law for the United States but there shall be a special
quota for Puerto Rico as determined by the United States laws for
Puerto Rico. Said quota to be alloted in accordance with laws
of Puerto Rico not inconsistent wi~h such laws of the United states.~~qI
~k~
""?t- fI0 f.- -dL
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See Sees. - 5, 5a, 5b~ 5c, Jones Act.
SECTION
- 8 -
:- All citizens of the United
Citizens of
Puerto Rico.
States who have resided, or who shall hereafter
reside in the island, for one year, unless they
subsequently became residents of a state, or
Territory or possession of the United States, not
including Puerto Rico and all persons born in
Puerto Rico are hereby declared to be citizens
of Puerto Rico.
Note: See Section 5a - Jones Act.
, .
SECTION
- 9 -
:- No persons shall qualify as an
Qualification of
electors.
elector in Puerto Rico who is not a citizen of the
United States J and a citizen of Puerto Rico.
•
Note:- See Sec. 35J Jones Act .
SECTION :- The rights, privileges, and immunities of
citizens of the United States shall be respected in Puerto Rico
to the same extent as though Puerto Rico were a State of the Union
and subject to the provisions of paragraph 1 of section 2 of
article IV of the Constitution of the United States.
Note:- See Sec. 2 - Organic Act (sec. 7 - Elective Gov. Act).
•
- 111 -
SECTION :- Authority of exclusive legislation in all cases
whatsoever such tracts or parcels of land as are now owned by the
United States and held for military, air, naval, coast guard or
any other purposes, whether reserved or acquired by purchase, ..
condemnation, donation or exchange, shall rest exclusively with the
Congress of the United States, saving, however, to JlThe People of
Puerto Rico ll , the right to serve civil or criminal process within
the limitations of the aforesaid reservations in suits or prosecutions
for or on account of right acquired, obligations incurred or crimes
committed in Puerto Rico but outside of said reservations: and the
Legislature of llThe People of Puerto Rico ll is authorized to enact
any IaN YlPcessary and proper to give effect to this Article.
- 12 -
SECTION:- Deeds and other instruments affecting land
situated in the District of Columbia, or any other territory or
possession of the United states, may be acknowledged in Puerto
Rico before any notary public appointed therein by proper authority,
or any officer therein who has ex officio the powers of any notary
shall be accompanied by the proper certificate to the effect that
the notary taking such acknowledgement is in fact such notarial
officer.
Note:- See section 54, Jones Act.
. S CTI~~
~ . t/It..e
to be called Ii
- 1
~to ic shall constitute a jUdicial distric~
e district of pue;toR~~ ident~ by
with the advice and consent of the Senate~ shall appoint one strict'
judge, who shall serve for a term of eight years and until successor
is appointed and qualified and whose salary shall be $15,000 per
annum. There shall be appointed in like manner a district attorney,
and a marshal for said district, each for a term of four years unless
sooner removed by the President. The district court for said district
shall be called liThe District Court of the United states for Puerto
Rico", and shall have power to appoint all necessary officials and
assistants, including the clerk, interpreter~ and such commissioners
as may be necessary, who shall be entitled to the same fees and
have like powers and duties as are exercised and performed by United
states commissioners. Such district court shall have jurisdiction
of all cases cognizable in the district courts of the United States,
and shall proceed in the same manner. In addition said district
court shall have jurisdiction for the naturalization of aliens,
and for this purpose residence in Puerto Rico shall be counted in
the same manner as residence elsewhere in the United States. Said
district court shall have jurisdiction of all controversies where
all of the parties on either side of the controversy are citizens
or subject of a foreign State or States, or citizens of a State,
Territory or District of the United States not domiciled in Puerto
Rico wherein the matter in dispute exceeds, exclusive of interest
o
Ie,
/
../
cost, the sum or value of $3,000, and of all controversies in
~ r
/'
':[ t-
- 1
\
which th, e is a separable controversy involving such jurisdictional
amount and 'n which all of the parties on either side of such
separable cont oversy are citizens or subjects of the character
aforesaid. alaries of the judge and officials of the District
court of the United states for Puerto Rico, together with the court
expenses, shall be par~ from the United states revenues in the same
manner as in other United states district courts.
