Evening star., 1899-02-07
REFORM IN PORTO RICO
Good Results of the Administration of Gen.
Henry.
Foreclosure of Mortgages on Pianta-
tions Postponed for Near-hain-
tenuuce of Order-The Taxes.

Reports received here show that Gen.
Henry is having great success in his ad-
m,nistration of affairs in Porto Rico.
In a recent letter to the secretary of JUS
tice of Porto Rico, Gen. Henry said:
whereas it has been represented to me
by petition and otherwise to my satsfac-
ton, that owing to the crisis caused by the
late war and by the scarcity Of money OF
the island seeking Investment, planters
owning valuable estates are unable TO meet
their debts;
where's a number of firms, in liquidat-
irg their business interests in the island
are proceeding to foreclose mortgages on
plantations, to the great distress Of the
owners thereof; and
Whereas under existing laws. these pro-
ceedngs are of summary nature' SO that
actual sales can be effected in thirty days
from the time judicial notice is given, thus
allowing debtors no sufficient opportunity
TO raise money;
Il hereby direct in thu interest of equity,
and to save the agricultural industry from
loss and ruin. that the said law of fore
closure. and all legal or judicial proc cAed-
ings thereunder with reference to agricul-
tural property and machinery be- ana theE
are hereby, suspended for the period OF one
year from this date. namely. January H.
1899, provided that the interest on such
debts is paid when due, at a rate not eN-
ceading L. per cent per annum.
This order is not intended to affect pro
ceedings for the collection of insular and
municipal taxes.
That this order may he put into imme =
date operation, il is directed that 1t he
printed in the Official Gazette. and also
promptly communicated TO all alcaides,
judges and courts on this island FOR their
information and compliance
maintenance of Order.
The next day Gen. Henry addressed the
secretary of state of Porto Rico as follows:
81 have determined that at places or
towns where apparently troops and oiti-
zens do not harmonize, owing 10 improper
interference of troops, to withdraw such
from those towns and hold the alcaide and
his council strictly responsible for law and
order in his municipality. If they fail to
preserve law and order or show an indif-
ference and neglect Of duty. towns I'm which
said neglects occur will be put under
military officer and necessary troops and
the functions of the alcalde, council and
courts be suspended and the town governed
by military law.
'In the proposed movements of troops
away from the island many towns must be
thus left without troops. and if the civil
authorities can or Will not do their duties,
the military will do it for them. If coun-
ellis are composed of men who are indiffer-
ent to progress, honesty of action or not
properly representing the people they will.
on representation to me by the business
men OF the runlclDailty, be relieved and
others put in their places.
1T is hoped that il will not be necessary
to make an example of any municipality
by thus showing that they are incapable
of governing themselves, and thus impair
the island and stop its progress or future
legislation.
This notice will be communicated to all
concerned and placed in the Official Gazette
or other papers of the island
Tax Reform.
In his address to the council of secre-
taries the secretary of finance, giving the
tax figures on lands from 1911 TO July, 1886
and under Queen Isabella II, says, among
other things:
Major General Guy V. Henry has inst
issued general order which is the most
equitable measure we have had since last
century, for it dispels all doubts and allows
no escape to those who with their plants
and claims every year endeavor to elude the
payment of their taxes. They are almost
always the same individuals
There Is today an urgent necessity of
regulating this tax without its being bur-
densome to landholders, and the most equit-
able way of doing it is the one ordered by
Major General Henry
1T is advisable, sir, that said order should
become operative from July l next. when
our fiscal year begins. and thus enough time
allowed the commissioners and subcommis-
sioners of the different towns to make out
their rolls correctly
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 be abolished I'm order to reduce
the price of fresh meat and place It within
the reach of the poorer classes of our So
a diet Of inferior salt fish.
This land tax will yield a revenue Of