The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-09
NEEDS OF PUERTO RICO.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF CONDI-
TI0Ns IN THE LITTLE ISLAND.
Governor Davis Before the House
Committee on Insulnr Affairs
Reforms Under Way.

WASHINGTON. Jan. s-General Davis.
governor general of Puerto Rico. appeared
before the insular affairs committee of the
House to-day and made a general state
ment regarding the situation Of affairs in
that island. When he assumed charge there
was a Cabinet of secretaries in charge OF
several departments. The people Of Puerto
Rico, he said, were accustomed 10 arbi-
trary control, control of the King through
ministers. He had believed when he came
TO the administration of affairs OF the
island that things could be bettered by
eliminating these intermediates and get
ting closer to the people. Mixed boards
had everywhere been substituted for these
secretaries and the result, General Davis
said, had been very satisfactory from his
point of view. The civil administration was
now entirely in the hands of boards Of
health, charities, education, public works,
etc. in all of which the natives had repre-
sentation. The customs were collected by
army officers. assisted by natives. Natives
were everywhere the principal employees.
The industrial situation on the island.
General Davis said, was not satisfactory.
He sketched the discouragemnt which had
rsulted from the trade and tariff discrimi-
nations against the products of the island,
both in the United States and Cuba, be-
fore the great hurricane devastated the
island last August. In that awful desoia-
ton coffee plantations had been ruined,
and every banana plant on the island had
been destroyed. For five years preceding
1893 the average exports had reached about
100000 pesos. In 1898 they were cut In
half and this year General Davis figured
that they would hardly exceed S.5oO.OOO.
ine people were discouraged.
They lack the Anglo-Saxon energy to
face gloomy outlook. General Davis justi-
fed the arbitrary action Of General Henry
in extending for one year from Jan. 10.
1899, the time in which mortgages overdue
could be foreclosed, but that year would
expire shortly and thousands Of properties
would change hands. This added another
discouraging feature to the situation. He
(Davis) thought something should be done,
but did not believe he had authority to
further extend The time under the treaty
with Spain, but that property rights OF
individuals and corporations must remain
in the status quo which obtained when the
treaty was ratined-
erai Davis described the fury with which
the natives plundered and murdered the
Spaniards after the war closed. All THAI,
however. had been stopped by the military,
and civil disorders had ceased. The cleo
tons in the towns shortly after the United
States assumed military control, he SAID,
were farces. General Davis said he re-
garded the election as an education OF the
people.
Regarding the future civil government OF
the island General Davis said he had given
the subject much thought without being
abe TO formulate a satisfactory scheme. Ii
would be a difficult undertaking, but he
considered it essential that the people of
ruerto Rico should be given an oppor-
tunity to demonstrate their capacity 10
enlarge their responsibilities. He thought
| they might be given representation In a
| legislative body, but that body. he said,
should have in it a majority OF persons
appointed by the President in order to be
sure that control should not pass into
hands which would use it improperly. Cen
eral Davis said the island was without
debt, but loan must be raised, or the
present industrial paralysis must continue
The revenues of the isIanu were inadequate
| to meet it's wants. For instance. 100000
pesos had been allowed in the budget for
education. That sum provided very
| limited education for thirty thousand chill
dren. There were, he said $4,000 other chill
dren VINO had not the slightest chance OF
receiving education. In his opinion 1,0o0,-
600 pesos year should be expended on the
roads for twenty years.
General Davis said he thought less than
per cent. of the inhabitants understood
the responsibilities of self-government.
In answer to direct question from Rep
resentatiye Henry, of Texas, General Davis
stated that he did not think a territorial
form of government, such as We proposed
for Hawaii, would be for the best interests
of the island. But he distinctly thought
the people of Puerto Rico were as much en-
titled TO trade privileges as the people of
Hawaii. If trade privileges were granted,
| 1t would go far towards industrial regen-
Grafton, but in addition some responsible
| body in Puerto Rico In his opinion must
have the power of borrowing money until
| the taxes become adequate. He thought
5000 900 pesos should be raised by taxation
| for municipal, insular and school purposes.
Mr. Cannon asked him IL free trade
| the people of Puerto Rico, considering the
| climate and resources of the island would
| be able to work out their salvation.
"Quite able to support themselves" re-
piled General Davis, land. besides COLI
| tribute much wealth to the United States
whenever the island is put upon a sound
basis
The local currency consisting of about
| 5000 900 pesos, he thought should be retired
| and recoined, our money to take its place.
| The local legislature could make the adj
| justments necessary. American sovereign
ty," said General Davis. in answer to a
| question from Mr.. Maddox, has been a
| disaster TO the average Puerto Rican."
THAT is.'' suggested Mr.. Cannon, 1.-The
| old order has disappeared and the new has
| not come in?"
''That is it, replied General Davis. Con-
tinuing, he said that about 20 per cent.
| of the population of the island were Cau-
casans in the sense that the Spaniards
were. There were 10000 negroes and
| 10000 mulattoes The native Spaniards
were In the best condition. They were
| faithful. Industrious and temperate. They
| were thrifty. Every Puerto Rican was
either actively or passively a Catholic.
| A large portion of the population was of
| illegitimate birth, put illegitimacy did not
| involve crime. In many cases there were
| obstacles. 1.-The natives" he said, ARE
| married but not parsoned" He thought
| any railroad built in Puerto Rico to pay
\ would have to be subsidized by the state.
Americans in Puerto Rico" General
| Davis said. like the coffee grown there
| and General Davis believed all that can be
| produced can be disposed of in New York
| city alone at prices equal to that paid for
/ the best Java and Mocha.