Evening star., 1899-03-11
No Truth in the Alarming Reports
From Porto Rico.
AMERICAN GOVERNMENT WELCOMED
Editor De Rackin Presents Some
Unquestioned Proofs.
PLAIN FACTS STATED

Mr. s + De Rackin, editor of the San
Juan. Porto Rico. News. who is paying a
hurried visit to the United States, Is spend-
ing few days in Washington. In conver-
satiOn with Star reporter today he quite
effectually exploded the sensational state
ment published this morning from Chi
cago TRIBUNE staff correspondent in Porto
Rico. which purported TO describe the sit
uation in the isand.
Il have just come from Porto Rico" said
Mr. De Rackin, "and l can't believe that
General Henry said the things attributed
to him. General Henry, ii is true, has but
three regiments there, but it is equally
true that ne don't need half of them. He
has frequently told me that ne was very
well satisfied with affairs. There are all
ways a&ita.rrS to b. round i'll every com
muHIty. who for political reasons are for
ever attempting to foaeaJ discomfort be-
tween those in authority ana those sub
jected TO il. and PUrto Rico has its share
of these.
Business Men Feei Secure.
But no one is looking for trouble. The
business men are all favorable to the
United States and are straining every ef-
fort to assist its representatives i'll eStab
fishing good gCyernm Mt in the island.
They are, | have found, upright and
straightforward, ana they are ali aware
that under the direction of the Americans
they are assured Of absolute security. One
man in San Juan told M he had been sue
Cesstul in business and u<td saved money,
but that under Spanish rule he had feared
TO invest il, because there was no certainty
that his property would De protected. New,
how ever. ne would invest his savings with
out feIr.
The killing of Burke.
Regarding the statement attributed in
NT-iIN
correspondent" continued Mr. De RaclSin,
relating TO the killing OF Private Michael
Burke Of the 147th New York at Caguas. l
can give the facts as found by Gen. Fred
D. Grant. who personally Investigated the
affair. There was no political significance
whatever attached to the murder. Another
private Of the New York regiment went to
a barber shop in CaSuas and became en-
gagged in a difficulty with the barber. The
latter and two friends set upon the soldier
and whipped him batly. Fitzpatrick went
out and secured the help of some of his
comrades. Including Burke. ard the party
visited the barber SHOP and wrecked 1t, and
il turn beat the barber ana his companions.
The murder of Burka was committed by
one of the latter. - n Grant returned
from cae..as 20 San Juan on sunday, Feb
ruary ~. the murder having occurred
Thursday. February -. and reported that
ne did n.t beil-ve any particular ilI-Teeiing
existed t-JWeeu tha citizens and the sol
diery. and that the trouble had all grown
cut Of personal GiirTy.T 'eS.
The concluding assertion that Gen. Hen
r. has foUHi il necessary to depose tie
alCaldcs ahd couEcilmen Of many towns
and turn the local government over to army
officers is buSh.'' said &ir. De Rackiu, in
conclusion The only instance in Porto
Rico where civil officers We're suspended hy
Gen. Henry was in the towns of Aguadtllo
and Noca. which lie close together. This
course was taken because thu alcalds was
not the proper man for the place. Here is
an order issued by command of General
Henri February 3S and published in our
paper on The sGrne date. Whion effectuaEy
81 les ;he y i,pie business.
Mr.. De Rackin hereupon handed the re-
porter copy Of the San Juan News of
Feb 8ary Ze.-On the first page was the fol
lowing: