The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-12-16

Che Military Authorities Getting Along
Fairly Well and Good order GENERALLY
Prevailing ~ Abuses Corrected.

Washington, Dee. 10.-Assistant Sec
rotary Nandcrlip, who is expected To
arrive In the United States, from Porto
Rico. next Monday. has made pre-
lminary and informal report To Sec
rctay Gage of his observations in that
island. Under date of the eth ultimo
he reports that the military authori-
ties are get ting along fairly we'll with
customs collections. Everything re-
ceived has been deposited with D,rard
& Co, financial agents of the govern
ment. and the amount now on deposit
aggregates more than 100000. Span
ish customs officials have been put to
work at the various ports, and this
system works satisfactorily. The men.
he writes. are honest, and ii is thought
by prominentm military officials the gov
eminent is getting everything it
should.
Pesos and Dollars Equally Received.
The report that customs officers in
Porto Rico were receiving only pesos
and declining to receive American dol
lars Ut San Juan is incorrect. That
was the case for few days. the Span
ish customs officials Interpreting the
Instructions to mean that only pesos
should be received. As soon us this
was discovered, however. dollars or
pesos were ordered 10 be received with
out pre- JUDGE. the rate of course. be-
ing two pesos against one American
( dollar. While the rate does not at all
correspond with the commercial rate
( of Si.6j, il is fact that about two
( thirds OF the customs nj san Juan have
1 been received in dollars. the remain
I ing onc-third in pesos. The customs
officers are not allowed TO exchange
pesos back for dollars.
Reports OF Outbreaks without Foundation.
Military officers at San Juan contend
that the reports that have reached the
United States in relation TO out
breaks and disturbances of the peace
on the island are without substantial
foundation
During the evacuation there were
more or less disturbances Of rather
personal and private character. but the
situation here now, Mr. Nanderlip
writes. Is IS peaccablc as il is in the
United States. Within few DAVIS spe-
cial 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 lawabidng.
Organized Bsndiiti Captured by the Mill
tary.
The military authorities have been
especially active in capturing some
organized bands OF bandits. and it is
regarded as nm especially good omen
that the natives are rendering their
aid in ferrcting out these people. A
number of bandits are confined IN
prison. and they will receive civil trial.
Possibly some Of these eases may re-
suit in the execution of the offenders.
and. in fact. our military authorities
are inclined 70 believe that il this sort
of punishment Is ordered MT the open
ing trials little more of this kind of
disturbance will occur in the island.
The American troops have on the
whole. been well behaved. and have.
according 10 the testimony Of com
handing officers. given practically nc
trouble at all.
Tremendou. Undertaking.
IL has been tremendous task get
ting the civil administration of az. I.
fairs into operation again. Practically I
all civil administration was at a stand /
still after the fall of the island An
endeavor has been made 10 put the
Spanish officials. so far as could be I
done, back into their places. and have
the civil administration of affairs 90
on as nearly as possible in the usual 4
routine.
At Ponce. where there are. saws Mr..
Nanderlip. some specially sharp poll
ticians. they revived an obsolete au-
economist scheme of municipal govern
ment, and were all ready to put il i'm
force. Gen. Brooke. however found
il of most rigorous and patcrna
character, and declined to permit it's
adoption. whereupon II Of the 30 mem
bcrs of the council resigned. The
commanding general has lust com
pletcd the selection of their success
sors, and mucicipal affairs there will
soon be adjusted.
Withdrawing Guards from Plantations
The American commanding officers
have been Withdrawing guards from
the sugar plantations. and they think
this is going TO have n good effect.
Peonage Worse than slavery
The condition of affairs is worse
than slavery Mt some OF these planta-
tions. The work was done 10y poems"
who receive IS pesetas a day on an
average, and were then subjected to the
very worst type Of country store"
These stores give short weights in
everything sold. Among several hun
dred alleged pound packages of rice
weighed by American oSicials there
was not one which weighed over
Of a pound Oar officers
made the owners OF the plantation
show some sort of fair treatment tn
the poems, refused the request for
guards and have heard nothing further
about riots. II is thought that the
withdrawal of the guards from IN. |