The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-01-08
PUERTO RICO ROBBED
Spaniards Carried Off Half a Million
Pesos.
EFT TREASURY EMPTY
GUARANTEE FUNDS AND TRUST
FUNDS WE'RE TAKEN.
Demand VIII Be Made Upon the
Spanish Government = Many OPP
pressive Taxes ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Bank Acted As Tax Collector and
Retained Part of the Funds.

Retained Part of the Funds.
Correspondence of the Associated Press.)
San Juan, Puerto Rico, Dec. 10
When the United States occupied San
Juan, Puerto Rico's capital, Mr.. Julian
Blanco y Sosa was secretary of the in
sular treasury. Mr.. Blanco was retain
ed in this post by General Brooke.
About the middle of November there
occurred the locally famous incident of
the effort on the part Of the city coun-
Gil of Ponce to obtain the full privileges
of autonomy and this incident brought
from Blanco an indiscreet letter to a
friend, the subsequent publication of
winch letter made necessary Mr.. Blan-
cos resignation from the cabinet Cen
erad Brooke regretted the resignation
OF this minister, for the general con-
sidered him a good and efficient public
servant. Mr. Blanco was succeeded as
secretary of the treasury by DIR. Coll
J Toste, and with the purpose of learn
Ing what had been accomplished to-
ward the cutting down Of the very high
rate Of taxation under which the peo-
pie of Puerto Rico have staggered for
years past, DR.. Coli was seen at his
Office IL the building Of La Disputa-
cion ProvinciOnal."
AN EMPTY TREASURY.
DR.. Coll was installed as secretary of
the treasury on Nov. Is. Upon that
date the insular treasury held IS cents
IN copper, $3.50 in Venezuelan gold and
about $500 IN American bank bills
1t seems that it has been the custom
IN -uerto Rico TO maintain what is cali
ed guarantee fund. This is a sys-
TEN OF deposits to guarantee the faith
fui performance of both public and pri-
Fate contracts. Amounts 10 be thus
deposited are regulated by certain laws
anG receipts are issued to deposiuors
by the lnsular treasury for the moneys
thus received. sums Of moneys in liti-
cation can also be attached and depos-
tied IN this same fund until such time
as the courts render judgment concern
ing their rightful ownership When this
has been done the court issues an or
Ger upon the treasury TO pay back the
money according to the decision it has
reached.
DR.. Coll was greatly surprised to find
the insulaT treasury in such a depleted
condition. He knew there should be at
least several hundred thousand dollars
deposited on account with this general
guarantee fund ana he at once started
an investigation to determine what
amount of money was missing. From
the various receipts issued by the treas
ury already seen by DR.. Coil, he has
learned that over 300, 600 pesos, about /
$2O0,90o, are missing from this fund, and !
1t is probable that the full amount |
which has been done away with /
TO nearly SOC. 600 pesos. His in /
vesugations are not yet completed but |
he has no doubt but that he will dis /
cover documentary evidence of depos- I
its up to this latter amount.
TAKEN TO SPAIN.
This money was taken to Spain; of
this no one has any doubt. 1t is gen /
orally known that the late Captain |
General MaciaS Of Puerto Rico deliv- !
erred to the government at Madrid 81
900 pesos, and that the Brigadier de
Marina Vallarino delivered to his gov
$4,000 pesos which rightfully
TO Puerto Rico, and which
were drawn from this guarantee fund
The fund also contained $4,000 pesos
which was the capital and total re
serve of a school teachers pension fund
This money was contributed by the
teachers OF Puerto Rico, and It is evil
Gent it should have been left in their
hands that they, in their old age, and
when entitled thereto, might enjoy the
benefits and advantages which are their
Spain, and il is understood that his ex-
;use in this matter was, that as the
headquarters and main Office of the
Protective Society of Spanish Teachers
vas at Madrid, and as the Puerto Ri
an branch was subjected to the rul-
ngs Of the main Office, the money
hOuld be returned there. No one be-
ieVes the teachers viii ever benefit by T,
heir own pension fund unless some
iefnite and decisive action is taken in
heir behalf. DIT. Coll is collecting all ;
he evidence he can concerning the
matters above set down, and when he I
las fully completed this labor he viii i
Ubmit a report thereon to Major Gen !
raj Henry, recommending that claim ]
e made upon the Madrid government I
or the restitution of these amounts.
TAXES DIVERTED.
During SPANS possession of Puerto
tico the Spanish bank of Puerto Rico, {
nder contract to and protected by the
lsular government, collected from the
eople and paid over to the government
Il taxes and direct contributions. This s
ontract with the Spanish bank ter p
linated upon Oct. is last, but it would :
eeIn, upon investigation, that they are n
luch in arrears with certain pay !,
tents; that there is strong evidence to 4
how they have collected taxes and +
ALO1il TIE people WHICH =
ley never turned over to Spain Dur /,
lg the latter part OF November DR.. q
oil forced this bank to pay into the n
easuI-y 10000 pesos collected by it on r
count of taxes and revenues from h
1vernment lands rented by inGivid- +
ais, and it is his intention 10 force it +.
meet all its obligations. This bank a
today in the position of the steward n
no gives up his keys Of Office, but 4
no will not give an accounting of the o
,ods which have passed through his f.
andS. a
DIR. Coll has expended some SO, 600 pc :,
IS since he assumed control of the II
easury, all of which has been collect N
from old debtors to the government. OF
900 pesos Of which came from the 8;
Danish bank of, Puerto Rico. al
One of the principal contributions n
hich have been abolished by the mil RI
ary authority in Puerto Rico is bl
lown locally as derechos reaIes, in r.
,anish, royal dues in English. There bl
as a, crown contribution on all trans d.
rs of all kinds OF property. It ranged Ia
ora y of 1 per cent TO 3 per cent of the Sc
.lue OF the property transferred, and
brought to the crown Of Spain some
!. 600 pesos a year. Furthermore, this
ice that Of the registrar OF deeds. al
IS most corrupt. It cost anywhere % %
I'M / 70 g. 900 pesos to register a deed II