The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-24
A WORD TO SANTA CLAUS,
Porto Rico Children Ask for Teachers
for Christmas Presents.

for Christmas Presents.
San Juan, P r, Dec. 24-Gen. Guy
V. Henry, military governor has ad-
dressed two letters to the president of
the insular cabinet and its members
announcing his future policy. He de-
clares that so far as possible he wishes
to give independence of action to the
mayors and council in the various
towns and to hold them responsible for
the conditions that follow. He lays es-
pecial stress upon the necessity of
cleaning the towns and providing for
them an adequate policy.
It is his intention he says to appoint
to the council only men who are select
ed by the people or recommended by
the council itself. In regard to the
method of elections, he is as yet in
doubt, but intimates that the suffrage
viii not be restricted to those who can
read and write, as only IA per cent of
the people would be able to vote under
this rule.
A man in office, Gen. Henry announ-
ces, will not be removed except for
cause. Should such removal become
necessary he expects the council to eff
feet it and will act himself only upon
the failure of the council to do so.
Gen. Henry asks the mayors how
many instructors they can pay who can
teach the English language. He thinks
that those unable to teach in any other
tongue than English can do the work
by object lessons. American women for
teaching, he says, can be obtained at $50
a month in gold and are well worth it.
The general declares it his purpose to
introduce a few American policemen to
teach native policemen their duty and
to encourage them to exercise soma
authority (which at present they do not
seem DESTROYS of doing
Cen Henry announces that men
should not be put in Jail unless charges
are brought against them. 1.-The injus-
tice of holding men in jail without
charges he says, cor putting them in
jail and holding them there without
trial which seems to be the custom in
this country cannot be too strongly I'M
pressed upon the people and will not be
allowed. When civil courts fail to try
the cases of bandits and murderers I
have organized commissions whose du-
ties Will be to bring these men to trial.
The general declares that politics
should be discarded until laws are en-
acted to govern the island and that ar
ticles of an incendiary character will
not be allowed in the newspapers. Re
garding military rule Gen. Henry says:
1t is the intention that soldiers so far
as possible shall preserve law and order
but as the United states soldiers are not
needed, so the idea now is to educate
the people to take care of themselves.
This of course will take time but
every official reSOrting to violence in or
der to protect himself in the perform
ance of his duty will be upheld by me.
soldiers who do not respect the civil
authority or try to impose upon police
men if reported to the commanding Of
ficer of post will be severely dealt
with"
IN MS second letter. General Henry
asks that the mayors and councils of
the various towns send delegates each
to San Juan to meet him. His purpose,
he declares, is ito give the people every
latitude consistent with discipline and
good order. I wish to know what their
views are and to grant their desires as
far as possible"
1t is the opinion of a good many men
here that if anything is to be made
out of the Porto Rican, if he can ever
be taught to become a proper citizen
of the United States, then General
Henry is on the track which viii lead
to thi- much desired end. The question
is clearly one of development and edu-
cation To this end he will instruct the
young, and this purpose is evidenced in
the suggestion of American teachers
for that purpose. While in Ponce Gen
eral Henry attended a meeting of
school children who were addressed on
the subject of Christmas in the United
States and Christmas presents The
children were asked what they would
best like for their Christmas presents.
TO the surprise of every American
present they answered they would pre-
fer teachers to anything else. This oc-
currence has so been reported to Mr..
Mckinley. There is as yet no evidence
of opposition to this general idea. but
one already begins to hear Porto Rican
opinions against the desirability of sub
shutting English for Spanish in the
schools. There are Porto Ricans who
viii strongly object to any measures
toward changing the language of the
island
General Henry is going to put an
American army officer at the San Juan
department of street cleaning and city
sanitation. The actual work of this de-
partment viii still remain under the
jurisdiction of the San Juan city coun-
Gil but the American officer will infuse
IN them new ideas. good methods and
aboNe all energy. This measure is one
greatly needed, and the results reason
ably expected therefrom will make San
Juan much more agreeable as a resi-
denCe to Americans
General Henry is becoming thorough
" acquainted with the city insDection
with some member of his STAFF.
san Juan IS an over crowded city. It
IS surprising TO see the large number
of poor who infest the dirty tenements
in the upper parts of the city and it is
almost Impossible to rent for residential
purposes second floors that are NOT
directly over people who live in squalor.
foul air and confusion. This over
crowding of the city makes desirable
dwelling houses expensive. San Juan has