The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-20
ASSURED OF JUSTICE.
Porto Ricans Assemble to Petition
Government of the United States.

San Juan, Porto Rico. March IA large
gathering, of 10000 people, headed by the
San Juan Chamber of Commerce. assem-
bled at the palace Of the governor general
to-day to submit a petition with refeTen
to the needs of the island. On behalf of
Gen. Davis, Lieut.. Col. Hall, his adjutant
general, assured them that Porto Rico
would receive justice and expressed pleas
ure at the interest in the question.
An account of to-days proceedings will
be transmitted to Washington.
The crowd was orderly and dispersed
without confusion, and amid 'vivas' f,r
the United States and the governor gen
eral.
Following is the text of the petition:
1.-The people of Porto Rico of all classes,
represented by the Mayor of this city and
by the Chamber of Commerce. in peaceful
assembly convened, call upon Gov. Gen.
Davis respectfully to direct his attention,
and through him the attention of Wash
ington, to the following most salient
points Of the present critical condition of
the island
First. The CONSERVATION into which
the business community in general has
been thrown on account of recent cabled
news from the United States setting forth
the negative attitude of the Senate as re-
CARDS the tariff question.
Second. The utter inability of the is
land to hold out much longer under exist
ing conditions, as the Senate's delay in
coming to a decision on the tariff simply
aggravates the almost absolute state of
penury throughout the island.
Third. The urgent necessity of a final
settlement of the question as a means of
saving to their owners, mostly men of
small means, the sugar and tobacco crops,
which would pass under the control of
SPECTATORS if no conclusion should soon
ho tirf1p MI +
ing new crops and failure to act prompt
ly being also calculated to have most
prejudced results
Fourth The distress and alarm that
are daily becoming more harassing in all
branches of trade, owing to the virtual
lack of a fixed and definite standard for
transactions, and the grave apprehensions
as to the future now so generally at
tended by all merchants.
Fifth The absence of buyers for
products, which, with the loss of their
former markets as a consequence of the
new regime, are now at practical stand
still.
sixth. The enormous depreciation of
property, more especially on plantations,
and the ruin staring a majority of plant
ers in the face as the result of the natural
uneasiness which has made itself felt
among capitalists and loan institutions
leading them to a curtailment or to shut
off entirely the credit necessary in moving
crops.
Seventh. The lack of power. as we'll as
the absence of credit, to contract a loan
for the relief OF most of the present neces-
sites and the development of resources.
Eighth. The need of undertakings of
a public nature insteadtof relief supplies,
which, although necessary, tend to make
paupers of the working classes.
These statments, respectfully made,
your petitioners respectfully request the
governor general to bring to the knowl-
edge of the government at Washington,
trusting that "a favorable solution may be
speedily found Andres Crosas,
president Of the Chamber of Com
merce.
"AIiggozure, Mayor City Of San Juan"