Evening star., 1898-11-15
PORTO RICO,
Result of Three Months study of
POnce's Municipal Government.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The Americans here are glad to see The
Star take up the question of the Porto
Rican's right to suffrage, and before
Congress convenes and acts it is well
to consider through the press what
should be done with Porto Rico. From
a three months study of the municipal gov
ernment of Ponce l am filled with absolute
disgust at the primitiveness of their insti-
tutions. Every act of the common council
is surrounded with secrecy, and the same
Spanish ways of doing business are as much
in vogue as of yore. The astonishment OF
the natives at the action of the United
States authorities in leaving them the most
unlicensed authority TO act in any and all
manners of city government a first aStoniah-
eu lhem, and after they recovered from the
shock OF being placed IN charge of such lib
erty they have proceeded TO make the best
OF II. Their first move was TO grant in d
most unusual way franchise for the con-
struction of an electric road from the city
10 the Playa, a franchise which cannot be
granted by any right given them under d
military government, because when the ma
cnlnery of local government was handed
over to them they were given the right onls
to act in matters which pertalned to the
necessary business affairs of the city. By
what right railroad be constructed
without referring the matter to the chief
engineer of the army? This railroad is
not for the immediate use of the army, and
If 1t is it should be constructed by the gov.
ernment. II it is to be constructed by prl-
vate capital, under what authority is per-
mission given corporation to construct
over a public road? There is plenty of land
which can be had for a fair compensation,
but in preference to purchasing this land ii
Is much easier to bribe members of the COM
mon council. These members of the COM
mon council know absolutely nothing about
governing a city They have elected three
mayors and maintain a city police force
whose respect for the law and knowledge of
1t is the laughing stock of every American
here. They arrive at their office at about
10 o'clock and leave for breakfast at II, re-
turning at ., and, after dragging through
two or three weary hours, close up the Of
iice worn out. There is much in the
way of sanitary Improvement to be ac-
complished that they could keep open until
IL o'clock every night. There is no just
system of assessment or taxation. Any one
Is liable to be called upon to pay any sum
the city may demand: and in one instance
physician was sent a bill for $3.50 as Ii
cense to practice. Upon appeal to General
Henry the matter was dropped.
Congress should send full list of Amer
leans here at the first opportunity to take
hold of the business of the city, such
revenue officers, health officers and in fact,
every one necessary to carry on the bus-
ness of the city: but let those in authority
first consider the danger of sending any
but the best and most conscientious, and in
every way should the government be care
full not to appoint a lot of political schem-
ers who will come here, issue city bonds
and conduct the affairs in the old way, but
in more gigantic way-American style
What is most needed is an agricultural eX-
pertinent station which will enter at once
into the examination of soils before A1neri-
cans start upon agricultural pursuits.
JAS. HAGNER.
Ponce November 3, 1898.