Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-09-16
MUCH WORK TO BIZ DONE
Turning Over Of Porto Rico Likely 10 be a
tabodous Task.
spASIARDs LOOKING FOR CAUSE ToOllw



The American commissioners APP
pointed to arrange the terms Of the
evacuation Of the island may cncoun-
ter many problems difficult Of solution
as II IL the general belief here that
the Spanish commissioners. despite the
profeased anxiety Of some Of the high
est spanish officials to dispatch this
work aud rcliraulah control as soon as
possible. will exercise their skill to Sc
cure every advantage.
They are desperate and viii get I'M
der our guard u such a thing Is pos
nlble. While II IL iikciy that General
Brooke may have virtual control VI this
city within a few weeks. u may DE
some time longer before the last YES.
tigc OF spanish authority IL removed.
Ia fact. uuf Commissioners appear con-
WINGED that they will not be able to com
piytc their work inside u ave " six
weeks Col. Hunter. secretary OF the
commission. Major Carson. Disturbing
agent. Mr. Hunter, legal adviser % the
commission. ane one ct two others
the here. bat some ~ the clerks ana
rtenoginph,ra have not set arrived.
just how the commission VIII pro-
coed Il will be- impossible 10 guess until
tho two sets OF commissioners meet
Their Instructions are known only 70
themselves. Their functions are pure
~ military anu would seem 10 be limit
ID. under the terms of the protocol. u
arranging the details Of evacuation
and the transfer VI all spanish L0vcfn.
ment property 10 the United states.
~ hfst blush this would seem a slim
pie operation nccssal,atlng only an In
vcntoiy 0f the government property on
the Island az distinguished from the
property u the provinces. the municl-
pailtlcu and towns. H. transfer 10 the
United States an dthc departure OF the
spanish ifnuna Hut u 10 intlmnted
that the Spanish authorities. possibly
for thllf government but more probably
for themselves. hope 10 save some
thing cut of the wreck Just how
they expect 20 do this passes compre-
hcnni9n. but those who are In the
counscls OF the past assert that they
viii BE- able 10 do ~. The concession
Of the island 70 the United states
carrier with II al public property. Tor.
tificationa. building, lands. etc. there
10 an intimatlon that the spanish will
demand compensation for guns mount.
I'd IN Qualifications II they are " 70.
main, or In lazy sort u way ask for
other things.
u IL pretty safe 10 assume that the
INSTRUCTIONS " our commissioners hold
them strictly 90 the text 81 the proto-
col. and that ans claim made by spain
must 90 to the Paris commission for
adjustment
Under ihc Instructions the Spanish
commissioners VIII feceiye-or have 10.
ceived-they can u course raise any
question dat they desire. n II with the
10 .I.II.
70 do. Whatever Ia left will Da turned
oyet 70 the American authorities.
Inc examination OF government
uurn VIII De a Luxurious task. In adul
tlon 70 The regular government prop.
cry, foriincatlOna. buildings, railroad.
and ielegrapha the spanish government
owns. or did own some buildings ussd
as residences % officials. ssml- public
property with q considerable amount o,
crown land. Some OF this land IL slt-
uaied In san Juan and IL very Valuable
Thrrc arr tracts In other parts Of tho
island. should u be found ia the ia.
turr that any OF this ptopafty has been
sequefiraie1 or decided recently 60 prl-
Nnte individuals, the deeds must be
questioned, but these win probably b.
matters for the courts 10 adjust later.
when the Islands pass under clvll ad-
miniHiratl0n II would be- possible for tha
government OF the United states h
create a school fund Tor the people OF
the Island BY the sale OF ianda nov
owned hy the government. Ana II Con.
fFefs should decree that Il was cNpe,
dent 10 continue the ownernhip of In,
railroads and teieHqphs. these " mo-
eold TO the highest bidder, could be nlat
turned over to the territorial govern.
4, =. Consul Hanna, who lef, the il
land when war was declared. and who
aIA.U NAa NmsaHNNNaa -
has returned 10 the consulate here
was here when the autonnmist schcm,
Tor Porto Rico was innuEuratrd hy Gen
haclas, and he n q Arm believer In IN
ability OF she people here 20 govern
Themselves. Although the AUTONOMY
granted vas a deiuslon and a snare Il
that the government OF spain obtAlneI
the balance " power, he says The PEG
pie, 90 The only election held. disnlaytl
the greatest Interest ~ wen a. intel
ligrncc, The election was as uuirt an
orderly as one IN the United states.
Tho only session OF the hutonomla
legislature was held on July 10Th. 1
simply remained under The influence o
the spanish authorities and voted
var credit VITA an equitable sysisr
Of nslilOn. IN which an shared ark
the condition OF the people here mus
inevltaoly Improve rapidly, with Ia
taxes raised 10 support ths military "a
thhllahnrhta OF the Islands with IA
enormquz corruption incidental tospan
fsh administration everywhere the
were even more oppressive thar to
wonli have teen hal 'hsy been lnvia
eduitably II was notorious that span
inrda having influence paid little. Will
others with an equal amount OF tAs
able property, were oppressed IN som
eases almost 10 the point OF connscl
tion. native Porto Rican who own
large sugar plantation on the s0ut
eide OF the ISLAND has Tor years bee
compelled 20 pay from 10000 20 SO Oh
In taxes, while a spanafd with a large
plantation adjoining has PAID less tina
hut the most oppressive taxes or
those wrung from Industry. License
must be paid IN order % work-licensa
10 sell the products ~ labor and licrn
ses 20 buy. Tho markets here. whic
should be fiilfd with yegftsbies an
fruits are almost waste ~ stalls. be
cause ~ the inability Of 'ruck farmer
10 pay the licenses necessary TO enabl
them TO set their products 20 market.
AoutNALDo II NoN.COMMiTrAL.