Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1898-11-18
BANDI7SARE RAMPANT
Porto Rico Overrun With ThSm, Ac.
cording to Mail Advicek
MANY MURDERS COMMITTED
correspondent OF New Yoxk Mer-
chant Cites Examples of Laxyless-
ness Occurring Since We
Got the Island,

Oot inc Asland.
New York, Nov. 1s.-If the words OF
ietter from San Juan, Porto Rico, re-
celveo by s. E. Halberstadt, an i'm
porter and commission merchant, are
true' the island so lately coms into the
control of the United States Us practi-
caliy in the hands OF bandits Ind incen-
oiarles, who are burning plantations
ana committing murder almoBt at will.
ihe letter, dated at San Juan on Nov.
as ana folows' wrlt'en in Spanish Isl translated
I'VE thank you for the steps you have
taken to advise the secretary3of war in
regard to matters on this &land. On
the 18th Of last month thi6 city was
handed over to the American govern
ment, and since then the government
mas received full possession OF the whole
island. III
THE situation has not improved at
all. Disorder continues. as we'll as rob-
oery, assassination and incendiarism,
and we have no knowledge that any
exemplary punishment has been meted
out to restore tranquility or guarantee
safety to the interests created by labor
and honesty,
There Is in the interior small town
San Sebastian, formerly Pipino-where
the intrinsic value Of plantations de-
stroyed by bands Of robbers and incen-
diaries is more than 5000, 900. II you add
to this amount 100000, the value of the
coffee crop, which cannot be gathered
because Of the disturbances, you have a
loss in this one district alone, under
American rule, Of 100000.
And we don't think we are mistaken
In estimating the loss Of this country
under American rule at 5000 900. If the
government Of the United States does
not decide to pay these losses and to
check this evil, then very soon this little
island. formerly prosperous and peace
full, will be ruined.
For reasons we have explained there
is no use to think Of business at present,
and not until order has been establish
ed and honest people In the country can
have full protection and furthermore
until we know what the final custom
tariff is to be can business be transact
ed" M
Planters NurdsFed.
This letter, Mr.. Ha.aerstadt says was
written by one of the most prominent
and reputable houses in Porto Rico, not
one that would be prone to exaggerate
facts in any way. Another letter from
Ponce, received short time ago, gave
the names Of three wealthy planters
and an overseer who had been MUIR
dered.
In the letter the writer said he had
applied to the comma nder of the United
States forces for protection and had re-
ceived a reply that 1t was impossible to
protect every plantation; copy of
this letter was forwarded to President
Mckinley, who replied that he had
turned it over to the secretary of war.
Mr.. Halberstadt has sent a translation
of the last letter from San Juan to the
president with a request that something
be done.
"These murders and all this robbery
and destruct on" Mr.. IIalberstadt said,
ARE the work of the natives who seek for
plunder and revenge on the Spanish. all
of whom are now under the jurisdiction
of this country
ITO establish the order 80 necessary
to the welfare Of the island this govern
ment should send at least 1000 cavalry
men to Porto Rico to act as mounted
rural guard This force could police
the whole island.
"Porto REQ currency, believe, should
be withdrawn and our own money put
into circulation there. have given this
subject very careful thought, and two
methods to bring this about are feasi-
BILE.
"One is to have all duties paid in
Porto Rican money II a tariff between
the countries is determined upon. This
would eventually bring all the currency
OF the island into the United States
treasury Another would be to sell 1t
for American gold at auction sales held
at different places at stated times. The
could then figure out the
average of exchange, and that rate
could be used In the payments OF old
debts"