The times., 1898-12-10
MR.. VkNDERLIP'S REPORT
A Preliminary Paper on His
Porto Rican Mission.
EVERYTHING GOING WELL
Th. Custom COlIections-The Work
of Spanish Oficials-The Reports
of Disturbances without Substan-
tfnI Foundation The American
rroops Wei Behaved The Civil
Administrations.

Secretary Gage has received pfeliml-
nary report from Assistant Secretary
yander,ip. who recently went to Porto
Rico for the purpose of examining the rev
enue and monetary conditions of the
island. Mr. yanderlip's informal report,
written under date of November q, shows
that the military authorities are getting
along fairly well with customs collections.
the amount now on deposit aggregating
more than 100000. Spanish customs Off
cials have zen put to work at the various
ports. and this system works satisfac-
toriiy. The men are honest and it is
thought by prominent military officials
that the Government is getting every
thing 1t should.
Military officers at San Juan contend
that the reports concerning disturbances
ON the island are without substantial foun-
dation During the evacuation there were
more or less disturbances of a rather per-
sonal and private character, but the situa-
ton there now is as peaceabie as il is in
the United States. Within a few days
special reports have been received from
the mayors of each municipality, and
they all unite in the statement that the
conditions are entirely peaceable and the
people law-abiding.
The American troops have on the whole
been we'll behaved and have. according
TO the testimony of commanding offic RS,
given practically no trouble at all. 1t
has been a tremendous task, getting the
civil administration of affairs in opera
ton again. Practically all civil admin
istration was at a standstill after the
| fall of the island. An endeayor has been
made to put the Spanish officials. so far
as could be done, back in their PAGES and
| have the civil administration of affairs
| go on as nearly as possible In the usual
| routine. At Ponce, where there are
some specially sharp politicians. they
revived an obsolete autonomist scheme
| of municipal government and were ali
ready to put it in force. Gen. Brooke
however, found il of most rigorous and
| paternal character and declined to per-
nit its adoption, <whereupon seventeen OF
| the thirty members of the council resign
| ed. The commanding general has jusi
| completed the selection of their sue
| cessors and municipal affairs there will
1 soon be adjusted.
| The American commanding officers have
| been withdrawing guards from the sugar
| plantations, and they think this Is going
1 to have a good effect The condition oi
1 affairs is worse than slavery at some oil
| these plantations The work was done b,
| poems who receive fifty-five pesetas Z
day on an average and were then subject
| ed to the very worst type of .'couptr,
| store" These stores give short weight.
4 in everything sold Our officers made tn,
| owners of the plantations show some sort
| of fair treatment to the poems refused
| the request for guards and have heart
nothing further about riots. 1t is thought
! that the withdrawal of the guards from
| the plantations will work a great improve
ment, and that has now been accomplished
practically throughout the island.
The temperature there continues yer!
/ high, and although the rainy season seem.
to be about over, the climate is enervat
| ing 1t Is midsummer heat and. no on.
seems to go out of doors much during tn,
hottest part of the day.