The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-12-10

be PeaceAbIe-T Tho Greatest Task Is
ReadIusting tho Civil Admins
traaon.
WASHINGTON, D. c.. Dec. s.-As-
sIstant.secretary vanderlIp, who Is ex-
pacted to arrive in the United States
from Porto Rico next Monday, has
made preliminary and informal re-
port to Secretary Gage of his observa-
ions In that island. Under date Of the
eth, he reports that the military au-
thorItlss are getting along fairly well
with customs collections. Everything re-
celved has been deposited with DeFord
& Co., financial agents OF the govern
ment, and the amount now on deposit
aggregates moro than 100000 Spanish
custom officials have been put to work
at the various ports and this system
works satisfactory. The men. he
writes, are honest, and 1t is thought, by
prominent military officials that tho
government Is getting everything it
should.
The report that customs officers In
Porto Rico were receiving only pesos,
and were declining to receive American
dollars at San Juan Is incorrect. That
was the case for few days, the Span
lBll customs officials interpreting the IN
structlOns' to mean that only pesos
should be received. As soon as this was
1,ss HnildVsu a nng0N
were ordered to be received without
prejudice, the rate OF course being two
pesos as against one American dollar.
While that rate does not at all oorres-
pond with the commercial rate OF 81 90,
1t 10 A fact that about tw0-thirds OF the
customs at San Juan have been receiV-
ed In dollars, the remaining one.third
IN pesns. The customs Offices are not
allowed to exchange pesos back for doll
lars. Military officers at San Juan con-
TEND that the reports that have reached
the United States concerning the out
breaks and disturbances OF the peace on
the island are without substantial foun-
datlon.
situation Now Peaceful.
During the evacuation there were
more or less disturbances of rather
personal private character. but the sit
uatIon here now, 3ir. yanderlip writes.
Is as peaceable as 1t Is IN the United
States. Within few days, special re-
ports have been received from the
mayors Of each municipality anu they
all unite In the statement that the-con-
dHioas are entirely peaceable anu the
people law-ablding. There has oeen
some trouble on the west END OF tns
ArnN "a
amonu emigrants from Haytl, who are
aald to have a special facility for TO-
menting discord, but Mt the present
time there Is nothing serious even IN
that district. The military authorities
have been especially active in capturing
some organized bands of bandits, and lt
Is regarded as an especially good omen
that the natives are rendering their aid
In ferretlng out these people. a num-
her of bandits are confined In prison
and they win receive civil trials. Pos
slbly some OF these cases may result IN
the execution OF the Offenders, and In
fact our military authorities are incllns
ed to believe that II this sort of pun
lshment Is ordered at the opening 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, ac-
cordIng to the testimony Of commando
ing officers, given practically no tTou-
BILE at all.
a Tremendous Task.
II has been a tremendous task. get
ting the civil administration OF AFFAIRS
into operation again. Practically all
civil administration was at a standstill
N,nI r9N ka n nndnnUnF
has been made TO put the Spanish ofil-
clals, SO far as could be done, back into
their places and have the civil admlnis-
tratIon of affairs go on as nearly as
possible In the routine. AT Ponce,
where there are, says Secretary YAM
derllp, some special sharp politicians.
they revived an obsolete autonomist
scheme OF municipal government and
were all ready to put II into force. Gem
eraI Brooke, however found II of n
most rigorous and paternal character
and declined to permit Its adoption,
Whereupon seventeen of the thirty
members of the council resigned. The
commanding general has Just complet-
ed the selection Of their successors and
municipal affairs there will soon be ad-
justed.
The American commanding officers
have been withdrawing guards from the
sugar plantations and they think this Is
going to have a good effect. The con-
dillon Of affairs, 1t Is stated, Is worse
than slavery at some OF these planta-
tIahs The work was done by Poems
who receive flfty-five pesetas a day, on
an average, and were then subjected 70
the very worst type OF country store"
Gave Short Weight.
Those stores give short weights in ev-
erythlng sold. Among several hundred
alleged pound packages of rice weighed
bv American officials there was not one
which weighed over three-fdurths OF a
pound. Our officers made the owners Of
the plantations show some sort OF fair
treatment to the 'peonB," refused the
request for guards, and have heard
nothing further about riots. Il Is
thought that the withdrawal OF the
guards from the plantations will work
great improvement and that has now
been accomplished practically through
out the island.
The report closes By sayIng; II learn
that there Is n great demand here for n
boat for the coastinR trade around the
island. There IL only one small boat
engaged I'm the trade, and she has
freight from hero away beyond her ca
pacity, SO TINT her owners refuge all
shipments except Emall ones upon which
they can get the highest rate. a small
gteamec could undoubtedly make good
~. HNg.a Naas. na