I
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Note:- See Sec. 41, Jones Act.
SECTION
- 16 -
:- The laws of the United States relating to
appeals, writs of error and certiorari, removal of causes, and
other matters or proceedings as between the courts of the United
States and the courts of the several States shall govern in such
matters and proceedings as between the district court of the United
States and the courts of Puerto Rico. Regular terms -of said United
States district court shall be held at San Juan, commencing on the
first Monday in May and Novemb~r of each year, and also at Ponce on
the second Monday in February of each year, and special terms may be
held at Mayaguez at such stated times as said judge may deem expedient.
All pleadings and proceedings in said court shall be conducted in the
English language. The said district court shall be attached to and
included in the first circuit of the United States, with the right
of appeal and review by said circuit court of appeals in all cases
where the same would lie from any district court to a circuit court
of appeals of the United states, .and with the right of appeal and
review directly by the Supreme Court of the United States in all
cases where a direct appeal would be from such district court.
'Note:- See Sec. 42, Jones Act.
SECTION
- 1
:- Writs of error and appeals from the final
judgements and decrease of. the Supreme Court of Puerto Rico may
be taken and prosecuted to~~preme Court of the United States.
~
Note:- See Sec. 43, Jones Act.
- 17 -
SECTION :- The qualifications of jurors as fixed by the
local laws of Puerto Rico shall not apply to jurors selected to
serve in the District Court of the United states for Puerto Rico;
but the qualifications required of jurors in said court shall be
that each shall be of the age of not less than twenty-one years
and not over sixty-five years, a citizen of Puerto Rico and of the
United states and have a sufficient knowledge of the English
language to enable him to serve as a juror. Juries for the said
court shall be selected, drawn and subject to exemption in accordance
with the laws of Congress regulating the same in the United states
courts in so far as locally applicable.
Note:- See sec. 44, Jones Act.
- 1
SECTION :- All such fees, fines, costs, and forfeitures
as would be deposited to the credit of the United States if collected
and paid into a district court of the United States shall become
revenues of the United States when collected and paid into the
District Court of the United States for Puerto Rico; Provided that,
$500 a year from such fees, fines, costs and forfeitures shall be
retained by the clerk and expended for law library purposes under.
the direction of the judge.
Note:- See Sec. 45, Jones Act.
- 19 -
SECTION :- The Attorney General of the United States shall
from time to time determine the salaries of all officials and
assistants appointed by the United States district court, including
the clerk, his deputies, interpreter, stenographer, and other
officials and employees, the same to be paid by the United States
as other salaries and expenses of like character in the United
States courts.
Note:- See Sec. 46, Jones Act.
- 2
SECTION :- Jurors and witnesses in the District Court
of the United States fQr Puerto Rico shall be entitled to and receive
15 cents for each mile necessarily traveled over any stage line or by
private conveyance and 10 cents for each mile over any railway in
going to land returning from said court. But no constructive or double
mileage fees shall be allowed by reason of any person being summoned
both a witness and juror or as witness in two or more cases pending
in the same court and triable at the same term thereof. Such jurors
shall be paid $3 per day and such witnesses $1.50 per day while in
attendance upon the court.
'Note:- See Sec. 47, Jones Act.
- 2
SECTION :- The Supreme and District Courts of Puerto Rico
and the respective jUdges thereof may grant writs of habeas corpus
in all cases in which the same are grantable by the judges of the
District Courts of the United States, and the District Courts may
grant of mandamus in all proper cases.
Note:- See Sec. 48, Jones Act.
- 22 -
SECTION :- No suit for the purpose of restraining the
assesment or collection of any tax imposed by the laws of Puerto
Rico shall be maintained in the District Court of the United States
for Puerto Rico.
Note:- See Sec. 48, Jones Act.
