New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14
THE PORTO RICAN POLICE
a rrw FORCE ON THE ISLAND oPERAT
ING FOR LAW AND ORDER.


s,vtded into seventy municipalities counties.
when the protocol was signed, July IA. 1898.
waited states troops occupied the three south
.-r jurisdictions Of Guayama 10 the east Ponce
). the centre ard Mayaguez TO the west They
sarrisoned all the towns (pueblos) and villages
narrios) and such other points in the rural
s,s.r,cts as were necessary for the preservation
Of good order.
Az the process of evacuation went every
ro,nt from which the Spanish troops were with
srpwn was gradually occupied by American
so,eIers. until finally the whole island came
under American control when Spanish sover-
eighty ceased october is. 1893
Advantage was taken Of this transition period
NC bandits 10 commit depredations and out
ages. especially IN the northwestern part Of
,hs island in the vicinity Of Lares. Many
houses were burned and several murders COM
r,ted. Most Of this outiawry directed
AGAINST Spanish property-owners. and no doubt
had IT'S origin in old grievances for fancied or
actual wrongs done under system Of peonage
md oppression that was little less than slavery
IN IT'S worst form.
By the end Of November the military had the
island in good control The malefactors were
Taught TO fear and respect American authority,
and a state OF security and peace had been
brought about that enabled the farmers and
rlanters In the mountain and country districts
10 I'll their fields OF sugar. coffee and tobacco
without being obliged to go armed whenever
,hev left the vicinity Of their dwellings.
When General Henry assumed command OF
The island early in December his policy was to
start the inhabitants on the road to self-gov-
eminent by relieving gradually the strict mill
fairy rule. Except under special orders from him,
he forbade the troops TO interfere In any man
ner with the civil authorities thus making the
latter. in way. supreme. But as the munich
palitles we're all extremely poor and were al
most all in arrears OF their taxes. they could
IN afford to have many policemen TO preserve
the neace and make the mandates Of the law
respected: the average throughout the island
was about four underpaid policemen TO mu-
nicipality Taking the area of municipality
NJ 100 square miles. and remembering that
these policemen would invariably be stationed
In the pueblo" 1t can readily be seen that the
villages and the rural districts would be en-
t,relv unprotected. Assuming. then, the prin-
c,nle of non-interference in ordinary civil af-
fairs NV the military and the condition OF alb
so,ute poverty existing throughout Porto Rico,
robberies arson and murder, that had again
begun 10 crop out
AN EXAMPLE TO BE AVOIDED.
General Henry had before him too prominent
an example 10 the Guardia Civil of the Span
.srds not TO establish al. once a modified, sys-
ten, as a solution Of the problem The Guardfa
Civil was police system that really amounted
10 military organization, under The guise or
a civil institution controlling municipal affairs.
When a body of men have the power OF life
and death in their hands. when they can Kill
prisoners and can always evade investigation
bv the simple statement. HE tried TO escape
they form an organization that will bring peace
70 a country but peace where people live In
daily dread OF their lives. Such is the Guardia
Civil Of Spain: such was the Guardia Civil Of
Cuba and Porto Rico.
In February. 1899, the general order was
Issued establishing the insular police. They are
the police Of the rural districts. are supported
bv the island government, are paid out OF the
central treasury and are under the direct con-
troll OF the Governor General himself They are
entirely distinct from the municipal police.
which are the police Of the towns or urban dis
trcts and are supported by the municipalities
and under the control Of the Aicaldes
1t IL. however. the duty Of these two bodies
to aid and assist, without interfering with, each
other. town policeman pursuing an escaped
criminal can properly call on an insular police
man for assistance and vice versa
Asalast resort stands the military, TO be USED
in case both the other forces fail and then only
under special instructions from the department
commander.
II will therefore. be seen that the military
power in Porto Rico, though absolute and su-
premc is held in allegiance, and that the people
have every latitude to protect themselves ana
show their ability to control themselves by their
own municipal and insular police. for both these
forces with the exception Of the chief or insular
police, are made up entirely Of Porto Ricans.
The natives. instead Of holding the insular
police in the fear and dread that they had felt
for the Guardia Civil. in 1t the means OF pro-
lection, and petitions are constantly being re-
ceived at headquarters from all the island
asking for the installation Of police posts
DIVISIONS OF THE INsULAR POLICE.
For insular police work Porto Rico is divided
into four districts. each in command Of cap
tain; these districts are subdivided into fifteen
precincts each in command OF a lieutenant
Each lieutenant has in his precinct certain
number OF police posts. each in charge Of a cor
poral. who has about eight privates under his
charge. The corporal divides his squad into
patrols who travel over the rural section Of the
post limits communicating at fixed intervals OF
time with a patrol OF the neighboring post I'M
parting Information and rendering reports.
In this way all the roads and main trails
OF the island are secured. and once each week
detailed report is sent 10 the Chief at san Juan
Frank Fechter, formerly lieutenant in the 47th
New-York Volunteer Infantry.
All the members Of the force are required
to pass a severe physical examination. Ihey
are then assigned 10 post. required 10 wear the
regulation uniform Of gray linen with leggings
and campaign hat and have issued 10 them
Springfield rife and Colts revolver horse
Is attached to each police post for mounted work.
but as much OF the work in the rural and noun