The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-01-29
SPAIN MADE AWAY WITH
PORTO RIcAN FUNDS.
over 3000 Pesos Of Trust Funds Miss
ing From the Treasury-DeposltOrS
Make Demands on Washington.

Correspondence OF the Associated Press
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO. Jan. q.
The secretary of the Porto Rican
treasury estimates that the Spanish au-
thoriaes made away with 500.5e0 or 4OO,-
90 pesos Of trust funds that were de-
posted In tho treasury bsrs.
These funds consisted Of deposits made
By foreign life and fire insurance com
panies, By public contractors and OIL
GERS. litigants and public officers and
others The amount continues TO swell
senOr Colley Toste. the present secretary
OF finance. appointed by General Brooke
on November 10. makes the following
statement:
when I took charge Of the Porto RI
can treasury. found that deposits and
bonds consigned in specie in the time Of
tho Spanish domination had been deiiv-
cred over to me. OF this fund that
received was 70 centavos In bronze coins
and one Venezuelan gold piece worth
three pesos and % eentavos. the balance
Of judicial deposit.
The Spanish system Of accounting al
lowed such monies 10 be mingled with
other funds and applied o~the payment
Of government expenses. but the penal
code punished him who should dispose
Of such deposits. l at once instituted
proceedings 70 investigate the matter.
Formerly the treasury OF Porto Rico was
independents Of the Spanish treasury. but
General Macias. upon taking his depart
ure from here. carried with him TO Ma.
drld 9l.ysJ pesos and General Yallerinc
took 5000 pesos from these funds. claim.
INK them improperly by an oyerp'us "a
Spain This money belonged to the Porte
Rican treasury.
The war and navy departments Of
Spain drew without reserve upon tbs
Porto Rican treasury. That money Should
return TO Spain. as well as the money
which the island advanced 10 the treas
ury OF Spain for the expense OF the Gu
ban war in order that all arrears nigh
be liqudated."
General Macias was Ingenious and thi
officials here appear 10 have complaccnth
regarded his spollation OF the local treas
ury. until the foreign insurance com
panies and other deposltors began L
deluge the local treasury with their de
mands. The foreign companies hav'
made their demands the subject OF ne
gotiaiions between Spain and Washing
ton.
By records OF the treasury department
il appears that on October Il. 1895. Gen
eral Macias ordered the secretary OF a
nance TO publish a notice in the Offcia
! Gazette. notifying all parties having
claims against the treasury TO presen
/ the same by October II. thus giving fiv,
days for the disposition OF this most I'm
portant matter.
! OF course the foreign companies hat
no knowledge OF such proceedings. AZ
I ter the expiration OF the FIVE days
which was the last day OF the Spanish
rule in the islands. General Macias tool
snap judgment and held that. as M
claimants appeared, the deposits belongs
to his sovereign. He carried the none,
l to Spain TO present to his general mas
/ ter as an evidence OF the economy anC
thrift OF his administration in Porte
Rico.
While the American companies arr
looking after their interests through
diplomatic channels, the private people
whose funds are gone, are thrown intC
Consideration at the prospect of theil
losses.
"wnl America pay these people?" is in
question asked by those in authority.