The record-union., 1898-10-19

/ WASHINGTON, w Oct 1S.-The Unit
ed States is now formally in possession
of the island of Porto Rico as sover-
| eign. The War Department has re-
celved the following:
San Juan de Porto Rico. Oct 1S.-
Secretary of War, Washington: Flags
have been raised on public buildings
| and forts in this city and saluted with
national salutes. The occupation of
the island is now complete
BROOKE"
A QUIET CEREMONY.
SAN JUAN, Oct. 1S-Promptly at
noon to-day the American flag was
| raised over San Juan. The ceremony
was quiet and dignified, unmarried by
disorder of any kind.
| The Eleventh Regiment of Infantry,
with two batteries of the Fifth Artil-
lery, landed this morning. The latter
proceeded to the forts. while the infan-
| try lined up on the docks. 1t was a
hot day for San Juan, and there were
many people in the streets. Rear Ad-
miral Schley and General Gordon, ac-
companied by their staffs, proceeded to
the palace in carriages. The Eleventh
| Infantry and band with Troop II of
the Sixth United States Cavalry then
formed in the square opposite the pal
| ace.
At 11:40 a. m. General Brooke. Ad-
miral Schley and General Gordon, the
United States Evacuation Commission
ers, came out of the palace with many
naval officers, and formed on the right
| side of the square.
| The streets behind the soldiers were
thronged with townspeople, who stood
waiting in dead silence. At last the
city clock struck the hour of II, and
| the crowds, almost breathless and with
eyes fixed upon the flagpole, watched
| for developments.
AT the sound of the first gun from
Fort MORO, Major Dean and Lieuten-
| ant Castle of General Brooke'S staff
hoisted the Stars and Stripes, while
| the band played the Star -Spangled
Banner" All heads were barred, and
| the crowds cheered. Fort Morro. Fort
San Cristobal and the United States
revenue cutter Manning, lying in the
harbor, fired twenty-one guns each.
Senior MunoZ Rivera, who was Presi-
dent of the recent aT1onomist council
of secretaries, and other officials of the
late insular government were present
at the proceedings.
Congratulations and handshaking
among the American officers followed
Ensign King hoisted the Stars and
Stripes on the Intendencia but all other
flags on the various public buildings
were hoisted by military officers. Sim
ultaneously with the raising of the
flag over the Captain Generals palace.
many others We're hoisted in different
parts of the city.
The work of the United States Evac-
uation Commission is now over, and
all the reports will be forwarded to
Washington on Thursday next The
labors of both parties have terminated
with honors for all concerned The
American Commissioners worked with
out the least delay, and in the most
thorough and effective manner.
In view of the fact that at noon to-
day with the acquisition of Porto Rico
by the United States, about 100000 in
habitants of that island lost their Span
ish citizenship, the question as to
what shall become of these people po-
litically becomes of Importance.
Madrid advices report that leading
citizens of Porto Rico have already
taken steps to become naturalized as
United States citizens. This is an
error, for existing laws provide no way
in which the change of citizenship can
be effected by the residents of the ISL
and. There is no United States Court
there before which a declaration of in
tention can be filled, and in fact no
machinery at all which can be put in
motion to change citizenship.
Inquiry into this subject at the State
Department discloses the fact that il
has been usual to provide a bodily
transfer of the citizenship of people
conditioned as those in Porto Rico, in
the treaty of peace which terminates a
war. 1t may be prudent for the com
mission at Paris to avoid any reference
to Porto Rico again, in which case Con-
gress will be called upon by the Pres
ident to confer citizenship upon the
Porto Ricans in the same Act as that
which must be passed to provide a
stable form of Government for the ISL
and. Should either of these courses
be found impracticable, it is said at the
department that international law III
it's operation would confer American
citizenship upon these Porto Ricans,
the genral principle being that where
a treaty of cession is silent upon the
subject citizenship changes with the
soil.
Farmer and Wife Murdered.
KANKAKFE Ull), Oct. Is. - Emil