The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26
PORTO RICOS NEW LIFE.
YORK or RECONSTRUCTION DONE
ny .4RMY OFFICERS.
Capt. Mansfield Is ARundilla's Popular
MayOr-Other officers In vii Posts
Gen. Henry's Opinion of Volunteers and
ReEulars-Army Women Helping, Too.

experience in civil government. Especially
since the retirement of the Spanish insular
Cabinet officials and the Introduction OF gov
ernmental departments in February these pro-
fessional iighters may be found in every branch
OF civil service. They are sanitary inspectors.
police officials. trial justices. school commits
sioners. advisory judges and evon mayors.
And. in accordance with the policy OF Gen. Guy
V. Henry. they seek to rule not AS
soldiers but rs civilians. So far only II
few officers have been directed to Ill the
chair of Mayor. Il fact that points to the success
of the Henry Administrations Aguadilla. ON
the west coast. is indeed the only city that has
becu under II military Mayor. Capt. L. W.
Mansfield took command there III February.
not because OF an unruly population. but ow-
ing TO Il deadlock and corruption in the City
Council. And by March /. when a new set OF
Councilman were elected. the Captain had be-
come 80 popular a Mayor that the city fathers
refused to elect another man and begged him
to continue in office. Yet before. in February.
every Councilman had wanted the Office him
self. and refused to vote for any colleague.
On the day he became Mayor Capt. Mans
field discovered a system Of corruption in the
city government. Scarcely had he taken a seat
before a clerk presented a big pile VI papers to
be signed.
what are these ?" asked the Captain.
Receipts for February" said the clerk.
Has the money been paid:'
Not yet. sir"
With this clue the Captain began an %inNesti-
CATION which ended in the exposure Of u clever
scheme. For example. the previous Mayors
signed treasury receipts enough to pay all day
laborers employed in II current month, Dated
a month IN advance. these slips. when given to
the workmen. were not redcemable then at the
treasury Office. If. therefore. a laborer needed
money to buy u loaf of bread. he must sell his
wage slip at a great discount. Frequently the
city officials redeemed the receipts at such dis
counts as $40 for a $50 slip. At the end Of the
month the official presented the receipt. drew
his $40. and thus easily cleared SO on the
transaction. Nor by this method did the books
show how the poor man had been cheated.
Social life at the small village often helps to
make good Americans. At Yauco. Capt. c. A.
Vernon entered into the rural society. Every
year the village social club holds an annual re-
~ception. At this first night. according to an
old custom. the women pin ribbons on the
coats Of the men chosen to give dances in the
current season. The illness of a neighbor one
night in December prevented an elderly BACH
elor who had received a pink ribbon from
using the clubhouse. In such a plight he went
to the military commander.
Captain. you have q fine. large house be-
gan the visitor.
Quite right. said the Captain.
Just the thing for a ball"
RICH again. J." said the Captain.
Now. to come to my errand." continued the
caller confdentially. Il have had q ribbon
pinned to my coat-you know that means |
must give Il ball-but l have no house. What
shall / do?"
Take my house." CALAMITY replied the Cap
tain. His offer was accepted. And. by his
generosity. he not only won the admiration OF
the elderly bachelor. but also captured the 200
hearts OF the Yauco Social Club for Uncle sam.
But Capt. Vernon has been identified also IN
the village i'm ~provements. He has organized a
street cleaning department. increased the ef-
ficiency OF the police force and even interested
the merchants in a village improvement So
ciety. One incident that has won the respect
OF the Spanish element is the erection at the
roadside OF a small monument. which bears
the inscription: In memory OF n Spanish SOL
der killed in action with United States troops.
July ~. 1895. Presented by officers OF Yauco
Post. First Battalion. Nineteenth Infantry"
At the capital. since the island government
has been carried on by departments. the army
officers have n still wider field Of experience.
In the Department Of Justice. for instance.
Major A. c. Sharpe. Judge Advocate. has been
assigned to duty in ordcrto introduce Ameri-
can methods. ana TO repeal unnecessary laws
or those interfering with proper personal
liberty. He will advise with and assist the
Secretary in preparing laws in accord with
those in the United States." Likewise in the
Department Of Finance Lieut.. Frank McIu-
tyre, Aide-de-Camp. will assist the Secre-
tary by advising him with reference 10
American methods in the conduct of his
department" Major Pierce and Major Hill OF
San Juan have been detailed to organize an
engineering department for the Secretary of
the Interior, and also to establish a system by
which contracts can be made for work on
roads and other public improvements. In ed
vocational work, Cant. Lemly, Seventh Artillery,
is assistant to Gen. John b. Eaton, organizer
and superintendent OF the island schools.
Cant. l.. p. Davidson. too, at San Juan, is presi-
dent of the City and Island Board OF Health.
After four months in the palace at San Juan.
Gen. Henry, Furthermore, has had a chance to
test the relative value of the regular and the
volunteer officers in civil and also in military
work. or the result he says: Il prefer Ave
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