SECTION
- 2 ,
:- The rules heretofore or hereafter promulgated
and made effective by the Supreme Court of the United States under
authority of the Act approved June 19, 1934 (48 Stat. 1064; U. s. C.,
title 28, sees. 723B, 723c), or under authority of any other statute,
regulating the forms of process, writs and motions., and the pleadings,
practice, and procedure in actions of a civil nature in the district
courts of the United States, and regulating appeals therefrom, shall
apply to the District Court of the Un~ted States for Puerto Rico
and to appeal therefrom.
Note:- See Sec. 49a, Jones Act.
- 2~ -
SECTION :- Collections and assesments restrained in suits
pending March 4, 1927, shall be enforced by the Treasurer of Puerto
Rico by suits at law instead of by summary administrative proceedings.
Note:- See Sec. Of Jones Act.
- 25 -
SECTION :- The President of the United States is hereby
authorized to designate such executive department or agency of
the Government of the United States as he may deem adequate to
have charge of the coordination, of the activities of federal
agencies operating in Puerto Rico; among themselves and with the
agencies of the Government of "The People of Puerto Rico" in the.
latter case, in consultation with the Chief Executive of the
Government of liThe People of Puerto Rico".
Note:- See Sec. 11, Jones Act.
t n conflict
a~e hereby declar~d inapplicailj),
V['
inapplicable, their
""P'~~..J..y decl~p.ed il1ap-p~ica-ble -to Puer-t ;i...e,o, ~d
applicable to Puer-to Rico ~I-~
......"'-e-./ 6Ufooi ;~<!;" 4dd ~-4Z11f"'''';4C~IC'dAS- ~
therein, e~Qlly as if I!uerto ~,f
Rico T, r-d State in any law when
.~~~~applicable, shalL be deemed to include Pue~to Rico; ~e wor-ds
t~r' ory or possession shall be deemed not to include Puer-to Ric~;
ar:l4-the words "overseas areas" shall not be deemed to include Puerto
R' 0, except equally as state; Provided that, no law shall prevail,
supersede or be deemed to alter or modify this Act n e-fta a-~y
to Puerto Ri~o if in conflict with this A~ unless when
adopted as an express amendment to this Act; and Provided further,
that at the request of the legislative authority of "The People of
Puerto Rico tl
, the President of the United states is hereby autho-rized
when in his judgement local conditions therein so w~rant, to
declare inapplicable to Puerto Rico any law not specifically made
applicable to Puerto Rico. Upon the President making such declara-tion
said law shall have no force nor effect in Puerto Rico. ~-
-.~
'd law Puer-to Rico otherwise than in a state, er
m~ not apply to PuertcRico, when specifically so stated fop
Puerto Rico in ~he terms of such laws. United states statutory
l~w ~applicable to Puerto Rico ~~hi~
- 27 -
Act ~th€ a~ gra~~in-aid ~aw£ may apply in Puerto Rico
otherwise than equally as if Puerto Rico were a state~in their
1
own terms it may be so provided specifically for Puerto Rico or when
so provide~~uer ico in a subsequent Act, in either case at
the petition or with the consent of the legislative authority of
"The People of Puerto
See Sec. 9, Jones Act. Also Sec. 49.b (3) Jones Act
(Sec. 6, Elective Gov. Act)
SECTION:-
- 2
JY
The following laws 3-nall not ~ to Puerto
Rico:
(a) Laws pertaining to the election of the
President of the United states or United states Senators or Members
of the House of Representatives, other than the "Resident Commissio-
(b) aws levying taxes, duties, imposts or
ner of Puerto Rico", as herein prov,ided.
excises other t an such taxes, duties imposts and excises as herein
provided, except when applied at the petition or with the consent
of the legislative authority of llThe People of Puerto Rico II.
(c) Interstate Commerce Acts
foreign commerce, except a
Note: See Sec. 9, Jones Act. Also Sec. 38, Jones Act.
