Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-02-07
PORTO RIcAMs SATISFIED.
Despite the Pact that u Few sore.
heads are Protesting Against
Alleged Discrimination.


San Juan de Porto Rico. Jan. 81
Correspondence Of the Associated
PrcsA.D--A feeling OF satisfaction pre-
walls In Porto Rico today. The cable
announcement OF a colonial commits
sion to administer the affairn Of Porto
Rico and other former Spanish poses
sions IL regarded hero AZ n movement
towards the establishment Of civil
government.
The writer Inns spoken 20 the leading
public men In Porto Rico and they all
talk enthusiastically Of the commits
sion. The people arr anxious to tcrmi-
nate the military government
IN IN interview held few days be-
fore the announcement OF the commu-
hlchuon. Munoz Rivera. secretary OF
state. spoke bitterly Of the disadvan-
taEes OF the military government. lie
authorized the reporter to quote him as
saying that N the American government
ala not soon terminate the military
government and give the people 10 por-
20 Rico civil one to be- conducted by
themselves that he would favor party
of nspnratiatH.
When asked what he meant by the
term ''ScparatiHt' he said political
IN speaking yesterday Of the action
o. the president. Senior Rivera. declared
That now there would be no cause for
complaint.
The protest against the military gov
ornmcnt II not directed against the
officers here who constitute II but
rather that the reforms which Gen.
Henry has accompanied have not been
worked out by the Porto Ricana In
their own way, but By those who are
ambitious to lead their country In Its
new ana freer political life.
u u true that liberals like Munaz
rivera who have been the ruling power
~ spanish times and radicals like
Maticnzo OF Ponce and Rosy of San
Juan who have expected the United
states To favor their party. because
heretofore opposed to all that was
spanish. have bceh disappointed that
the governmental machinery has not
been turned over To them completely.
Munoz Rivera has been on the point
of rehiRnlng several times because OF
his limited power. while on the other
hand. the radicals have viewed with ~
lent suspicion and dissatisfaction what
they regarded rs the overwhelming
influence of their political opponents
whose leaders form General Iicnry'a
cabinet.
The recent order OF Gen. Henry cs-
tabllnhing n uniform rate OF taxation
on lands has been received with some
opposition on the ground that tax on
lands OF the first class aS classified by
the order would Impose an intolcra6le
burden upon some very poor lands. II
Is said that the order was framed by |
Dr, coll-y-Toetc. the secretary OF n |
nance. who elaborated upon General |
Hcnry'a suggestion. and the former IL
made the object Of criticism.
In Justification OF the measure the |
4. "A 81.
The general order Of General Henry |
establishing n system OF taxation ON |
lands IN Porto Rico IL the most cauita- |
bic We have had since the last century,
for II dirpcls all doubts and allows no |
escape To those who. with their plants |
and claims every year, endcavor TO |
cludc the payment OF their taxes. They |
ais. t'
There IA today an urgent necessity Of |
regulating this tax without Its being |
burdcnsome u land holders. and the |
most equitable way OF doing II IL the |
one ordered by Major General Henry |
IL IN advisable that the order should |
become operative from July I next. |
when our fiscal year begins, and thus
enough time II allowed the commits
sloncra and Hub-commiHaionerH OF the
different towns TO make out their rolls
correctly.
'"rhe tax upon cattle breeding should
be done away with as the pasture ON
which they Craze IL already taxed ana
because II N 10 be desired that all
kinds Of taxation upon cattle IN hbol-
lrhcd In order To reduce the price OF
fresh meat and place II within reach
of the poorer classes who today are
compelled 10 live upon diet OF inferior
salt tiah This land tax will yield
revenue OF about one million pesos.
considerably less than the taxes paid
by lands during the last ten years TO
the State and the municipality.
This tax should be paid. onc-half
10 the common council To be applied 60
the needs OF the municipality, and the
other half 90 the dependencies Of the
insuiar treasury for the necessities
VI the other departments Intervening In
the civil administration OF the island.
There viii not be wanting any OPP
ponuntA OF this new method OF taxa
ton. All new ideas. no matter how
10 the people. have their ad-
who at first attacked them
with fury. then they md them less
harmful, until finally they accept them
with applause. admitting that the Ideas
are simple and useful. Such IN the his
tory OF all redecming Ideas"
The tax upon cattle brccding referred
10 the secretary OF finance has since
been abolished.
The Americans and spanlards Join In
4 rcmonstrance against that part OF
he order which requires that taxes
in land owned by non-rcsidcnts Will
be- Increased by my per cent"
The Americans say that this proviH-
on ~ barrier 10 and "A discrimina-
Ion against American Investment In
AGRICULTURAL lards here. The owners
Il agricultural lands say that the own
m OF city lands should also pay their
axes In accordance with this system.
fhe recent order of General Henry re-
training the foreclosure Of mortgages
or year win prove n godsond TO the
LninIn md furmnra