The evening times., 1899-02-25
CONDITIONS IN THE
island Of PORTO RICO
-9v o. ae
20 a}ia sd1 ,a af.s
Commissioner Carroll Talks
of Its Industries.
Usurious Loans and Exactions In
jure Agriculture.
Planters Ignorant of the Rest Meth.
ods of Prodnction-COnfid in
General Henry.

San Juan de Porto Rico, Feb. 25.-Dr.
Carroll, the. Commissioner recently ap-
pointed by President Mckinley to make
a report of the conditions in Porto Rico
has completed a tour of the island. He has
visited all the municipalities of any size
and has held conferences with the leading
citizens wherever he has gone. He said
in an interview:
Il have found little manufacturing in
dustry. Agriculture is not prosperous,
owing to the results of the late war and
the low prices now paid for coffee and
sugar, the chief products of the island.
Spanish merchants, who heretofore con-
trolled the trade in Porto Rico, have in
jured the agricultural classes by their
usurious loans and exactions. l found one
Spanish merchant who was winding up
his affairs previous to departing for Spain,
who had sixty executions out against the
properties of planters.
Under the law in force here these prop
critics may be sold out by summary pro-
ceedings within thirty days. AS the own
ers of the lands are all in straitened cir
cumstances, these splendid haciendas will
go TO the creditors for a small proportion
of their real value.
Bad roads also reduce the profits to
planters and raise the prices of the nee
essaries of life in the interior. 1t is idle
to talk of prosperity, good schools, and
good government until the means of trans
portation are provided. With this ad-
vantage Porto Rico has a brilliant pros
pect.
AT the present time the municipal gov
ernments are hampered by the old Span
ish system. Autonomy such as General
Henry is contemplating is greatly needed,
and when secured will give an incentive
to development. / have found the iaiis
crowded and fearfuIly unfit for their pur-
pose. There are many prisoners who have
been languishing in these pestholes for
months on forgotten charges and for po-
litical offences Some of the civil hos
pitals are in a shocking condition. The
administration of justice is difficult owing
TO fayoritism and politics. The Difficult
ties in the way of marriage are so great
that many If not the majority of the peo-
pie live in concubinage
The planters have no association for i'm
provement or study of crop conditions, and
are Ignorant of the best methods of pro-
duction
Under the wise policy of General Henry
the conditions of the island are improving
Relief has been had from his recent order
delaying the foreclosure of mortgages for
the period OF year Without this just or
der the planters OF the country would soon
/ have become ruined. The new tariff is cor
dially received by the merchants and the
business element. and | am sure that it
viii give relief where relief is needed The
new rate of exchange is generally salts
I factory, although transactions are still sub
Ject 10 some fluctuations, owing 10 the. re-
! fusal of the bankers and brokers TO adapt
their transactions to the new rate
In my judgment the ultimate retirement
/ of the native money and the substitution
! of that of the United States is the thing de-
! sired and necessary to the proper and safe
| transaction of business.
! General Henry knows the people and
understands their condition. The people
confidently look to him for relief, and they
have an entire confidence in him. II he
should not please the politicians he is re-
garded By the masses as just and consid-
crate ruler. He is proceeding carefully,
but wisely.
His order abolishing the old Insular
Cabinet, with its impractical methods.
while net a radical measure, is extremely
important. Old and willy politicians of the
Spanish school have rendered some of his
efforts al good government nugatory, both
in the insular affairs and also in the muni-
cipaiities. BY placing the affairs of the
civil government in the hands of men who
are subordinate to him and in sympathy
with his American methods he will be able
effectually to carry out his ideas and or
ders for the improvement of the island and
the ameiioration Of the people.
The order of President Mckinley fixing
the rate of exchange gave rise to uneasi-
ness on the part of many inhabitants. who
feared that they would have to pay in gold
the debts that were previously contracted
in Porto Rican pesos and to put their fears
al rest, the following order was issued:
san Juan February 10. Is09
The Hon. Major General Guy V. Henry, COM
manding the department, according to the recon-
mendatiOn of the undersigned secretary has been
pleased 10 resolve that and after March 1895,
an territorial, industrial and commercial taxes
shall lac paid to the islands treasury in United
States money or in its equivalent in other mon
ey, that the said taxes of internal revenues SUBJ
sist until June so next in pesos, they appear
in the assessments; the amount due in Porto
Rican moneys being reduced To its equivalent in
1 nited States money at the already fixed rates
for its payment at the collectors offices.
This, by superior order. is published for general
intelligence. CAYETANO COLi. T0STE,
Secretary of Finance.
BY command of Major General Henry.