New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-16
EVACUATION OF PORTO RICO.
TROOPS ASSEMBLING AT SAN JUAN
SOME QUESTIONS THE COMMITS
SToNFPS MIST SETTLE

STONFPS MIST SETTLE
rFpoN A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
San Juan Porto Rico. Sept Spain Is pre-
pairing 70 evacuate Porto Rico with CELEBRITY
that bids fair 70 make the work Of the Com
missioners comparatively easv. Although there
has been change in the civil administration.
the military authorities have practically concen-
trated the troops within few miles ~ this CITY,
and daily small hands which have been garri-
soning unimportant towns in the interior may
be seen making their way into The capital These
men who number in the aggregate about Ave
thousand include the regulars the Guardis
Civile and the Orden Pubico or municipal DO
lice All II them are part If the army estah
lishment and all or practically all. are ~ span
ish birth and must return n Spain when or
dered To Do So
There are TO-DAY IN the city upward ~ three
thousand If the regular army Al Caguas there
nearly thousand more. and AT Bayamon
and the Guavama outpost there are enough 10
bring the total UP 70 1900 Resides these there
are eight hundred Of the Guardia Cve. and
half as many more ~ the OrdAn Publico All ~
these detachments can 10 mo5ilized here within
few DAYS. and. once begun. the evacuation can
be hurried along that there need not he
Spanish soldier on the island al the end of next
month II is hardly TO be supposed that the
one Of the Spanish Commissioners is quoted as
saving that IL sufficient number Of ships can
he obtained the embarkstion need not consume
more than a week
Whether or not the details ~ the evacuation
can be arranged in that time Is question. Ad-
n1ira schley expects to be here at least six or
seven weeks and while his fellow Commission
ers have nothing saw on the subject u is
known that they feel that their task is by No
means an easy one Besides the mere sending
away Of the troors the Commissioners will have
several knotty problems 70 solve when thew begin
70 discuss the transfer ~ the Crown property 20
The United States There is a great amount NJ
this property in this city. The for'fcations. in
Guiding Moro san Cris'obal and San Geronimo.
must ~ course pass into the hands ~ m"
American Government So also must the palace
~ the Governor General ard the military or
fees and barracks. which scattered all over
tho city The arsenal and grounds may he in
Guided in the same category ~ tho public
buildings The postoffice and us adjunct the tels-
rraph system will ~ course be turned over -
the American Commissioners Besides these
there re numerous other buildings and great
deal NJ vacant ground which will 60 - n"
United States
When II Gomez 20 thA disposition ~ ouch
buildings as The Acadia or citv hall. and the
Provincial Treasurv. questions may arise which
viii er1barrass the Commission These build
ings NAV have been transferred - the provin-
cisl or municipal governments but a. present II
is Impossible 70 learn ~ This mas been done II
II has tho rights ~ the residents NJ the "i'v
must he considered both as owners ~ the prop
ertv and ss subjects 81 q nation which has 70
HnnuishAi all so~ereisntv II the have not.
the rights ~ he people - 'ha' which they
have purchased must tA considered There -
also the danger 80 trickery The part ~ m"
officials who hav, these matters IN charge. one
instance Or double-dealing has already come -
rsh, Some time ago the erection ~ buildirg
on the outskirts 81 the city was begin The IN
police. hu, war intervenAd and tho work Vas
stopped Hardly had he frs' uhisperings ot
peace been hard when The Government trans
ferred the building 70 The city ror use rs poor
house
In ell .h~ towns ana districts IN the ISLAND
there are public buildings ~ greater or Lass
value ard Tho Commission vill have ~ decide
whether the shall be turned over - 'he mu-
inequalities held FOR Terrltoria use or sold tn"
Spaniards have been unusually lavish In N"
erection ~ buildings for public purposes. ana q
is doubtful - republican simplicity viii require
half ~ them
Il is said that the Spanish Commissioners ara
disposed - hold out for reir1 bursenen' for Gov
eminent prorertv IN me ground that n does not
belong % Tho province IN reality and that IN"
buildings ver. erected nth money derived from
'hA revenues % the Crown from other sources