The Delta independent., 1900-08-10
0rR W WASHINGTON LETTER

Washington, Aug. 6--Mr. Charles E.
Buell. who was Secretary OF the United
States Special Commission 10 Porto
Rico. and is familiar with the various
concitions OF which he speaks. makes it
plais that our occupation Of that beau
tiful island has been Of greatest benefit
to the people Of Porto Rico. Among
other things, he explains that under
SpsDish rule Imprisonment without
he sr'ng. or the preferripg OF charges
agsiast the persons arrested. was com
mon. and TIE imprisoned persons have
fsequsbily passed several years without
being Informed Of the nature OF the
oncnps for which they bad been thus
held Under American rule no more
Spsnbh methods are permitted in deal
iug1bh those charged with unlawful
acts--}
Beesre the American occupation OF
Porto Rico it was a common custom to
rent = burial place in the cemeteries,
and 70 demand renewal OF the rent.
froa year TO year. after the first five
yean; failure to promptly Pay the
reeevni resulted in the disintei ment OF
the body and the throwing Of the skull
and bones promiscuously into common
boae heap to be thereafter forever
expss-d 10 gaze OF the curious, and to
the Action Of the elements. This Gus
touA sas discontinued upon an order
issoed by the Military Governor. making
IL ugla wful TO disinter bodies without
special permit from the Governor
General, ana then only for the purpose
OF ssinterment.
under the Spanish rule marriage had
beop hedged about with arbitrary rules
vA6eh had made it impossible for the
-. especially in the rural districts, 10
Suoss into marriage. and the result was
ltVlng in state OF concubinsge. and
0De than half the children born on the
tsla4d during latter years were iIlegiti.
-. and deprived OF natural right
uDi1er the laws. due to the fact OF their
0oRl birth. 4 circumstances over which
~ could have no control. BY order
Lib Military Governor the contract OF
- niage could be entered into without
before magistrate, or minister,
j sU1sissk and every barrier to marriag 9
was removed. Thoee having children
could marry. and the legal status IL the
offspring OF such as had been born out
OF wedlock be thereby established.
Under Spanish rule the island was
scourged with diseases due 10 uusanitary
conditsons and TO lack Of care for the
people by those in authority. The
Military Governor established vaccine
farm, and army physicians vaccinated
the population OF the island. Every
dIsezsc 10 being conquered by Govern
ment agencies and every sanitary meas
ure 10 being carried out TO proven. filth
diseases.
Under Spanish rule everything was
taxed. and to all the very cxacting
taxes on property. real and personal,
were added duties on imports. port dues
aud q consume tax OF no small rate. 10
church. which was backed by the crown
and the inslar government, ana last, bat
not least, there was a governmental
lottery: the mayors were instructed TO
sell q certain amount Of the drawings,
aud they invited the citizens TO purchase
drawing. which understood TO be a
thin. .ve,led order to contribute the sum
asked for 10 the government.
With the occupation by the Americans
the lottery disappeared, and the burden
Of TAXATION dwindled down to Is per
cent Of the tariff upon imports. and,
what vas more important. the amounts
thus collected are handed over TO the
island government, SO that the 10 per
cent Of the tariff docs not burden the
people at all.
When Porto Rico was storm swept
the quick response Of our people 10 the
cry of Distress, and the liberal sending
OF tens OF thousands OF tons OF supplies
for the stranded victims of the storm
gave evidence Of the true feeling which
this country entertained toward the new
possession. A loyal lady of San Juan
remarked that "the United States is
great because it is liberal; it is prosper
ous because 1t is humane"
Under Spanish rule the weak were
robbed; the foreclosure of mortgage
vas permitted in = NEST unwarranted
manor. and always to the loss ct the
deeeos. A military order checked this.
Under Spanish ru.c large percentage
OF the property owners were ab>cptecs,
cosducticg their estates through asen-
cieo. and exacting a most ruinous course