The record-union., 1899-01-09

Correspondence of the Associated Press)
SAN JUAN porto Rico, Dec. 10
When the United States occupied San
Juan. Porto Rieo's Capital, Julian
Blanco Sosa was Secretary of the
Insular Treasury. Mr.. Blanco was re-
tanned in this post by General
Brooke. About the middle of Novem-
Der there occurred the locally famous
incident of the effort on the part of
the City Council of Ponce to obtain the
full privileges of autonomy, and this
incident brought from Mr.. Blanco an
indiscreet letter to a friend, the sub
sequent publication of which letter
made necessary Mr.. Blanco's resigna-
ton from the Cabinet General Brooke
regretted the resignation of this Min
ister for the General considered him a
good and efficient public servant. Mr..
Blanco was succeeded as Secretary of
the Treasury by Dr. Coll Toste, and
with the purpose of learning what had
been accomplished toward the cutting
down of the very high rate of taxation
under which the people of Porto Rico
have staggered for years past, DIR. Coll
was seen at his Office in the building
of La Diputacion Provincional."
DR. Coll was installed as Secretary of
the Treasury on November 10Th. Upon
that date the insular treasury held rs
cents in copper, $3.50 in Venezuelan
gold, and about $500 in American bank
bills.
It seems that it has been the custom
in Porto Rico to maintain what is
called a guarantee fund. This. is
system of deposits to guarantee the
faithful performance of both public and
private contracts. Amounts to be thus
deposited are regulated by certain laws,
and receipts are issued to depositors
by the insular treasury for the moneys
thus received. Sums of moneys in liti-
CATION can also be attached and de-
posted in this same fund until such
time as the courts render judgment
concerning their rightful ownership.
When this has been done the court is
sues an order upon the treasury to pay
back the money according to the de-
cision it has reached.
DR.. Coll was greatly surprised to find
the insular treasury in such a depleted
condition He knew there should be
at least several hundred thousand
dollars deposited on account with the
general guarantee fund, and he at once
started an investigation to determine
what amount of money was missing.
From the various receipts issued by
the treasury already seen by DIR. Coll,
he has learned that over 100000 pesos,
about 100000, are missing from this
fund. and it is probable that the full
amount which has been done away
with amounts to nearly oOO.O0O pesos.
His Investigations are not as yet COM
pleted, but he has no doubt but that
he will discover documentary evidence
of deposits up to this latter amount
This money was taken to Spain; OF
this no one has any doubt. 1t is gen.
orally known that the late Captain
General Macias of Porto Rico delivered
to the Government at Madrid 1.0U0
pesos, and that the Brigadier de Marina
Vallarino delivered to his Government
10000 pesos, which rightfully belonged
to Porto Rico and which were drawn
from this guarantee fund. The fund
also contained 1900 pesos which was
the capital and total reserve of school
teachers pension fund. This money
was contributed by the teachers of
Porto Rico and it is evident it should
have been left in their hands, that
they in their old age and when en-
titled thereto might enjoy the benefits
and advantages which are their due.
Macias took this 42,000 pesos to Spain,
and it is understood that his excuse in
this matter was that as the headquar-
tiers and main office of the Protective
Society of Spanish Teachers Yves at
Madrid, and as the Porto Rican
branch was subjected to the rulings Of
this main Office, the money should be
returned there. No one believes the
teachers will ever benefit by their own
pension fund unless some definite and
decisive action is taken in their be-
half.
DIR. Coll Is collecting all the evidence
he can concerning the matters above
set down, and when he has fully COM
pleted this labor he will submit re-
port thereon to Major General Henry,
recommending that claim be made Upon
the Madrid Government for the restitu-
ton of these amounts.
During SPANS possession of Porto
Rico the Spanish Bank of Porto Rico,
under contract to and protected by the
Insular Government, collected from the
people and paid oyer to the Govern
ment all taxes and direct contributions.
This contract with the Spanish Bank
terminated upon October 18th last, but
it would seem upon investigation that
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