The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-09
The Dons Left an Empty Treas
ury in Porto Rico.
ROBBED THE TEACHERS
Spaniards Took the Pension Fund Which
Was to Support the Teachers in
Their Old Age-After the
Spanish Bank.

/
| Porto Rico's capital, Julian Blanco y
| Sosa was secretary of the insular treas
ury. Mr.. Blanco was retained in this
post by General Brooke. About the
middle of November 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 friend,
the subsequent publication of which
letter made necessary Mr.. Blanco's res
ignation from the cabinet. General
| Brooke regretted the resignation of this
minister, 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 has
been accomplished toward the cut ting
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 disputacion provincional.'
DR.. Coll was installed as secretary of
the treasury on Nov. Is. Upon that date
the insular treasury held 76 cents in cop
| per. $3.50 in Venezuelan gold and about
| $500 in American bank bills.
| 1t seems that it has been the custom in
Porto Rico to maintain what is called
guarantee fund. This is a system of de-
posits to guarantee the faithful per-
Torrance of both public and private
contracts. Amounts to be thus depos-
tied are regulated by certain laws and
receipts are issued to depositors by the
insular treasury for the moneys thus
received. Sums of moneys in litigation
can also be attached and deposited in
this same fund until such time as the
courts render judgment concerning their
rightful ownership When this has been
done the court issues an order upon the
| treasury to pay back the money ac-
cording to the decision it has reached.
DIR. Coll was greatly surprised to find
the insular treasury in such a depleted
condition. He knew there should be
at least several hundred thousand dol
lars deposited on account with this gen.
eral guarantee fund, and he at once
started an investigation to determine
what amount of money was missing.
From sthe various receipts issued by the
| treasury already seen by DR.. Coll he
has learned that over 5000 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 100000 pesos His
| investigations are not as yet completed,
but he has no doubt but that he will
discover documentary evidence of de-
posts 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 Macaes of Porto Rico delivered
to the government at Madrid 81 900 pc
sos, and that the Brigadier de Marina
Vallarino delivered to his government
$4,000 pesos, which rightfully belonged
to Porto Rico, and which were drawn
from this guarantee fund The fund
also contained $4,000 pesos, which was
the capital and total reserve of a 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 entitled
thereto, might enjoy the benefits and
advantages which are their due. Ma
cias took this $4,000 pesos to Spain and
| 1t is understood that his excuse in this
matter was, that as the headquarters
and, main office of the Protective So
| ciety of Spanish School Teachers was
at Madrid and as the Porto Rican
branch was subjected to the rulings Ct
the main office, the money should be
teachers will ever benefit by their own
pension fund, unless some definite and
| decisive action is taken in their behalf.
| Dr. Coll is collecting all the evidence
he can concerning the matters above
set down, and when he has fully COM
pseted tlES labor, The will submit a
report thereon to Major General Hen
ry, recommending that claim be made
upon the Madrid government for resti-
tuition 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 over to the govern
! ment, all taxes and direct cOntribu-
| tions. This contract with the Spanish
bank terminated upon October IS last,
| but it would seem upon investigation
| that they are much in arrears with GER
| tain payments; that there is strong ev-
| idence to show they have collected
taxes and contributions from the people
| which they never turned over to Spain.
During the latter part of November
! DR.. Coll forced this bank to pay into
the treasury 10000 pesos collected by
| them on account of taxes and revenues
| from government lands rented by in
dividuals. and it is his intention to
| force them to meet all their obligations.
| This bank is to-day in the position of
|
office, but who will not give an ac-
counting of the goods which have pass
| ed through his hands.
DR.. Coll has expended some 10000 pc
SOS since he assumed control of the
| treasury. all of which has been collect
| ed from old debtors to the government,
| 10000 pesos of which came from the
| Spanish bank of Porto Rico.
One of the principal contributions
which have been abolished by the mil
itary authority in Porto Rico is known
| locally as Derechos Reales, in Spanish,
! Royal Dues in English. There was a
crown contribution on all transfers of
all kinds of property. 1t ranged from
| one-half of one per cent. to three per
cent. of the value of the property trans
| ferred and it brought to the crown of
Spain some 14S,000 pesos a year. Fur
| thermore, this Office, that of the regis
| trar of deeds, was most corrupt. 1t
cost one anywhere from one to three
| thousand pesos to register a deed or