Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-17
so DELAY IN THE EVACUATION OF
Porto RICO.
THERE MAY BE OTHER HITCHES
sPANIARDs DISPOSED TO HOLD ALL
THEY CAN.
Some Trouble Likely to Arise Over
Titles TO Government Property
Consul Hanna Thinks Porto
Ricans Capable of Self
Government.

SAN JUAN. ISLAND OF PORTO RICO
Sept. 15-At their meeting to-day, tbs
Spanish evacuation commissioners agreed
10 begin the formal withdrawal of theil
lines within two days. They will evacuatt
Lares, San Sebastian and Agaldilla, in the
northwest of the island. Withdrawing to-
ward the capital. Under the armistice, they
could not withdraw their outposts without
permission. Detachmeuts of the Eleventh
infantry will occupy this territory and raise
the American flag. The abandonment OF
the other outposts will follow. The Spanish
commissioners understand perfectly that
the evacuation of the Islands must be made
in accordance with the terms OF the proto-
COL as soon as transports can be procured
Transports from the fever infected ports OF
Cuba cannot. they say, be used to convey
uninfected troops from Porto Rico. The
troops from Cuba and Porto Rico are to
be landed at different ports in Spain. The
Spanish authorities here cannot control the
transports in this respect. They must await
the pleasure of Madrid. Our commissioners
realize the force of this argument, and they
are willing TO make reasonable concessions.
The American commissioners may Ell
counter many problems difficult of solution
as IL is the general impression here now
that the Spanish commissioners, despite
the professed anxiety OF some of the high
est Spanish officials 10 dispatch this work
and relinquish control as soon as possible
will exercise all their skill to secure every
advantage. They are desperate and will
get under our guard If such thing is pos
sible. While it is likely that General
Brooke may have virtual control of this
srFs xrrfSk T,-, IL.
time longer before the last vestige of Span
fish authority is removed. In fact our COM
missioners appear convinced that they will
not be able to complete their work inside
OF five or six weeks.
The functions of the commission would
seem TO be limited, under the terms of the
protocol, to arranging the details of evacu-
alton and the transfer of all Spanish gov
ernment property to the United States.
At first blush this would seem a simple
operation. necessitating only an inventory
of the government property on the island
as distinguished from the property of the
provinces, the municipalities and towns, its
transfer to the United States and the de-
parture OF the Spanish troops, but it is in
timated that the Spanish authorities, pos
sibly for their government. but more prob
ably for themselves, hope TO save some
thing out of the wreck.
Just how they expect TO do this passes
comprehension, but those who are in the
counsels of the past assert that they will
be able to do so. The cession of the island
to the United States carries with it all
public property, Notifications, buildings
lands, etc: but there is an intimation that
lie Spanish will demand compensation for
guns mounted in fortifcations If they are
10 remain, or, in lazy sort Of way. for
other things.
1t is pretty safe to assume that the in
structions of our commissioners hold them
strictly TO the text Of the protocol and
that any claim made by Spain must go TO
the Paris commission for adjustment.
The examination of government titles will
be laborious work. In addition to the
regular government property. fortifications,
buildings. railroads and telegraphs the
Spanish government owns, or did own,
some buildings used as residences of Off
cials, semi-public property, with a consid-
cradle amount of crown lands. Some OF
this land is situated in San JUAN and is
Very valuable. There are tracts in other
parts OF the island. Should it be found
I'm the future that any of this property
has been sequestrated or decided recently
10 private individuals, the deeds might be
questioned. but these will probably be mat
ters for the courts TO adjust later.
When the island passes under civil ad-
ministration. IL would be possible for the
government Of the United States to create
quite a school fund for the people of the
island by the sale of lands now owned by
the government. And if congress should
decide that it was expedIent to continue the
ownership OF the railroads and telegraphs,
these, II not sold to the highest bidder.
could also no turued ovar/to ha ial
government.
United States Consul Hanna who left the
island when war was declared has since
the landing of our army at Ponce returned
10 the consulate here. He was mere when
fhe autonumist scheme for Porto Rico was
inaugurated by General Macias ard he is
a firm believer in the ability OF the people
hCrc TO govern themselves. Although the
autonomy granted was a delusion and a
snare, in that the government of Spain re-
taiIied the balance of power. he says the
people, at the only election held DISPLAYED
the greatest interest, as well as intelligence.
The election was quiet and orderly as
one in the United States
The only session of the autonomist legis-
lature was held on July IL. 1t simply re-
manned under the influence of the Spanish
authorities. and voted war credit With
an equitable system of taxation in which
all share alike, the condition of the people
4l'A' iAANEN aaLSNlAdblg iiilhONt rapidly. W ltli
the taxes raised to support the military es-
adjustments Of the islands. and with the
enormous corruption Incidental to SPANISH
administration everywhere. the taxes would
have been oppressive even had they been
levied equitably: hut il was notorious that
Spaniards having influence paid little.
While others, with an equal amount of tax
able property, were oppressed in some cases
almost to the point of conhscation. A ma
tive Porto Rican who owns a large sugar
plantation on the south side of the island
has for years been compelled to pay from
$1,000 to $4,000 in taxes, while a Spaniard
with larger plantation adjoining his paid
less than SlcO0.
But the most oppressive taxes are those
wrung from industry. Licenses must he
paid in order to work; licenses to sell the
products of labor. and licenses to buy
The markets here which should he filled
with vegetables and fruits. are almost a
waste of stalls, because OF the inability of
The truck farmers to pay the licenses neces-
sary TO enable them TO get their products
10 market.
MATUIEC CEED