The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-01-26
AFFAIRS IN
PORTO RICO
General Henry Makes Known
His Plan for Islands
Government.
NATIVES FOR THE OFFICES
Americans ClamOr for Official
Patronage win Receive C.
No Attention.
GRANTS TO CORPORATIONS
Administration Mas Laid Down Strict
Rules Covering Franchises
Taxes on the Island.

Correspondents Of tho Associated Press)
SAN JUAN De PORTO RICO. Jan. o.
Tho following letter waa sont by Gen
eral Henry TO thp newspaper men here
with The rcqueat THAI Il should be given
publicity;
headquarters Department OF Porto
Ric3. Dec. %, iS&-it will save, a great
deal OF my limo and accomplish the pur-
pose better Il you viii state IN your
paper that persons. Americans or others
who wish TO make complaints should put
them IN writing Tor my reference To the
proper officials for correction. Verbal
statements. upon which definite action
cannot DO taken. are a loss OF time TO
ali IL n my intention that all OBJ
no1ious Spanish laws existing here are
repealed. TGSation on properly, notary
fees, tho prevention OF Americans get
ting Into Office as !awyers or otherwise
under pUoper laws will also be properly
represented in writing.
Any acton upon the part OF officials
IN ofllco 10 the prejudice Of Americans or
American methods Of progress will be
oiiico any such unpnOgresslye or preju-
diced persons.
Complaint In regard TO the customs
or Eirin regulations will have 20 be made
10 Captain Buchanan. who Is in charge
Of tho custom houses OF the Island. APP
poStl from his decision will have TO be
made 10 the secretary OF war.
A. a H. a
that Porto Ricans will be preferred for
.oiiioe. Those Porto Ricans who have
gone % tho United States and received
an education and are capable OF filllng
plaoes on this island will be selected
first; Americans next In order.
at Is not my intention to put in Office
sraniards or Spanish sympathiEers This
Is an island OF Porto Rioans and Will be
so considered. Americans must under
stand thar this island Is not one OF con-
quest, but was surrendered 10 ehe United
States by the Porte Ricans who had
been loyal 10 the government Of the
United States, and propose to consider
them FOR Office as such IN the future.
After the country is organized and put
In form under proper laws. II the Porto
Ricans desire 10 elect Americans to
Office that Will be their business and the
Americans good fortune.
This olamorlng for Office on the
island by Americans 10 the prejudice Of
educated Porto R.cans must stop. Their
claims VIII not 90 considered when Porto
Ricans who are equally capable of FILL
ing the offices are available l am sure
that all good, true Americans will agree
with me that all Porto Ricans who were
loyal to the American government and
the flag when they were under Spanish
rule and who are capable will be reward
cd for their loyalty through preference TO
appointment to responsibility as far as
possible
(Signed) GUY V. HENRY.
Major General Volunteers, Commanding.
There are several American lawyers
here and they regarded the letter upon
its first reading as blow TO them, Upon
visiting the general, however. he eI-
platncd that they had misunderstood the
meaning of tho letter and that 1t was
his intention to remove the impediments
that now prevented them from practiclng
their profession hero OF holding Office, II
is question whether the American law
yers should be admitted to practice in
the Porto Rican courts, since none Of
them know anything about the laws of
Porto Rico.
But this letter was insignificant in i'm
portance compared to the order of the
war department recently made here con-
eernlng the granting Of franchises for
public improvements. This order pro-
hibits the granting OF any franchise or
concession for public works by any
municipality without the approval OF the
major commanding who shall, before ap-
proving any such grant or concession be
authorized by the secretary Of war
This order will affect all enterprises
for the building OF tramways, railroads,
telegraph and telephone lines, water
works, gas works and electric light
works.
OF course, tho effect was to put a stop
10 all work on such enterprises, and 1t
seemed to many that the holders of old
Spanish concessions would have mon
opoly to the great detriment Of American
investors. General Henry evidently took
the same view, for when this order came
from Washington he Immediately added
to It before publication AN extraordinary
provision revoking ell Spanish grants and
concessions now existing. Between the
signing Of this latter order and its print
ing there was such cloud Of legal ques-
tlons raised that the general deemed It
best to abandon his position and the first
order was published just as 1t came from
the war department.
As matters now stand the hands Of
General Henry are tied. General Henry
Is doing away with all the burdens that
hndered trade and taxed the suffering
people. The so-called territorial taxes"
upon the products of the country have
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