The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-20
.''vIvAsp FOR UNITED 60 STATES.
Headed by the San Juan Chamber l'te.rs, OF
Commerce, Ten Thousand People
Ask Immetliate Action
on, Tariff. sass

SANSJUAN,s3P.E r., March ia lar ea
gathering of O,OOO people, headed by the
San Juan Chamber of Commerce, Assem-
bled at the palace Of the. Governor-Gen-#
Ieral to submit a petit ton WI IN reference
to the needs of the island
On behalf of General Davis, Lieutenant
Colonel Hall, his acknowledgement, assured
them that Porto Rico would receive justice,
and expressed pleasure at the interest
displayed. 2
An account of to-day's proceedings will
be transmitted to washington. The crowd
was orderly, and dispersed without con-
fusion amid ...Yivas'' for the United States
and the Goyernor-Gens1 ai.
PLEA FOR aid.
Following is the text of the petition:
1.-THE people Of Porto Rico, of all class
es, represented by the mayor of this city,
and by the Chamber of Commerce. in
peaceful assembly convened, cail upon
Governor-General5 Davis, respectfully to-
direct This attention. and through him
the attention of Washington, to the fol-
lowing most salient points of the present
critical condlition 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 regards the tariff question.
.tSecond-The utter inability Of the s.
land to hold out much longer under ex-
listing conditions, as the Senate'5 delay
in coming to q decision on the tariff
simply aggravaltes the almost absolute
state of spenury throughout the flsl lsill Il
FINAL SETTLEMENT.
+ ..Third. The urgent necessity of a final :
settlement Of the question as means OF
saving to their owners, mostly men or
small means, the sugar and TOBACCO
crops, which would pass under the COT
troll Of specula tors if no conclusion should 5
soon be reached, thus delaying the plant
ing of new crops, and the failure 70 aceS
promptly being also calculated 70 n nave
most prejudicil results.
8 t'F,ourth. The distress and alarm that
are daily becoming more harrasslnS IN
all branches of trade on account OF Ine
virtual Lack Of a fixed and definite stand
ard for transactions, and the grave APP
prehensions as to the future now SO
generally entertained by all merchants
Fifth. The absence of buyers for pro O..
ducts. which. with the loss or tn tfa
former markets as consequence OF the
new regime, are now at a practical
standstill.
RUIN THREATENS
"Sixth The enormous depreciation OF
property, more especially on plantation
and the ruin staring a majority or pant
in the the the Gaade 81 felt
among capitalists and loan associa tons.
leading them to curtailment or to smut
off entirely the credit necessary In NOV
Seventh. The lack Of power, as well
as the absence of credit, to contract
loan for the relief of most of the present
necessities and the DEVELOPMENT Of re-
sources.
a pubiic nature instead of relief supplies,
which. although necessary. tend to make
paupers of the working classes,
"These statements, respectfully maze,
your petitioners respectfully request the
Governor General to bring to the knowl-
edge of the Government at washington.
trusting that a favorable solution may
speedily be found.
(Sig.ned) ANDRES CROSAo, -
president of the Chamber OF Commerce
of San. Juan.
mayor of the city of San Juan"