The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1898-09-17
rgoBLEMs AHEAD
OF EVACUATION COMMISSION
spnnlards WIN Unwlillngiy Give up Gov.
ornmtnt Property Unequal Taxa
ton on the Island

win exercise Their skill ~ secure every
advantage.
They are desperate and will get under
our guard II such thing Is possible,
While Il IL likely that General Brooke
may have virtual control Of this city
within few weeks. Il may be some time
longer before the last yestlge OF Spanish
authority Is removed. In fact. our com.
miBsioncrs appear convinced that they
will be able TO complete their work In.
side Of nYe or ElI weeks. Colonel Hun
ter. secretary Of the commission. Major
Carson. disbursing agent. Mr.. Hunter. le-
gal adviser OF the commission. and one
or two others are here. but some Of the
clerks and Htenographers have not yet
arrived
Just how the commission will proceed
lt Will be impossible 10 guess until the
two sets OF commissioners meet. Their
Instructions are known only TO them
selves. Their functions are purely mill
tary and would seem 10 be limited. under
the terms OF the protocol 10 arranging
tho details OF evacuation and the trans
fer Of all Spanish government property
to the United States.
A. first blush Il would seem a simple
operation neccssiiailng only an inventory
Of the government property on the island
as distinguished from the property Of the
provinces. the municipalities and towns.
its transfer 10 the United States and the
departure OF the Spanish troops. But Il
10 intlmated that the Spanish authorities,
possibly for their government,bu more
probably for themselves. hope TO save
something out or the wreck, Just how
they expect TO do this passes comprehen-
sion. but those who are in the cOunsels
OF the past asser, that they will be able
TO do So as the concession OF the island
TO the United States carries with II all
public property. fortiheatlons. buildings,
lands. etc. there Is an lntimation that
the Spanish will demana compensation for
guns mounted In the fortihcations. II they
are to remain. or in lazy sort OF way.
for other things.
II is pretty safe to assume that the in
strucuons OF our commissioners hold
them strictly to the text Of the protocol
and that any claims made by Spain must
go TO the Paris commission for ADJUST
ment.
Under the instructions the Spanish COM
mlssioners will receive--or have received
they can OF course raise any question
thar they desire. II Is with the evacua-
ton our commissioners have TO do, ana
whatever Is left will be turned over 10
the American authorities.
The examination OF government TILES
will be laborious task. In addition TO
The regular government property. forti-
buildings, railroads and tele-
graphs. the Spanish government owns. or
ild own, some buildings used as resi-
lences OF officials. seml-pubhc property
with considerable amount OF crown
and Some OF this land is situated in
San Juan and is very valuable, There are
tracts In other parts OF the island, Should
Il be found In the future that any OF the
property has been sequestrated or decided
recently TO private individuals, the deeds
might be questioned, but Ihese will prob
ably be matters for the courts TO adjust
ater.
When the islands pass under civil ad-
1t would be possible tor the
government OF the United States 10 create
A school fund for the people OF the island
by the sale OF lands now owned by the
government. And II congress should de-
eide that II was expedient to continue the
ownership OF the railroads ana tele-
graphs, these, II not sold to the highest
bidder, could also be turned over TO the
territorial government,
United States Consul Hanna, who left
the island when war was declared, and
who, since the landing OF our army at
Ponce, has returned to the consulate
here, was here when the autonomist
scheme was inaugurated for Porto Rico
by General Maclal and he is firm be-
liever In the ability OF the people here TO
govern themselves, Although the auton-
omy granted was a delusion and a snare,
In that the government OF Spain retained
the balance Of power he says the people,
At the only election held, displayed the
greatest interest as well as intelligence,
The election was as quiet and orderly as
one in the United States.
The only session of the autonomist leg
stature was held on July Is, 1t simply
under the influence OF the Span
sh authorities and voted u war credit,
With an equitable system of taxation, in
which all shared alike, the condition OF
The people here must inevitably improve
rapidly, With the taxes raised to sup
port the military establishments of the
sland with the enormous corruption in,
,idental to Spanish administration, every
where they Were even more impressive
han they wuNd have been had they been
evied equitab1y. 1t was notorious that
Spanlards having influence paid little,
while others with an equal amount OF
axable property, were oppressed In
'ome cases almost to the point of con-
lscauon, A native Porto Rican who
'wns large sugar plantation on the
outh side of the island, has for years
'een compelled to pay from $4,000 to
20 900 In taxes, while Spaniard with a
arger plantation adjoining his paid less
han $1,000.
But the most oppressive taxes are
hose wrung from industry. Licenses
must be paid in order to work-llcenses
o sell the products of labor and licenses
o buy. The markets here, which should
'e filled with vegetables and fruits, are
almost waste OF stalls, because Of the
inability of truck farmers to pay the IL
lenses necessary to enable them to get
heir products to market.