The times., 1899-01-09
The Policy of General Henry
and Its First Results.
THE HILARITY OF TROOPS
4 Military Order ForbiddinE Amcri-
can Soldiers to Have Fun with
Native POliccmen-LessOns in Self
Goyernment-TOT Teach the English
Language in the Public schools.

| d
ministration. He promises to repeal OBJ
noxious Spanish laws and to introduce,
as soon as possible. such improvements
as American school teachers and police
| men and the broadest self government
under military rule. AS military COVER
nor he can easily do these things. for his
| authority is absolute.
General Henry works hard to make his
military administration success. For
| much of his information concerning the
| city and its suburbs he depends upon per-
sonal observation. He always rides on
| horseback with only a mounted orderly
for companion. Tall and sodierly,
| with gray hair and plainly dressed, he
already is familiar figure in the streets.
| BY his democratic ways he surprises the
| natives, who heretofore have been accus
TONED to governors in geld lace heralded
| by brass band and escorted by COM
pany of soldiers. General Henry's Wis
! its, unannounced and unexpected, give
| him chance to see for himself the exact
| condition OF the people and their homes,
and also just what improvements and re-
| forms are needed. And with the infor-
| nation acquired he is able to act more
| intelligently and for the greater benefit
| of his 800 900 subjects.
When General Henry took command two
weeks ago he began by enforcing better
discipline among the United States troops
/ For some time past they had annoyed not
| only the native inhabitants. but also the
resident Americans. by drunken brawls,
! street fights and encounters with the Span
| ish policemen. These incidents usually
| followed a friendly call at The City of
| New York. - THE Bob Fitzsimmons" "Old
Glory or The Dewey
Before the suburban steam tramway be-
came the property of an American COM
pany two members of the Eleventh Infan-
| try captured a passenger coach one even
| ing and, after tossing six native policemen
out upon the station platform, threatened
| TO wreck the entire system II the engineer
| did not haul them to Rio Pedras ten miles
distant. At the San Juan Theatre on the
night when the American and Japanese
| troupe gave its first performance, two SOL
! diers picked up a policeman who tried to
keep them quiet and. carrying him TO the
| lobby, started him ON a dead run for his
| central station.
General Henry's Warming.
| But soldiers and sailors alike have be-
| haved well since General Henry estab-
lished provost guard and issued the fol-
| lowing worning:
| Soldiers who do not respect the civil authority
OF who try to impose upon policemen, ii reported
10 the commanding officer of post will be severe
| y dealt with. Commanding officers OF troops have
! been directed to keep themselves in touch with
| the alCaldeS, 10 help them in every possible way
| and to encourage them in governing their towns
preserving law and order and proper police, all Of
which are essential to the success OF any system
Lieut. Frank Techter, of the Forty-sev-
| enth New York Volunteers. has been de-
! tailed by General Henry to organize and
perfect the municipal police and later to
organize a general police for the island.
! Now, notwithstanding an equipment of
SabreS. pistols and sometimes even rifles
| the native policemen do not pretend to
| exercise any authority. They are all lit
! tie short men in faded blue canvas uni
forms, and invariably smoke long black
| cigars while on duty.
| They lounge about saloons. drinking 10
| the health of their newly adopted mother
country, and do not moest the natives in
| the games of craps. poker and other gam
bling amusements. Their only labor OBJ
| served so far is to give poisoned meat
balls to stray dogs. General Henry thinks
they can serve their country to batter ad-
| vantage and says:
| 1t is my desire TO introduce as soon as
! possible American policemen. so as to
teach the native policemen what their
| duties are. and also to encourage them to
exercise some authority. which at present
they seem not desirous of doing. An eX-
| ample will be made by employing some
! Americans now on the island, giving them
$50 a month in gold"
By January - San Juan will have an
| American municipal police department OF
ten men. Instead of civilians as at first
proposed. privates from the Eleventh Reg
ulars will be used. During their police
service they will be on fuTlough from the
army. and receive $50 month in gold
Their uniforms will be brown canvas
jackets trimmed with blue, white duck
trousers. cream -colored canvas helmets
and broad -toed black shoes. These suits
were designed by Gen. Frederick D. Grant
who has begun the organization of a
mounted police for the rural districts. He
has adopted the general plan of the Aus
trian rural police system. which he studied
when minister to Austria. His entire dis
trict will be covered within two weeks.
The school system.
The reorganization of the school system
as proposed by General Henry, will begin
soon under the supervision of Gen. John
b. Eaton He will be assisted by Captain
| Lemly, of the Seventh Artillery, and will
act as general superintendent for the ISL
and. General Henry expressed his views
regarding schools in his latest letter TO
the insular cabinet. In part he said:
The system of education should he looked into,
and it Is my desire TO ascertain how many teach
crs the towns can pay to teach the American OF
English language, commencing with the younger
children. 1t is believed that people who can
speak English only can accomplish the purpose OF
object lessons. American women for teaching, it
! Is thought. he obtained $50 i month in
gold, and they well worth it The Young
children are anxious 10 learn, and Is the time
Tor them 10 do Ii alcades will report TO me
| how many teachers they employ. they will
| he brought here IRON the United States aud sent
| 10 thrSc towns.
In Ponce the Catholic clergymen have
been notified not to publish any more
| procamations warning the natives not to
| talk with or enter the houses of Prot t.
| ants or TO accept presents from them.
| These warnings We're issued every Sun
day, and they also objected to the mar
| riage rite of the Protestant Church. In
Mayaguez II native newspaper has been
| suppressed for abusing Americans.
Another sensational sheet. FL Pals. of San
Juan. has been suppressed for attacking
the military administration. or these
| rabid editors. General Henry says:
Articles published in papers Of an inccndiary
character. critici,ing those in authority aud re
hcctrng upon tile Government ii, officers, viii
not lie allowed Papers that indulge i'll such Irti-
vlcs will b closed and ii that does not have the
desired effect other methods will Ice rcSurtcd TO
to bring to punishment those who dtrulty
| too much oi personal qlarrciS between certain
parties. This should be- done away with II we cX-
pcCt to succeed.
Policy of Administration.
General Henry outlines the policy of
the president and secretaries of the insu-