SECTION:
- 29 -
:- The same tariffs, customs and duties shall be
levied, collected and paid upon all articles imported into Puerto
Rico from foreign countries which are required by law to be collected
upon articles imported into the United States from foreign countries,
except, that duties to be levied, collected and paid on coffee in the
bean, grounded or otherwise processed, imported into Puerto Rico from
any place outside Puerto Rico shall be determined by the Legislative
authority of IfThe People of Puerto Rico lf
, P. :v;ided that notwith-
A
sanding the above p ovisions of law the duties to be levied, collec-ted
and paid on any article, other than coffee, imported into Puerto
Rico from any country other than the United States in accordance
with the above provisions sha I be subjec~ to such changes as the
Legislative authority of "The People of Puerto Rico lf may from time
~o time determine by special law, but such law shall not become
effective unless approved by the President of the United States
within six months of its approval by the Chief Executive of the
Government of "The People of Puerto Rico", any other provision of
law notwithstanding. Provided further that articles imported into
Puerto Rico from foreign countries shall be subject to full tariff
rates in the United States as if shipped directly from such country
. into United States, if re-shipped from Puerto Rico to United States.
Note:- See Sec.3, Foraker Act.
- 3
SECTION :- Except as otherwise provided under Section
____________ all merchandise coming into the United States from Puerto
Rico and going into Puerto Rico from the United States shall be
entered into the several ports of entry free of duty. They shall
a~s~ be free of any quantitative restriction, e~cept under special
law enacted at the request or with the consent of the Legislative
Authority of liThe People of Puerto Rico", but quantitative restrictions
may be imposed upon the marketing of merchandise shipped from
the United States to Puerto Rico or from Puerto Rico to the United
States on equal terms with marketi~g restrictions imposed upon
marketing of domestic products of United States. Articles of
merchandise of Puerto Rico manufacture coming into the United States
shall be admitted free of United states internal revenue taxes upon
evidence of payment in Puerto Rico before shipment of a tax equal
to the internal revenue tax imposed in the United States to the
like articles of merchandise of United States manufacture. Said
tax shall be paid by Puerto Rico internal revenue stamp or stamps
to be purchased from and provided by the Government of "The People
of Puerto Rico if and to be affixed under such regulations as the
Commissioner of Internal Revenue of the United States with the
approval of the Secretary of the Treasurer of United States s_ ~ll
prescribe, and any article of merchandise subject to the above
provisions shipped from Puerto the United states upon which
such tax has not been collected sh 11 be subject to payment of United
~
states Internal Revenue taxes to be collected at the port of entry,
and in addition thereto, to an additional tax of 25% of the normal
rate of internal revenue tax, ~d merchandise of United states
manu~aeture shipped to an additional tax orc 25% of-the normal rate
__~~~~al ~enue tax, and merchandise of United states manufac-ture
shipped from the United states to Puerto Rico shall not be
subject to United States internal revenue axes but sh 11 be subject
i
to internal revenue taxes f Puerto Rico as provided in this Act.
- 3
SECTION :- Minimum wages to be paid on the manufacture
of merchandise to be shipped from Puerto Rico to the United States
shall be determined by an Industrial Committee on Trade between
Puerto Rico and United States, to be composed by three members
appointed by the President of the United States and three members
to be appointed by the Chief Executive of "The People of Puerto
Rico l1 ,and the findings of such Committee shall be final and binding
and in the case of a tie vote in the said committee the President
of the United States shall appoint an arbiter whose findings shall
be final and it shall be unlawful to enter any merchandise originating
in Puerto Rico into the United States, if such minimum wages
have not been paid in accordance with the above provisions, under
penalty of confiscation.
Note:- See provisions of U. S. Minimum Wage Laws for Puerto Rico.
they shall apply to income derived
- 31
SECTION :- United states income tax laws shall not
apply to income derived from Puerto Rico earned or received by
from or received from the United states by residents of Puerto Rico
and in the latter case they shall apply at the same rates as on
income of citizens of the United states thBrein residi~g) and income
of citizens of the United states) not residents of Puerto Rico)
earned or derived from Puerto Rico shall be subject to taxation
under the laws of "The People of Puerto Rico" at the same rates of
taxation as imposed on residents of Puerto Rico on income derived
from Puerto Rico.
residents of Puerto Rico
Note:- See United States Income Tax law in Puerto Rico.
