The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-08
IT IS WHAT THEY WANT
Civil Government for the People
of Porto Rico.
NO CAUSE FOR COMPLAIN
Rivera Bitterly Denounced Military Gov.
eminent and Said He Would
Lead Party for Politi-
cal Separation.

| Correspondence of the Associated Press.
San Juan de Porto Rico, Jan. 81
| Correspondence of the Associated
Press).-A feeling of satisfaction pre-
! walls in Porto Rico to-day. The cable
announcement of colonial commission
to administer the affairs of Porto Rico
and other former Spanish possessions
is regarded as a movement toward the
establishment of civil governme emit
The writer has spoken to the leading
men in Porto Rico and they all talk
enthusiastically of the commission
They are anxious to be rid of the mill
tary government.
In an interview held few days be-
tore the announcement Of the commun-
1cat1on Munose Rivera, secretary of
state, spoke bitterly of the disadvan-
tages of the military government. He
authorized the reporter to quote him.
as saying that ii the American govern
ment did not soon terminate the mill
tary government and give the people of
Porto Rico a civil one to be conducted
by themselves, that he would favor a
party of separatists. When asked what
he meant by the term 'separatists'' he
said political separation was meant
In speaking yesterday of the action of
that now there would be no cause for
complaint.
The protest against the military gov
eminent is not directed against the Of
hcers here who constitute it, but rather
that the reforms which General Henry
has accomplished have not been worked
out by the Porto Ricans in their own
way but by those who are ambitious to
lead their country in it's new and freer
,e
like Munose Rivera, who have been the
ruling power in Spanish times and radi-
Gals like Matienzo of Ponce and Rosy
OF San Juan, who have expected the
United States to favor their party, be-
cause heretofore opposed to all that
was Spanish, have been disappointed
that the governmental machinery has
not been turned over to them COM
pletely. Munose Rivera has been on
the point of resigning several times,
because of his limited powers, while on
the other hand the radicals have view
ed with silent suspicion and dissatis-
faction what they regarded as the over
shadoWing influence Of their political
opponents whose leaders form General
Henry's cabinet.
The recent order of General Henry
establishing uniform rate of taxa ton
on lands has been received with some
oppoSitloli VII VIC SIOulu tudt lHe l1rSI-
class as classified by the order would
impose an intolerable burden upon some
very poor lands. 1t is said that the
order was framed by DR.. Coll Toste,
the secretary of finance, who elaborat-
ed upon General Henry's suggestion,
and the former is made the object of
criticism. In justification of the meas
ure, the doctor makes the following de-
Tense:
1.-The general order of General Henry
establishing system of taxation on
lands in Porto Rico is the most equit-
able we have had since the last CEN
fury, for it dispels all doubts and al
lows no escape to those who, with
their plants and claims, every year en-
deavor to elude the payment of their
taxes. They are almost always the
same individuals. There is to-day an
urgent necessity of regulating this tax
without it's being burdensome to land
holders. and the most equitable way of
doing it is the one ordered by Major
General Henry. 1t is advisable that the
order shall become operative from july
l next, when our fiscal year begins and
thus enough time is allowed the COM
missioners and b-commissioncrs of
the different towns to make out their
rolls correctly.
1.-THE tax upon cattle breeding SHOULD
be done away with, as the pasture on
which they Craze is already taxed and
because it is to be desired that all kinds
of taxation upon cattle is abolished in
order to reduce the price of fresh meat
and place it within the reach of the
poorer classes, who to-day are COM
PEELED to live upon q diet of inferior
salt fish. This land tax will yield reve-
nue. of about 100000 pesos. consider
ably less than the taxes paved by lands
during the last 10 years to the state
and municipality"