New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-25
INDUSTRY IN PORTO RICO.
COMMISSIONER CARRoLLs REPORT ON
CONDITIONS IN THE ISLAND.

REASONS FOR THE LACK OF AGRICULTURE
TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES NEEDED.
San Juan de Porto Rico Feb. 11-Dr Carroll
the Commissioner recently appointed by Pres-
dent Mckinley to make a report of the conui-
tfons in Porto Rico has completed tour Of the
island He has visited all the municipalities
of any size and has held conferences with the
leading citizens wherever he has gone He said
In an interview:
I have found little manufacturing industry Agri,
crture is not prosperous. owing to the results OF
the late war and the low prices no" Slam spansh
merchants who heretofore cOntIOiltd the taue -.
Porto Rico have injured the agricultural classes py
their usurous loans ana eNacrI 3t 49,, NE afairs
Spanish merchant who was Winning up ms nan .
previous to departing for Spain VINO had slNty en-
ecutions out against the properties OF planters.
Under the Law in force here these properties may
As me owners Of the lands all in strait,
enSd circumstances these splendid haciendas VIII
go to the creditors for small pfopor''o u '''e"
Bad roads also reduce the profits to planters rs and nd
terror II is idle to talk Of prosperity good scnoOs
and good government until the means OF Pppto
Hiso ne, me- nresnnt Tine the municipal governments
are harlpered 10y the old Spanish system Autoh-
omy such as General Henry Is contemplating ~
greatly needed and when secured viii give b an ,a lie
crowded and fearfully unfit for their purpose Inefe
are many prisoners who have been lanSuishlng III
these pesthoies for months forgotten charges
and FOR political offences Some OF the civil hos
pitals are in shocking condition The admlnisra
lion of Justice il difficult owing 10 favortism and
politics The difficulties in the way OF indFr!S6e al :
great that many II not the majority OF lhe peo-
The planters have no associations for improve
men or study Of crop conditions ana are lsnoiA am
| Under the wise policy OF General'Henry the CON
S Snd To oI his recent order delaying the foreclosure
Of cages for the period Of year Without TINS
have become ruined The new tariff is cordially re-
ceived by the merchants ana the Dusr bTn r~Iie}
/ is needed The new rate Of exchange Is generaliy
satisfactory although transactions are still SUBJECT
TO some fluctuations owing TO the REFUSAL Oh tn y,
bankers and brokers to adapt their transactions 10
In my judgment the ultimate retirement Of The
native money and the substitution or mat OF me
= nl.eu 500 II - tramsact,on ~ business
/ General Henry knows the people and understanos
Sn nr reeF a3d thew have an entire confidence in
him If he should not please the politicians; ne IS
ruler He is proceeding carefully. but wisely.
His order abOlishng the old lnsular Ca1het, WIN
its impractical methods, while not radical meas
ure is extremely important Old ana Willy POM.
clans OF the Spanish school nave rendered SOM OF
The insular affairs and also in the municipalties.
he hands Of men who are subord nate to him and
in sympathy with his American methods ne vii WI
be abe G1ectuay 10 cS be sisnd md he ameiIora
uon OF The people
The order Of President Mckinley fixing the
rate Of exchange gave rise to uneasiness on the
part Of many inhabitants. who feared that they
would have to pay in gold the debts that were
previously contracted in Porto Rican pesos,
and to put their fears at rest the following
order was issued to-day:
san Juan. February 10. 1893
The Honorable Major-Genrral Guy V. Henry, com
handing the department. according 10 the recon-
m, ndatiOn OF the undersigned secretary. has been
pleased resolve that and after March ]. 1899,
frIf al and
be paid to the islands treasury in United stat
money or i'm IFS equivalent I'm other moneys, but
that the said taxes internal revenues subsist until
June go pesos. they appear in the assess
ments; the amount due i'm Porto Rican moneys be
ing reduced its equivalent in United States money
at the already fixed rates for its payment AT the
/ collectors Offices.
This. by superior order. is published tor general
intelligence CAYETANO COLL Y TOSTE,
Secretary OF Finance
BY command of Major-General Henry.