SECTION
4- -
:- All taxes collected in Puerto Rico under
authority of this Act except for taxes on inco;ne collecte under
CLS ~ t.- () ~t 04~
United States laws shall d to be rightful revenues of liThe
.."
People of Puerto Rico Ii, and they shall be paid to its duly acredited
agents and covered into its Treasury.
Note:- See Sec. 4, Foraker Act.
SECTION
- 3~ -
:- Commerce between the United States and
Puerto Rico shall be regulated only by the provisions of this Act.~-~~ ,
Note: Follows provisions of ~.
- 37 -
SECTION :- Reciprocal trade agreements entered into by
the United States with foreign countries shall not be deemed to include
Puerto Rico except at the request or with the consent of
liThe People of Puerto Rico II .~ cL f!.--.<!--t.J-e--d C?-u.--~ -1...- CA---<.-f tt:... C~
- 3
SECTION :- The President of the United States may
enter reciprocal trade agreements to be effective between Puerto
Rico and any foreign country at the request or with the consent of
"The People of Puerto Rico n •
- 39 -
SECTION :- The President is hereby authorized to suspend
in whole or in part the application of the Coastw1se-shipping
laws to trade between United States and Puerto Rico at the request
of the legislative authority of liThe People of Puerto Rico".
- 4
SECTION: :- Except as otherwise herein
Expenses of
the
Government
of
Puerto Rico
provided, all expenses that may be incurred on
account of the Government of Puerto Rico for
salaries of officials and the conduct of their
offices and departments, and all expenses and
obligations contracted for the internal improve-ment
or development of the island, not, however,
including defenses, barracks, harbors, lighthouses,
buoys, and other works undertaken by the United
states, shall be paid by the Treasurer of Puerto
Rico out of the revenue in his custody.
Note:- See Sec. 6, Jones Act.
SECTION
- 4 -
:- All bonds issued by the
Bonds and
Taxation
government of Puerto Rico, or by its authority,
shall be exempt from taxation by the Government
of the United States, or by the government of II~
II Puerto Rico or of any political or municipal
subdivision thereof, or by any State, Territory,
or possession, or by any county, municipality,
or other municipal subdivision of any State, .
Territory, or possession of the United States, or
by the District of Columbia.
Note:- See Sec. 3, Jones Act.
- 4
SECTION :- The internal-revenue taxes levied by the
Legislative Authority of liThe People of Puerto Rico fl on articles,
goods, wares, or merchandise, may be levied and collected as such
authority may direct, on the articles subjects to said tax, as
soon as the same are manufactured, sold, used, or brought into the
Island· Rrovided, That no discrimination shall be made between
artic~&s ~mpo~ted tp m the United S~ates or. foreign countries and
similar artie es produced or manufactured in Puerto Rico, except
with th approval the President of the United states and only for
Note:- See Sec. 3, Jones Act.
SECTION :- All property which may have been
Public Domain
acquired in Puerto Rico by the United States under
the cession of Spain in the treaty of peace entered
into on the tenth day of December, eighteen hundred
and ninety-eight including public bridges, road
houses, water powers, highways, unnavigable streams
and the beds thereof, subterranean waters, mines or
minerals under the surface of private lands, harbor
shores, docks, slips, reclaimed lands, public lands
and buildings not heretofore reserved by the United
States for public purposes, and all property which
at the time of the cession belonged under the laws
of Spain then in force to the various harbor boards
of Puerto Rico is'hereby placed under the jurisdiction
of the Government of "The People of Puerto
Rico", and the Legislative Authority of "The People
of Puerto Rico" shall have~authority, to legislate
with respect to all such matters as it may deem
advisable. Provided, That the President may from
time to time, in his discretion, convey to "The
People of Puerto Rico" such lands, buildings, or
interests in lands or other property now owned by
the United States and within the territorial limits
of Puerto Rico as in his opinion are not longer
needed for purposes of the United States. And he
may from time to time accept by legislative grant
- 4
from Puerto Rico any lands~ bUildings~ or other
interests or property which may be needed for
public purposes by the United states.
