The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-30
Do Not Desire Continuance Of the Military
Administration.
Say They Enjoyed Higher Degree
of Freedom Under the Old
Spanish Rule and Wish to
Work Out Their Own Political
Salvation as a Free People
Dissatisfied With an Order Of
General Fred Grant.

Correspondence of the Associated Prass.)
SAN JUAN DE PORTO RICO, Jan.
l7.-While the Porto Ricans do not Of
fer the least resistance to the military
administration, they make no secret of
the fact that they do not desire its con-
tinuance. 1t is not that they object to
the characterization of the island, but
they earnestly wish for a civil govern
ment in some reasonable and practi-
cable form. Under the old Spanish reg
ime they will tell you they enjoyed a
higher degree of freedom than now,
and though they seize with sincere en-
thusiasm every opportunity of putting
themselves in touch with the institu-
tions and demands of the new govern
ment, they feel a pride in working out
their own political salvation as a free
people and not as subjugated one.
They love liberty and the intelligent
element is convinced that under a civil
administration the country would
swiftly adjust itself to the better con-
ditions offered by the United States.
The military government is thorough
and active. The whole island is effect
lively patrolled and quiet and order pre-
Ricans sometimes complain that the
military authorities interfere with their
civil authorities without adequate rea-
son. Quite frequently of late protests
have been lodged at headquarters
against what the Porto Ricans have de-
clared as intrusions Ny the United
States officials in municipal affairs, not
falling within the scope of their duties.
AS already briefly cabled to the Asso-
ciated Press, the Mayor and City Coun-
Gil of San Juan demonstrated last week
in fact almost rebelled-at what they
considered and called 'unwarranted
military dictation.'' An enterprising
Porto Rican just returned from the
United States had obtained permission
from the council to place small business
signs on the lamp posts around the
plaza The signs were neat enough,
but they offended the sight of many of
the Americans, who complained to Cen
eral Fred Grant, Military Commander
of the District of San Juan. General
Grant sent a peremptory summons to
the council to cancel the contract and
remove the signs. Porto Rican
pride could not endure it. The
straw and rendered their designations to
Governor Henry. The councillors mere
ly said that as they enjoyed so little
real authority they preferred to give
up their positions. General Henry, how
ever, took their view of the matter, and
assured them that there would be no
further cause for complaint on the score
of military coercion; and he promptly
issued an order directing the Secretary
of State to Inform the Alcaldes of
towns that there is no authority for any
officer or soldier to enter council meet
ings or to interfere with or dictate their
proceedings"
1t is next to impossible for one to
transact business in this island if it be
necessary to use the mails, for they are
unreliable to the last degree. Letters
mailed in the San Juan postoffice fire.
quently do not reach their destination
in the island for ten days, and most
irritating Indifference marks the pro-
ceedings of the local postal authorities.
The men of Porto Rico are not relig-
ious Only the women and children at
tend church
An article recently appeared in Eel
Liberal" the organ of the Liberal
party, under the caption Halt" 1t is
known to have been written by Senior
Monez Rivera, President of the Insular
Cabinet. 1t called the attention of the
military Government in eloquent terms
to the 'incompatipility of military rule
with the development of the best inter
ests of the country