The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-10
FUTURE OF PORTO RICO.
CON-. CARROLL KEENLY IMPRESSED
WITH ITS POSSIBILITIES.
No Doubt About the Ability and In
duHtry of the Islanders, His Report
VIII Stnte-Wil Probably RecOm-
mend a Territorial Government.

No Doubt About the Ability and In
duHtrY of the Islanders, His Report
Will Stnte-Win Probably Recon-
mend Territorial Government.
PLAINFIELD, N. j., Aug. Oh. K. Carroll,
United States Commissioner to Porto Rico,
is now busily engaged in preparing his re-
port. which will be presented TO President
Mckinley before Congress meets. The re-
port will be voluminous one. The Commits
sioner made extensive researches into every
department, examining bankers, farmers,
merchants, artisans and officials and Sc
cured valuable information. He also made
complete and accurate census of the
island and OF the different races that in
habit 1t. This he has compiled in a syste
matte and convenient form, something that
has not been done before in Porto Rico.
The Commissioner found every person he
approached exceedingly willing to assist him
In his efforts to secure material for his re-
port. He made an exhaustive inquiry into
the municipal governments, and examined
the budgets In the various districts. In
every case he found that the Mayors and
Councils desired municipal autonomy His
report states that under the Spanish sys-
tenn the people are unable to do anything
without proposals to the insular govern
ment at San Juan, which itself exerts
powerful initiative, and proposes or orders
enterprises, which sometimes do not meet
with the popular approval. Few cities have
any debt, except small deficiencies in cur
rent accounts. The municipalities include
not only cities and towns proper, but rural
districts approaching in extent the counties
OF the United States.
The Commissioner states that he found
planters at one In complaining OF the lack
OF money in the island and of the diff
hculty In borrowing. The natives insist that
merchants take unfair advantage of them,
lending money at high rates and taking
crops In payment. and allowing such prices
as they see fit. The lowest rate OF interest
found by the Commissioner was per cent,
ana very little money Is lent at that Ordi-
narily, 1t is IL to Is per cent, and some
times 20 to "a per cent. that is demanded
The farmers believe that the only way out
OF this difficulty is to be able to borrow
money, on long terms Of twenty or thirty
years, at not exceeding or per cent
They confidently expect American capital
TO come to their relief II this resource
fails them, the outlook will be gloomy
An interesting feature OF the report Is
that devoted to visits among the laborng
classes. The Commissioner visited their
nuts in the poor quarters and in the cities.
lie saw them in the fields and received de-
putations of artisans. Though they are in
wretched circumstances. they are cheerful
and much less concerned than merchants
bankers and planters about the future
Their clothing Is Of the most meagre de-
scription. the young children going naked
1t is estimated by the shoe dealers on the
island that only 200. 900 pairs OF shoes are
required for the whole population of 900,-
600 persons, per annum. The report cites
that the people are Industrious and that
travellers few loungers. The people
work hard and continuously, and it is Won
derful how much they can endure.
especially when II is considered how small
an amount OF food they are able to obtain.
OF the island Trades Unions visited by
the Commissioner. nine Of the eleven are
composed of colored men, who maintain
these unions for self-improyement. They
learn to read and write and are anxious
to increase the knowledge already obtained
Under the Spanish government they were
not allowed to hold meetings. and any at
tempt at a strike was severely punished.
There seems TO be no doubt that Com
missioner Carroll will recommend a terri
torial form of government for the island.
He is impressed with the ability of the
natives. and feels confident that II properly
started they will be able to manage them
selves and their own affairs with Justice
and profit. The report will probably be
completed before December.