'; ;~ .~
Note:- See Sec. 7, Jones Act.
SECTION :- The harbor areas and navigable
Harbors and
streams
streams and bodies of water and submerged land underlying
the same in and around the Island of Puerto Rico
and the adjacent islands and waters, not reserved by
the United States for public purposes are hereby placed
under the jurisdiction of the Government of "The People
of Puerto Rico", to be administered in the same manner
and subject to the same limitations as the property
enumerated in the preceding section: Provided, That all
laws of the United States for the protection and impro-vement
of the navigable waters of the United States
and the preservation of the interest of navigation
and commerce except so far as the same may be locally
inapplicable, shall apply to Puerto Rico and waters
and to its adjacent islands and waters; Provided, fur-ther,
that nothing in this Act contained shall be
construed so as to affect or impair in any manner
the terms o~ conditions of any authorizations, permits,
or other powers theretofore lawfully granted or
exercised in or in respect to said waters and sub-merged
land in and surrounding said Island and its
adjacent islands by the Secretary of War or other
authorized officer or agent of the United States.
See Sec. 8, Jones Act.
SECTION
- 51 -
:- The qualified electors of Puerto Rico shall
choose a Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico to the United States,
whose term of office shall be four years from the third day of
January following his election, and who shall be entitled to receive
official recognition as such Commissioner by all of the Departments
of the Government of the United States, upon presentation, through
the Departmerit of state, of a certificate of election of the Gover
of Puerto Rico. No person shall be eligible to election as
Resident Commissioner who is not a bona fide citizen of the United
States and of Puerto Rico and who is not more than twenty-five years
of age, and who does not read and write the English language. In
case of a vacancy in the Office of the Residen~,Commissionerby tJ (} Iu.e ((l. ~ V· V(.
death, resignation, or otherwise, the Gave r, by and with e
advice and consent of the Senate will appoint a Resident Commissio-ner
to fill the vacancy, who shall serve until the next general
election and until his successor is elected and qualified.
Such Resident Commissioner of Puerto Rico to the United States
shall be accorded the same rights and privileges in the House of
Representatives as are accorded to Representatives in Congress,
except vote or to make a motion to recomi~, and in Committees of
the House of which he may be a member, he shall have a vote and
in the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs of the Senate, he
shall be an additional member, without a vote, and in the Senate
of United States he shall have voice, but no vote, on any matter
- ~2 -
affecting Puerto Rico and he may address the Senate for such time
as he may request and be recognized without objection, but he shall
not make a motion to reccmit.
Such Commissioner shall be allowed the same salary and the
same sum for stationery, pay of necessary clerk hire and other
expenses as is allowed to Members of the House of Representatives
of the United Statesj and he shall be allowed the sum of $5500 .
in lieu of mileage for each session of the House of Representatives
and the franking privilege granted members of Congress; Provided,
however, that such other facilities or allowances as may be necessary
for the discharge of his duties, other than those of a member of
Congress, for which 'provision is hereby made, shall be provided by
"The People of Puerto Rico n as the Government thereof shall see
fit.
No~e:- See Sec. 36, Jones Act.
ection
This ct shall become effective when ratified
et,..
by t-tre rna j ority of Cj,uc..l j f ied voters of'ue rto
Rico voting in a plebiscite be~in uerto Rico,
fer the purpose cf arprcv~ or reject~ ~ this
Act and if ratifjed it hall be so certifie by
the Chief Ex cutive of 'The eo 113 of uerto Ricdl
to the 'resident 0.1' the United tates end thereupon,
the ~esident shall proclaim this ct to be in full
force and effect and thereafter it shell be held
in the nature of a c mpact forever 'unalterable
~
except by CCIT@on ccnsent of the Congress of the
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(
Unit, ed States and The '13 ople of Puerto Rico". V~J.ef}
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- 57 -
SECTION :- All laws and parts of laws inconsistent
with the provisions of this Act arc hereby repealed.
