New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-03-20
PORTO RICAN CLIQUE.
RIVERA COMING TO WASHINGTON
TO REPRESENT 1T.
-,-,,vs. AND OFFICE HOLDERS INTERESTS
NOT IDENTICAL WITH THE rEoPLE's-"HA'
GENERAL HENRY HAS DONE.
san Juan. Porto Rico March 8

GENERAL HENRY HAS DONE
San Juan Porto Rico March 8
Mica Who was az tho head Of the autono-
~ rsh,no, FOR some months before Spain sur
Ms, ,his island 80 the United States. and who
Teh''..v .,,,,sd IN ONCE until month ago, is to
va .,- Nov-York and Washington this week.
,abl,- 10 trv 10 upset the existing administra-
p. ~ affairs here. Mr.. Rivera Is an able ana
,.,ie man but whatever ne says should be
pa n-,,b,a hie grain of salt He will assert in
,,h,rctor that the Liberal party contains about
"Sn',r,bs Of an the respectable people OF Porto
es ,n.. under Spanish rule politics wholly
o,al but that now personal differences have
- sunk and the common object OF all Porto
80 &c fo get rid ~ military despotism and
- territorial rights that he IS the recognized
go and leader ~ the Liberal party. and that II
~, ,sso0, regime continues the feeling OF at
W. .,,- toward the United States would he sup
- ~, one OF repulsion which It would be diff
fcut 70 cure. -. 49,. into
=, ,he small hut locally influential minority OF
.u,c,ans and offce-hoders It Is essentially true
80 Ri-ans I'm this sense constitute about or >
- oart no the entire population Of the island,
~ would never bring political freedom 10 the
,,o,d their interests are antagonistc IN every re
-, m tho whole sum % educational administra-
.irs and social reforms that are signihed by The
word "Amoricanism
THE LIBERAL CABINET TRIED.
command
,,.,sr,bor and tried 10 carry on the government
9th tbe Liberal Cabinet which had been con-
.,-,ss ~ povo- by General Brooke Under the
s,,-, q government in force when General Henry
o--,ved and continued hy him until early In Feb
mary Luis Rivera. holding the portfolio Of State
,rss q. tho head Of the Cabinet. and all official
-.ercou-se with the heads OF the departments OF
r,,ance Justice and Interior was held through
,,-o and his orders not those OF the Governor
n.,s-at we're oheved The centralized system OF
administration prevails here. The Secretary OF
STATE controls all appointments in the several mu-
rlc.pal!tes !rto which the island IS divided. and
his Cahiret suhordnates control all other civil ap-
rointnen-s even those Of school teachers. While
Mr. Rivera apparently deferred 10 tho military gov
.rnor be acted practically upon the theory that
hs was himself de facto governor. Whenever his
poli,ical status was endangered he either evaded
or d.s0beyed the orders Of the Governor-Generai.
and as tho most pressing and essentia! administra-
TIVE reforms were from the nature Of things an
tsgonisuc n the corrupt system Of government
unor which he based his power he frequently sue
eeeded IN neutral.zing the action Of the Governor
Jus, where such action was most imperauvely
needed
As soon as the mpossiblity Of carrying on gov
,rnnent according 20 American ideals with a
Spanish governing apparatus became evident 70
Genera Henry no revolutionzed the system by
single order All heads Of departments We're to re-
por, 10 him directly and the Cabinet instead OF
being an organized body. acting only indirectly
upor the Governor orders and standing Ike n
tuner between him and the insular administra-
ton was % consist merely Of heads OF depart
rents who were 20 act IN an executive and ad-
ninstra-ive capacity following the direct orders
o. the Governor General and organizing their re-
speciive departments Independently Of each other.
Aner.cars were placed IN certain strategic po-
s.ors without violating in spirit the policy OF
appointing only native Porto RIcans 70 civil po-
s,;ons co that there night be trustworthy eye
watching every wheel and cog OF the machinery Of
government so FAR as possible How absolutely
necessary This last provision was can hA apprec
ared only by person upon the ground and thor
ouchv familiar with the conditions prevailing The
head Of each department thus became responsible
To- rho work intrusted 70 him. and Il became rea
sonahiv certain that failure Of any part OF the !
civil administration 10 accomplish what X |
Tectsd - & would come 10 the eyes Of the Gov |
er1or.
This order made Mr.. Rivera impossibty and
b. recognized the fact by res.gnng. The man
who would he king" could not reconcile himself 10
g. servant. even IN The great work OF bringing
prosperity and happiness and intelligence and a /
clean government 70 his native land.
Under the new order real progress Is being made I
Amercansm has 10 be transplanted 10 this island
as htt.e shoot. not ass full-grown tree. and It
VII require time 10 grow The people must learn
the American ways OF government and all learning
takes time The imposed reforms however have !
been radical and extensive In the three months |
since General Henry assumed command of the /
island. not out has the whole spirit OF the gov !
eminent changed. bur many details Of government !
have been revolutioniZec. partial summary or
these changes would be- as follows.
CHANGES THAT MUST BE MADE.
First-In the Department Of State which con-
trolls appointments the action Of the military gov
ernmen, has Of necessity been confined to seeing
that corrupt and immoral oficeholders were re-
moved and better men substituted. The names /
~ the hest in each community have been col !
scted with care and Spaniards have been replaced
~ native Porto RIcans. preference being given 20
those educated H. the United States This task /
has been immense one Tor. though the island IS
sma. place. the number OF offices is legion and !
the difficulty OF securing information upon which /
4 was safe to take action has been great.
See0ra-In the Department OF Justice duatory !
and corrupt Judges have been wecded or 90 far /
possible indulgent 1ailers have been discharged
o. forced 20 do their duty. unnecessary officials
have been done away with thus reducing court eX-
pensee the shackles riveted 10 the limbs OF long
tine prisoners have been stricken on and humane |