The record-union., 1899-01-09

to snow that they nave collected taxes
and contributions from the people which
they never turned over to Spain. Dur
ing 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 individ-
uals, and it is his intention to force
them to meet all their obligations. This
bank is to-day in the position of the
steward who gives up his keys of office
but who will not give an accounting OF
the goods which have passed through
his hands.
DR.. Coll has expended some 1000
pesos since he assumed control of the
treasury, all of which has been col
lected from old debtors to the Govern
ment, 10000 pesos of which came from
the Spanish Bank of Porto Rico.
One of the principal contributions
which have been abolished by the mill
tary authority in Porto Rico is known
locally as derechos reales in Spanish,
royal dues in English. There was
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,00O pesos a year. Fur
thermore, this office, that of the Reg
istrar of Deeds, was most corrupt. 1t
cost one anywhere from one to three
thousand pesos to register deed or
conveyance, and this over and above
all legitimate expense and royal dues.
The abolition of the royal dues and
tho ir,ct 10 lot of a n honest REGISTRAR
in place of the late incumbent has been
a most excellent thing for the country
at large. The taxes on personal pass
ports have been taken. off. This was a
drain on men Of slender means and
while it only produced 81 600 pesos a
year for the State, it's abolition eases
the people of the country. All stamped
paper has been made thing of the
past. Formerly every transaction in
which the GOVERNMENT had hand had
to be carried on upon paper stamped
With certain seals, and which was sold
by the Government itself for its own
profit. This was fruitful source of in
come, producing nearly 10000 pesos
yearly.
1t has been Spain's custom to prevent
fishing in all rivers and lakes of Porto
Rico unless the fisherman paid GOOD
round price fora license OF course much
fishing was done without license. be-
cause the Government could not watch
water ways sufficiently close to punish
ell offenders, still the measure was
hardship for the poor man, and he is
better off now that it has been removed.
Also a tax called the territorial tax,
which amounted to ) per cent. on all
AGRICULTURAL productions, has been re-
moved, and in these two last mentioned
acts one can see the Governors pur-
pose of tightening the burden for rich
and poor alike.
1t is the purpose of DR.. Coll to pre-
pare some statistics upon food con-
sumption in Porto Rico, and he will
recommend to- General Henry that flour
and dried meats be admitted from the
United States without payment of duty.
Dr. Coll will also recommend that
material for the clothing of the poorer
classes and shoes for the country work.
ers be admitted free of duty. He con-
siders that the people would be greatly
benefited if a certain kind of pump
which permits them easily to obtain
good water anywhere in the low lands
NO@N'
and he will recommend that these also
be put upon the free list. His idea In
these recommendations is to benefit the
poor man. and in this he will surely
find a willing chief in General Henry.
The commanding General is fully
aware of the anemic, half-nourished
condition of the poorer Porto Ricans
and he also realizes that men and
women in this condition cannot make
good citizens. He is disposed to do all
in his power to aid them, and if he can
not get food to them at reasonable
price@prices at which they can buy
1.-THE will seriously consider the adj
visibility of issuing them rations until
such time as proper and necessary
nourishment is placed within their
reach.