New-York tribune., 1899-03-24
CEN HENRY's REFORMS.
xcrs WHICH ARE GOING FORWARD
IN PORTO RICO.
-ronr TO ApPoRT1oN LAND TAXES MORE
-or,rAs1r-rAxEs REMOVED FROM THE
..,r OF BREAD AND MEAT AND
PLACED UPON LIQUOR AND TO-
REORGANIZATION AT
SAN JUAN.
SAN JUAN.

placed UPON LIQUOR AND To-
sAcco-sANITATroN AT
SAN JUAN
-. Gan Juan Porto~Rco. March 8.
>,..,,nr shows more clearly the character OF
-u,.orv administration than It's general or
From, the first that n Ma)or-Generai Guy
.. r,snrv has been marked by spirit or toier-
:, nrorress and Of justice no less than by
sh.. and frmness. His orders appear TO be
The productions OF civil governor than
'a" .n,t.rv commander. for few soldiers. from
Of 1--we Of their education and training. nave
ue IDEAS upon taxation. municipal govern
oe ,a allied subjects. They are not expect
he statesmen or political economists but
-.I Henry is proving himself TO be some-
., both. as the following general orders OF
u''"e aate will demonstrate. Hero Is one upon
-. .rbiect Of taxation
>, .-aer 10 remedy the evils due to unjust ap-
i..,onments =. the following are the orders con-
poI the taxation OF lands on this island;
celhIs,,stion from this order. or excess in taxa
any .ndsr II. WILL upon being reported TO these
ton,msrters. ton result in the punishment OF the
amending parties. =. .,~.s rror LAND.
f,er be made in accordance with the
.rtons civilizations existing in the island ana
Na t o,,slty OF the land taxed.
A.
e1us there will he taxes on cane lands. coffee
,.n.s tobacco lands. pasture lands. minor prod
To- lands and forest lands.
ucc ucT.'rd In accordance with the quality OF the
- there will be taxes or the first. second ana
!s.s casses-the first class comprising the best
,ss the second class the next best, and the
third class the poorest
M 'vorrth-On all lands of the first class there
N Ne a tax Of one peso per cuerda (acre); on
VIZ "n,snas Of the second class tax of so peso
nsr cuerda: all lands Of the third class tax
~ % peso per cuerda -
,ir, a Classifying commission which Will select
sub-commissions in the different districts OF
.seh township. these sub-commssions to report
"a the classifying commission on the class or
lands in their respective districts.
siYth-These commissions will be guided by
Cha following Instructions
1al First-class cane lands plains and val
laws and other aluvial lands lying near settled
Communities. highways. railroads and seaports.
and the lands OF drained lagoons and mangrove
marshes ,,,,
,sins generally surcharged with oxides OF iron
and known in the country as clayish lands.
(b First-class coffee lands are valley lands
and hills abounding in organic detritus.
% Second-class coffee lands are highlands
having a calcareous or limy formation.
(c) First-class tobacco lands are valley lands
watered by rivers.
(cD Second-class tobacco lands are loamy
highlands mixed with clay and sand.
1c'D Third-class tobacco lands are sandy lands
along the coast and calcareous lands among the
hills.
scons and glens, where grow "malojia" and
Guinea grass.
(dO second-class pasture lands are those on
the hills and on the coast where grow Guinea
and dog grass
az Third-class pasture lands are those along
the coast and lmy hills where grow only brush.
"rat-tail" sweet grass, etc.
(e) First-class minor produce lands are valley
lands.
(eO second-class minor produce lands are
highlands.
ieO Third-class minor produce lands are
sandy and limy lands
% First-class forest lands are those growing
virgin forests whose timber can supply building
and cabinet woods-e. g., "acetillo." cedar,
(f) Second-class forest lands are lands with
rocky and calcareous soil growing only bushes
available for fuel.
-Ss~eu,h-Jraxes on lands whose owners reside
abroad will be increased by so per cent.
Eighth-All ordinances or DEGREES conflicting
with the provisions OF this order are hereby re-
yoked and rendered null and void.
The foregoing order has been greatly discussed
upon the island. and public opinion is still di-
vded as to its excellence. but its ultimate re-
suits can scarcely fail to be benefcent If it Sc
cures equitable epportionment. at least justice
will have been done. OF course. those whose
taxes shall be increased under its provisions
will complain. but their opposition will be off,
set by the approval of the greater number who
will pay less than formerly as 1t is said that the
general result will be a reduction
Strange as 1t may seem, the principal munic-
ipal taxes were formerly placed upon bread
-four and meat. while tobacco. cigars and cigar
cites and alcoholic drinks were almost untaxed,
thus reversing the usual order OF things And
indeed II is rather difficult to determine which
class OF articles Is considered the most necessary
here. General Henry has. however. decided the
matter by the publication OF an order declaring
the industry OF making and selling bread free
from all municipal taxation. and making the
sale OF beef, pork or mutton entirely free from
all taxes whether direct or indirect. All indus
tries based upon the sale of meat. such as those
Of victuallers. butchers and slaughter houses,
are also exempt from all municipal dues.
In order to make UP for the reduction In
municipal receipts occasioned by these exemp-
tons. municipal corporations are authorized to
issue licenses for the sale OF all liquors. cigars,
cigarettes smoking and chewing tobacco, in
whatsoever shape or FORM The following sched-
ue or tariff OF taxation on liquors and tobacco
is proposed to the municipal corporations which
tariff may be modified to meet the requirements
Of their respective localities:
For every liquor or tobacco store or stand In
towns Of from 5000 to 10000 inhabitants, $50;
IN towns OF from 10000 to $1,000 inhabitants
$50: in towns OF from 1900 TO 10000 inhab-
itants. S70 in towns above 10000 inhabitants.
$50
The following order while It caused dissatis-
faction among the relatively small creditor class
was thoroughly approved by the more numerous
debtor class in whose interest. at least when
agriculturists II was issued:
In view OF the facts that 1t has been repre-
eented to the Department Commander by peu-
uon and otherwise 10 his satisfaction that owing
TO the crisis caused by the late war and by the
scarcity OF money OF the island seeking invest
ment. planters owning valuable estates are un.
able 20 meet their debts. and that, NUMBER OF
nrms in lQuidating their business interests IN
'he island are proceeding TO foreclose mortgages
On plantations TO the great distress Of the own
ers thereof. and under existing laws these pro