The record-union., 1898-12-10
Situation Now as PeacsahIa as II Is in the
United States.
Has Been a Tremendous Task Get
ting the Civil Administration of
Affairs Into Operation Again
Military Authorities Getting
Along Fairly Well With Gus
toms Collections.

Secretary Vanderlip, Who IS expected TO
arrive in the United States from Porto
Rico next Monday, has made a prelim-
mary and informal report to Secretary
Gage of his observations in that island.
Under date of the 9th ult. he reports
that the military authorities are getting
along fairly well with customs collec-
tions. Everything received has been
deposited with DeFord & Co., financial
agents of the Government, and the
amount now on deposit aggregates more
than 100000. Spanish custom officials
have been put to work at the various
ports, and this system works satis-
factorially The men, he writes, are
honest, and it is thought by prominent
military officials that the Government
is getting everything it should.
Military officers at San Juan contend
that the reports that have reached the
United States concerning the outbreaks
and disturbances Of the peace on the
island are not without substantial foun-
dation. During the evacuation there
were more or less disturbances of q
rather personal and private character,
but the situation now, Mr.. Vanderlip
writes, is as peaceable as it is in the
United States. Within a few days
special reports have been received from
the Mayors of each municipality, and
they all unite in the statement that con-
ditions are entirely peaceable, and the
people lawabiding. There have been
some troubles on the west end of the
island by political agitators, mainly
among emigrants from Hayti, who are
+o hou fo
menting discord. But at the present
time there is nothing serious even in
that district.
The military authorities have been
especially active in capturing some or
ganized bands of bandits, and it is re-
garded as an especially good omen that
the natives are rendering their aid in
ferreting out these people. A number
Of bandits are confined in prison, and
will receive civil trial. Possibly some
of these cases may result in the execu-
ton of the Offenders, and, in fact, our
military authorities are inclined to be-
lieve that if this sort of punishment is
ordered at the opening trials, little more
of this kind of disturbance will occur
in the island.
The American troops have on the
whole, been we'll behaved, and have, ac-
cording to the testimony of the COM
manding officers, given practically no
trouble at all.
1t has been a tremendous task get
ting the civil administration of affairs
into operation again. Practically all
civil administration was at q standstill
after the fall of the island An endeavor
a. ,ter,
cials, so far as could be done, back into
their places, and have the civil admin
istration of affairs go on nearly as pos
sible in the usual routine. At Ponce,
where there are, says Mr.. Vanderlip,
some specially sharp politicians, they
revived an obsolete autonomist scheme
of municipal Government, and were all
ready to put it into force. General
Brooke however found it of q most
rigorous and paternal character, and
declined to permit its adoption. where
upon seventeen of the thirty members
Of the Council resigned. The COM
manding General has just completed
the selection of their successors, and
municipal affairs there will soon be ad-
justed.
The American commanding officers
have been withdrawing guards from
the sugar plantations and they think
this is going to have a good effect The
condition of affairs, it is said, is worse
than slavery at some of these planta-
tions. The work was done by 'Peons,''
who receive 65 pesetas a day on an
average, and were then subjected to the
very worst type of company store
Those stores give short weight in every
thing sold. Among several hundred al
legged pound packages of rice weighed
by American officials there was not one
which weighed over three-quarters of a
POUND.
Our officers made the owners of the
plantations show some sort Of fair
treatment to the Poems refused the
request for guards and have heard
nothing further about riots. 1t is
thought that the withdrawal Of the
guards from the plantations will work
a great Improvement, and that has
practically been accomplished through
out the island
POLICY MAYORS ARE URGED TO
MAINTAIN.
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, Dec.
y,
of letters to the Council, gives further
details of the policy which the Mayors
are urged to maintain in the interest
of public health and order He points
out that the responsibilities have in
creased with the increase of their field
of action.
No person is to be imprisoned without
specific charges being preferred; all
persons now in prison without such
charges against them are to be freed; !;
customs duties and money values must
be regulated by the United States Con-
gress, but the towns are TO be improved
by the adoption Of American standards,
with view of educating the people in
patriotism and self-reliance; resort to
military power is to be had only when
absolutely necessary, and soldiers who
do not respect the civil authorities are
to be severely dealt with
General Henry appeals to Porto
Rjcans to smother their political differ
ences, and to unite in behalf of their
country.