The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-01-30
TIRED OF MILITARY RULE.
PORTO RICAxs DESIRE TO BE
TREATED As CITIZENS.
Those In Authority aad Adjust
Themselves Rapidly 90 the New
Order OF Things. bat Don't Like IL.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
san JUAN De PORTO RICO, Jan. IT,
While the Porto RleanS do not offsr tie
least resistance to the military aimiaistra-
ton they make no secret OF the fact that
they do not desire its continuance. II Is
rot thar they object 20 the Amerieanixa-
fscn OF 1Ae island, bat they earnestly wish
for civil government in some reasonable
and practicable form Under the old Span
ish regime they VIII tell you they enjoyed
a higher degree of freedom than now, and
though they seize with sincere enthusiasm
every opportunity OF putting themselves IN
touch with the institutions and demands
OF the new government. they feel pride
Ia working cut their own political saliva
ton as q tree people and not as subJu-
gated one. They love liberty and the in
teiligent element is convinced that under
a civil administration the country would
adjust Itself to the better conditions offered
By the United States
The military government Is thorough and
active. The whole island IL effectively
patrolied and quiet and order prevails in
every quarter. The Porto Ricans some
times complain that the military authoTi-
ties interfere with their civil authorities
without adequate reason. Quite frequently
OF late protests have been lodged at head
have described as iatrusions by United
States officers in municipal AFFAIRS not
falling within the scope Of their du,ies As
already briefly cah;ed to the Associated
Press, the mayor and city council OF san
Juan demonstrated last week-in fact, al
most reheilesi-at what they considered and
called Gawarranted military dIctAtion.
An enterprising Porto Rican, just re-
turned from the United States, has obtain
Ell permission from the council 10 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
10 Gen. Fred Grant, military commander
of the district Of San Juan. Gen Grant
sent perempiory summons 10 the council
to cancel the contract and remove the
signs. Porto Rican pride could not endure
H. The councillors regarded the order as
a last straw and rendered their resigna-
lions 10 Gov. Henry, the governor OK Porto
Rico. There was no bad feeling. The coun-
ciiors merely said that as they enjoyed SO
little real authority. they preferred 10 give
up their positions. Gov. Henry, however.
took their view of the matter and assured
them that there would be no further cause
for complaint on the score of military CO.
eTcon: and he promptly issued an order
directing the secretary of state TO inform
the alcaides OF towns that there is no ALI
thor1,y for any officer or soldier To enter
council meetings or TO interfere with or
dictate their proceedings"
Every suggestion OF General Henry has
been responded To with alac-ity, and as
result there is a marvellous change in
the order of things. Economies have been
effected in the various departments at the
expense OF the army OF satellites and the
formalfty dear to the subjects of kings.
The people have accepted with good ma
ture the new sanitary regulations, though
they have wonderfully disturbed the I'M
clean and crowded tenements that had
been regarded with complaceney. and as
browning test of popular patience they
put up with the postal service. which is
inexpressibiy worse than were ever
subjected to by the Spaniards.
IL is next to impossible. for one To
transact hu~ ness in this island. II II be
necessary l. use the mails for they are
unreliable 10 the last degree. Letters
mailed in the San Juan postafhce fire.
the islana for ten days. and a most irIt-
Eating indifference marks the ceilings
OF the local postoffce authorities.
The men OF Porto Rico ara not reiig-
ious Only the women and chlldren at
tend church. Yet the church and its or
Gers have many pleasant associations for
them. Though they may dislike the Span
ish priests. they have good wishes for the
Roman Catholic church which II ey wish
10 see conducted as 1t is In the United
states. An article recently appeared in
~, under the caption, Halt" II IL know,i
To have been written. by Senior Munoz Ri
vera president OF the insular Cabinet. II
called the attention OF the military gov
eminent in eloquent terms 10 the "incosn-
patfbility OF military rule with the de-
velcprnent of the best interests OF the
country"
The writer appealed to the wisdom and
fairness OF the United States government
10 treat Porto kfEaDS as GGteie CfISSFs
and not as prisoners" The self restraint
and far-sightedness that distinguish RI
yera's appeal will do more to win re-
cruits to the American spiri. and the
American system than the orders OF the
military commanders.
Great interest is taken in TIRE action Of
congress and Of the great government de-
partments at Washington regarding Por-
20 Rico.
The new tariff il awaited with much
anxiety. interest being conferred upon the
course OF the Trtted states regarding the
admission OF Porto Rfcan sugar and to-
hacoo free of duty. II lie contcnded that
II the duty should be taken M. the ISL
and would not only he the most pros
Porous IN the tropics, but wodlf speoet'y
become the source OF large revenue 10 the
American government. Ever the estah-
ishueut az q fixed rate of exchange would
not halp much apart from this all i'm
{,nvtant concession. Free trade ard
more intimate unson with fhc United
states is the motto II the Porto RI
can and HIS policy is ~ agitate for q
civil government as the auickes; and most
effective means 81 Americanixng he ISL