The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-23

GuNhtTo lhhrral; Interior. Federico Degetan
In making this bold strike Gen. Henry acted
on his own initiative and won The esteem and
Irrence OF four months had shown him that
tho Porto Ricans were friendly To the United
and t IN e SSH 81 ther eY sGd
i n,ntris and other conditions differing 80
way to start them on the road to prosper
ityy, was to strike at, the spanish system
until he had studied and mnderstood the SUB
leGt thoroughly, Then no had the Council
styIe, Mr.. Munoz and his colleagues male al" al.
M listeners. and when the, President Of
grace. dignity and suayity were beyond crti-
Ssm Gat u MS dqy Ind COM the hour struck
or Liberal party in Porto Rico. had an oppor-
tn a,y at the EXPENSE Of his friends Of taking
right and that Gen; Henry was wrong. But
Military Governor in removing from the sphere
O. active politics this potent factor Of the old
S tLSt regime convinced men OF all parties
future officials were to labor not 10 please this
or that politician. but to work to tho best OF
American ideas Of business and progress.
ness has been marvellous; hundreds OF docu-
i mhehts are received daily and acted upon before
the mex. morninE The Department OF state
Councils. public order, health. elections and
corrcspondence connected with questions sub
mitted from Washington or coming from dip
loinatic or other sources.
In the days OF the Spanlards any one ad-
dressing communication to the Governor
General had to pay n tax Of about twenty-fiv
pesos ior the privilege tho Spanish Governor
men MeI had consequently very little civil work
to the people, invited them to address him di-
rectiy: and make complaint9 about abuses
q lg,ffn
misunderstood and msinterprctei Men and
women who had grievances OF twenty-five
the inkwe!l: the mass Of correspondence from
az over the island was enormous. Private
nem w WsrT T.JmSht to the light day. dirty
should have been settled 10y Secretaries. by
weT. Direct 6s e by
neccs7itating an immense amount of labor, for
egSTy tnS Tns Spn N script End
months OF patient perusing aud referring and
returning papers the communites began to
which was simply the old and natural one OF all
municlpal correspondence being addressed to
inc inc q STATE h 6ony Gasr Of aPrea be-
rartment for the action Of the Military Gov
ernor. II the papers referred to any one OF the
direct to the head Of that department.
!, Another matter OF great Importance and one
one that would have to be acted upon frequent
~ without complete knowledge. was the ap-
pS2ttntmeentof mSmHers OF the Town Councils.
Nhen tien. Henry first assumed control al
most all the Town Councils, or Municipal Cor
n0rFtt0m1 g they are usually designaed were
calls were in the great minority. There was
another party called - INDEPENDENT which
cured Office whether iI H "G or Tad Radcals
were in power. These politicians were
c92nstamtly wrancling eyer past dilrorsnces
TIE Island, il was Cen. HSnrys T desire to to
ri b,Tt Ia lipn f,f b,,, ll.l
convention q delegates Of all parties from all
Ib"eath,es They met in San Iuan agreed to
Liberals or Radicals. and to merge themselves
int Int one party: working for the good OF the
They might agree to call themselves neither
Liberal nor Radical. hut their feelings and diff
ferences had not changed. and Gen. Henry
to individuals under the old designations
The result of the conference was the decision
TO give equal representation 10 the two parties
purpose lists Of the eligibes" Of each party
the Department OF State by the existing Town
Councils, the only qualification required being
payment of taxes OF some kind to the town.
From these lists the Secretary Of State rec
ommended men in each town to the Military
Governor who thus could see that the two par
ties were evenly represented. This assumption
OF power over local affairs had been impcrative,
owing to mala'lmnistration all over the island
started and the Secretary Of State became i'm
bucd with the,Gcneral'S idea; the future sclec-
tary OF State. who now. even, appoints AlcaIdes
(who are elected 10y the Town Council from
among their own numberl without reference
to tho Military Governor
1t must be confessed that giving both par
ties equal represent alton Ill the Councils seems
grave abuse OF the rule OF the majority. for
Gals, and in but few were they outnumhered.
Yet the objection is more apparent than real.
For IN the larger towns the parties were more
evenly balanced, and in the villages, II there
were few Radicals. thu majority on the toun-
ellis would almost always he Liberals, us under
the circumstances the Radicals would serve in
limited numbers usually cvaG!ing the place
through ill-health or for business reasons
The history Of the Department OF State is tho
history OF all the departments. First. the cen
traliaation OF power and authority in the Mill
understood how matters were expected TO be
done; then. when he had CRASHED the idea. and
not until then. was he intrusted with the fun
and free guidance Of his department. the Mill
tary Governor always actin; in all cases Of APP
pea over Srcretary's decision.
This system works well: and in cases where
ernOr soon receives weighty document from
the offended party which is sent to the proper
Secretary. who makes his eXplanation 81 his
action In writing In this way he is always
careful in doing his duty, knowing by expert
ence that publicity and Investigation will sure
ly follow wrong doing.
work. in fact, too well, considering tho re-
sources OF the island. Their salary before
the American occupation was 4 600 pesos. or
$1,000. This was cons drrcd by them too
small and they AJAX ed for 5000 pesos. OF S3.HUO.
which was granted. and more, for they were
paid onagold basis, receiving, ,theTci9r", in
parison OF the pay table OF officials in the
United States. such MS Senators and the Gov
vince one that the pay OF tile Secretaries for
the small island of Porto Rico is too large.