Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 39 Part 1.djvu/979

SIXTY—FOURTH CONGRESS. Sess. II. Ch. 145. 1917. 959 years of age, and who is not able to read and write either the Spanish or English language, and who has not been a resident of Porto Rico for at east two consecutive years, and, except in the case of senators at large, an actual resident of the senatorial district from which PMP-16¤& chosen for a period of at least one ear prior to his election. Except L¢8lSl¤tive powers, as herein otherwise provided, the Srenate of Porto Rico shall exercise °l°‘ all of the purely legislative powers and functions heretofore exercised by the Executive Council, including confirmation of appointments; ,,{:§§§'{,’f,‘{“}",,°°,°°F¤}¤¤ but appointments made while the senate is not in session shall be effective either until disapproved or rmtil the next adjournment of the senate for the session. In electin the five senators at lar e each S"’**"”°"*'¥* elector shall be permitted to vote for lint one candidate and tlhe five gland/glates receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared ec . Sec. 27. That the House of Representatives of Porto Rico shall avEZ°°° °"°°"”°”°“‘ consist of thirty-nine members elected quadrenniall by the qualified '*°d'¤'*¤ ¤* electors of Porto Rico, as hereinafter provided. Eyach of the repre- i sentative districts hereinafter provided for shall have the right to elect one representative, and in addition thereto there shall be elected four representatives at large. No person shall be a member of the °“m°“"‘”"‘ house of representatives who is not over twenty-5ve years of e, and who is not able to read and write either tile S anish or aEng]ish language, except in the case of re resentative. at liar e, who has not been a bona fide resident of the ldistrict from which elected for at least one year prior to his election. In electing the four represents- ;,,I,;,7¥?'°““"""·*"““ "· tives at large, each elector shall be permit to vote for but one candidate and the four candidates receiving the largest number of votes shall be elected. Sec. 28. That for the urpose of elections hereafter to the legisla- uoli°¢i)arl°}-i£e1.;lm° °1°° ture the island of Porto lliico shall be divided into thirty-five repre- dirt sentative districts, composed of contiguous and compact territory and established, so far as practicable, upon the basis of equal po ulation. The division into and the demarcation of such districts shallllue made by the Executive Council of Porto Rico. Division of districts shall be made as nearly as practicable to conform to the to ographical nature of the land, with regard to roads and other means ell communication and to natural barriers. Said Executive Council shall also divide the island of Porto Rico into seven senatorial districts, each composed of five contiguous and compact representative districts. They shall make their replort within thirty days after the approval of this Act, which re ort, w en approved by the governor sh be final. Sec. 29. That the next election in Porto Rico shaH be held in the f,@°f,S’§bmm year nineteen hundred and seventeen upon the sixteenth day of July. At such election there shall be chosen senators, representatives, a Resident Commissioner to the United States, and two publicservice commissioners, as herein provided. Thereafter the elections shall be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, beginning with the year nineteen hundred and twenty, and _ every four years thereafter, and the terms of office of all municipal officials who have heretofore been elected and_whose terms would otherwise expire at the be ` of the year nineteen hundred and nineteen are hereby extended until the officials who may be elected to fill such offices in nineteen hundred and twenty shall have been -_ duly qualified: Prmnkled, Iwwerver, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to limit the right of the Legislature of Porto Rico at any time to revise the boundaries of senatorial and representative districts and of any municipality, or to abolish any municipality and the officers provided therefor. _ Sec. 30. That the term of office of senators and representatives “"“‘°""“*’*""‘· chosen by the first general election shall be until January first, mneteen hundred and twenty-one, and the terms of office of senators