The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-10
PORTO RIcAA AFFAIRS.
Preliminary Report by Asst Sec'y
Vanderbilt.
MILITARY ADMINISTRATION is
WORKING WE'LL so FAR.


Getting Along Well With Customs CO.
Iections-Repoit of Disturbances Has
Been Observation-Disclosures Troops
Have Behaved Wei as a Rule.
Washington, December 9.-Assistant
Secretary Vanderiip, who is expected to
arrive in the United States from Porto
Rico next Monday, has made q prelimi-
nary report to Secretary Gage of his OBJ
the 9th ult he reports that the military
authorities are getting along fairly well
with customs collections. Everything
received had been deposited with re
Ford Il Co.. financial agents of the gov
srnment and the amount now on deposit
aggregates more than 500, 900. Spanish
customs officials have been put to work
at the various ports and this system
works satisfactorily. The men, he writes,
are honest ana it is thought by pronii-
nent military officials that the govern
ment is getting everything it should.
The report that custom officials in Porto
Rico were receiving only pesos and were
declining to receive American dollars at
San Juan is incorrect. That was the case
for flew days the Spanish customs offic-
ials Interpreting the instructions to mean
that only pesos should be received. AS
soon as this was discovered, however,
dollars or pesos were ordered to be re-
ceived without prejudice. the rate being
two pesos as against one American dollar
Vile that rate does not correspond with
tine commercial rate of $l.65. it is fact
that about two. thirds of the customs at
San Juan hays been received in dollars.
The customs officers are not allowed to
exchange pesos back for dollars.
Military officers at San Juan contend
that the reports that have reached the
United States concerning the outbreaks
and distur Dances of the peace of the ISL
and are without substantial foundation.
During the evacuation there were more
or less distur Dances of a rather personal
and private character, but the situation
now, Mr.. VANDERBILT writes, Is as peace
able as it is in the United States. There
have been some troubles on the west end
of the island by political agitators, main
ly among emigrants from Hayti, who are
said to have a spe sial faculty for foment-
ing disoord, but at present there is, moth
ing serious even in that district. The
military authorities have been especially
active in capturing some organized bands
of bandits and the natives are rendering
aid in ferreting out these people. A mum.
Der of bandits are confined in prison and
they will receive civil trial. Possibly
some of these cases may result in the ex-
ecution OF the offenders.
The American troops have on the whole,
been well behaved and have given practi-
cally no trouble. 1t has been tremen-
dous task getting the civil administration
,F EFof~x 5x.+o TOW, .fvr A an
deavor has bean made to put the Spanish
officials SO far as could be done, back
into their places.
At Ponce, where there are, says MIR.
Vauderlip, some specially sharp polite
ians. they revived an obsolete autono-
mist scheme Of municipal government.
Gen. Brooke, however, found it Of a
most rigorous and paternal character and
declined to permit its adoption. where
upon IL of the 80 members of the council
resigned. The commanding general has
just selected their successors.
The American commanding officers have
been withdrawing guards from the sugar
plantations, and they think this is going
to have good effect The condition of
affairs, it is stated. was worse than slav
cry at some of these plantations. The
work was done by Poems, who received So
pesstas day on On average, and were
then subjected to the very worst tyre of
country store. - These stores gave short
weights in everything sold. Our officers
made ths owners of the plantation show
some sort of fair treatment to the Poems,
refused requests of guards and have heard
nothing further about riots.
The report closes by saying.
II learn that there is a great demand
here for boat for the custom trade
around the islands. There is only one
small boat engaged in the trade and she
has freight from here away beyond her
capacity SO that her owners refuse ship
irents except small ones, upon which they
can get the highest rate A small steam
er could undoubtedly make good profit in
the coasting trade"