Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-03-16
THE LATEST FROM
PORTO RICO

San Juan de Porto Rico, March G.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
-Munoz Rivera, until recently secretary
of state in the Porto Rican cabinet and
the most accomplished politician in the
island, will leave here on March 10 for
Cuba, where he will hold conferences.
with the Cuban party and then proceed
to the United States. In Washington he
will, it is said, endeavor to attack the
military government without attacking
the military governor. He will demand
civil government for his people who
are now bitterly warning among them
selves for political supremacy and he will
urge the withdrawal of American troops
from the most important strategic base
possessed by the United States in Allan
the waters. 1t is known to chosen few
that Munoz will endeavor to effect an en-
tente with the Cuban leaders and will
seek to unite his cause with that of the
Cubans.
Frequent publication is made in the
| local papers of letters that pass between
the two islands on the subject of Ameri-
can rule in Porto Rico. The Porto Rican
editors of Spanish tendencies and the fol-
lowers of Munoz Rivera refer with SYM
pllIly " lIlc COlluuCl VI luc SuDdHS, WHO,
they say, worked as a united people for
their independence. Since his deposition
from the cabinet by Gen. Henry, Rivera's
party has been the object of vigorous
| attack by the radicals Hermanio Diaz,
the new secretary of justice, was ap
pointed by Gen. Henry a representa-
tive of the liberal party and because of
his relations with Rivera, whom the gem
| eral desired to treat with consideration.
Three of the four newspapers of Ponce
began campaign of abuse against Diaz
and the military government. They were
warned to moderate the tone of their ar
ticles, but the warning passed unheeded.
One morning last week the citizens Of
Ponce missed their papers and upon go
ing down town found the offices occupied
by American troops who had been order
ed by the district commander to close the
establishments. The editor of one of the
papers refused to submit to the officer
who took possession of his office. In an
| alteration that followed the editor drew
his knife. A soldier from Missouri, in the
excitement of the moment, used his fist
with almost deadly effect upon the fight
ing journalist. 1t was some hours before
the latter revived Many unfortunate
! and natives have contributed to the un-
| dercurrent of bad feeling that runs
, among the lower classes.
| In recent trip around the island gen.
eraT feeling of discomfort and unrest was
discovered. There are a great many idle
men all over the island and the great
| army of attaches and hangers-on that
! We're a part of the Spanish system and
! which OccasiOned an enormous burden
| for the taxpayers, are being discharged.
The prospect of building the remainder
of the present railroad system by the
| French railroad company is hailed with
| delight by the laboring men of the island.
| A ,tati Of I rni1r hos
| travelling about the island recently pre-
pairing plans for the extension of the road.
Planters and labOrerS alike pray for the
| completion of the road. The company is
anxious to complete the work and is now
| arranging some details with the local
government. NJ. Charpentier, who has
| been here for several months, studying
| this matter, will depart for Washington
| on the steamer San Marcos. He will urge
upon the president and the secretary of
war a recognition of the contract and
! concession of the French company.
The new insular police has been organ
| lied and employment will be given TO
more than 800 men who will aid the army
| and the municipal police in preserving
| order This body will be conducted on
the military plans and in many respects
| correspond to the guardia civil of Spain
and Mexico.
| The politicians here are beginning to
see the l1IiIl llllpdI tldl IllclIiou VI tHe
| governor general is a wise one. To clear
| ly define his position, the following order
was recently addressed to the municipali-
| ties dated February 20:
"Alcaldes and councilmen are reminded
| that orders are issued to be obeyed. In
| one case the alcalde and council resigned
! because they supposed they had received
| an order not agreeable to them. No order
| had been given but if it had been and not
| carried out the course of the council
would have been contumacious and in
| defiance of authority and other action
would have followed instead of resigna-
| tions being accepted. 1t cannot be too
strongly impressed upon municipal coun-
ellis that the interests of the muncipali-
| ties depend upon their honesty, zeal and
attention to duty. Without this, the peO-
pie they represent suffer and the progress
| of the island is held back. No more i'm
portant body of men exists than the
various councils and the people should
insist upon being properly represented by
their bestr-naen and no others and 1t
should be considered an honor to hold
such positions of responsibility They
must learn one lesson, however, that is,
| before they govern others or can give
proper example to people, they must gov
ern themseNeszand obey promptly all
legal orderss sASkitting for appeal any
unjust onet&htch will always be
remedied. - command Of Nab Gen.
w. P. HALL, Adjutant General"