New-York tribune., 1898-12-26
AN EARNEST OF REFORM.

General Henry the Military Governor OF Porto
Rico. has reduced the budget Of expenses for
that island for the coming year from 4,00,0oO
pesos-a peso Is about % cents-as it was under
Spansh rule, to 100000 pesos. n reduction OF
b75 per cent That was an item OF news In yes
tcrday's paper 1t was brief tem not al all
conspicuous or sensational But in benccent
import it is worthy of rank amid the most STIR
ring news of the day. As an earnest of reform,
of Improvement, of progress of prosperity, ana
as a vindication Of American rule in Porto Rico,
its significance cannot easily be oyercstimatcd.
The population Of Porto Rico Is probably
about nine hundred thousand. Under Spanish
rule then. taxation for the island budget was
about 81 10 head. Under United States rule
II will be only 81 10 q head. That Is a consider
able difference which will he appreciated by
every property-Owner and ndustrialist on the
island 1t will remove the long standing COM
plaint Of the people that they are Ovcrtaxed, and
will convince them In the most practical way Of
the benefcence OF American rule. The latter
effect will be much intensified when they find,
as they presently will. that they are getting, in
schools. good roads and other public works far
more for 81 20 a head than they used to get for
81 10 a head With taxes reduced more than 80
per cent and good returns for the taxes in
creased 100 per cent. as they doubtless will be.
the Porto Ricans will for the first time realize
the possibilities Of good government.
The reasons why General Henry can so reduce
the budget and at the same time improve the
service are that the American administration Of
the island will be more honest, economical and
efficient than the Spanish has been, and that
the island will no longer have to pay tribute to
Spain. We may reasonably expect similar
hut still greater improvement to be effected In
the finances of Cuba, where the evils have been
more marked than in Porto Rico. In the last
year before the late rebellion the Cuban budget
called for eXpenditures-to he raised by taxa
tion--Of $27 100000 or S1S head of the popua-
ton. OF that more than One-third, TO w.t.
$10.500.0O0. was for interest on the national
debt of Pcninsular Spain, and was not to benefit
Cuba in the slightest. The next largest Item
was $G.000,0 900 for the Spanish Army and Navy
More than $4.0OO.OOO was for salaries of Spanish
Offce-hOldcrs and S20O0O00 for Spanish pen
soners. But at the end there were two items
for the good Of the island, to w.t. sos, 900 for
Internal improvements, such as public buildings
roads telegraph lines, harbors, lighthouses, san
itaton. etc. and 200 for educational pur
poses. Out of S27.00O,OOO only S7402OO for per
manent bettermcnts Of the island Strike off
the item for the Spanish debt. reduce the army
and navy charge to mere police expenses. cut
down the carpet-bag salary list to reasonable d
mcnsions and the budget of expenditures will
be reduced by twC-thrds Increase the appro-
pratiOns for public works and education ten
fold, and the budget will still be only half its
former size. Taxation will he only half as
heavy as II was. and there will be twenty times
as much to show for IT,
Snch are the reforms for Porto Rico. for Cuba
and for the Philippines Of which General Hen
rvs action Is an auspcious earnest. Executed
as we have no doubt they will he. they will mag
nlficently vindcate our control of those islands,
and will advance their civilization and enhance
the contentment and welfare of their inhabitants
to a degree beyond all estimate