The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-28
PORTO RICANS ARRIVE
COMMISSIONERS ON THEIR WAY TO
SEE PRESIDENT M'KINLEY.
Want Home Rule and Public schools
Like the United states-Cur-
rency Unstable.

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-Three of the menu
bers of the commission of Porto Rcans on
its way to see President Mckinley and
members of Congress are still in the city
and Will remain here until next week. when
they will proceed TO Washington. DR.. Nj.
Zeno Gambia, DR.. j. j. Henna and Senor
Eugenio M. Hortos are here and they will
be joined by DIR. Raphael del Bale and Senior
DR.. E. L. Govina, who are expected from
Porto Rico early in January
In speaking of their mission here, the
members of the commission said tnat they
represented several cities, Ponce. San Juan.
Adjuntas, Penelas and Juana Diaz, more
particularly than the whole island, but other
delegates representing other cities of the
island may be expected here on a similar
duty during the next month. The commits
sioners have been sent to Washington in an
effort to put end to the administrative,
financial and educational conditions as they
exist in the Island of Porto Rico to-day
Senior Hoslos, in speaking of their mis-
sion, said: Porto Rico asks to be accepted
by the United States as a brother, not as a
servant. We ask for home rule and public
schools. We do not expect everything at
once, but want to start right, and only ask
that we be made Territory, the same as
We do not want to be started as a colony,
which must forever remain outside the Ma
ton. We We're colony of Spain, and the
best we could be was second-class Spaniards
We do not wish to be second-class Ameri-
cans. We want to be first-class Americans.
We want to become part of the American
people. The people of Porto Rico do not yet
understand much of the American laws and
customs, nor the feelings of the American
people towards them. They do not know
what is to become of them. We have no
complaint to make of the government OF
General Henry. He is a good man. and we
all respect and esteem him. But his gov
eminent is the government Of a man, not Of
the people, as all military governments must
be.
Above everything, want to see public
SCHOOLS started In my country, such schools
as you have here. have taken it as my
part of the work for my country to have as
many schools started as possible Not more
than is to 20 per cent. of our people can
read and write. 1t is not their fault. The
SpaniardS gave no schools at all that were
worthy Of the name"
DR.. Gambia said: Reform is needed i'm
monetary tariff, and, most important, in
the so-called autonomist government of the
Spanish, as those in office have been under
no compulsion to adopt reforms or progress
SiVe ideas. Our hope is that the President
will appoint a governor and secretary of
the Territory, and, by proclamation, decree
an election for municipal officers and for a
Legislature. Four-ffthS of the million peo-
pie in Porto Rico are white. The unstable
currency Is a source of vexation to the
business men. There is about S. co., 900 Porto
Rican silver in circulation and $S.O00,O00
American money, and how to substitute
more of the latter for the former is a ques-
ton for Congress to soive.'
The commissioners expect to be in this
country a month, but do not know how long
they will remain in Washington.