Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-01-09
Daily kennebec 3ournaI.
PUERTO RICO.
Gov. Gen. Davis Tells of Her
Condition and Needs.
The People Are Not Yet Ready to
Try SeIf-Government.
Island Rich and Fertile and Will in lime
Take Care CT Itself.

general statement regarding the sit
uation of affairs in that island The
people of Puerto Rico, he said, were
accustomed 10 arbitrary control. con-
troll Of the king through ministers or
secretaries in charge of several depart
ments. He had believed when he came
10 the administration of the affairs of
the island that things could be better
ed by eliminating these Intermediates
and getting closer to the people He
had made step in that direction by
substituting mixed boards for these
secretaries and the result had been
very satisfactory from his point of
view
The civil administration was now
entirely in the hands of these boards
boards of health. charities, education
public works. etc, in all of which the
natives had representation. The Gus
toms We're collected by army officers,
assisted by natives. Natives were
everywhere the principal employees
one Of the great problems which had
confronted him was that of making
the receipts and expenditures balance.
This had been accomplished by read
iuStment of salaries and other econo-
mics.
The Industrial situation on the is
land. Gen. Davis said, was not satisfac-
tory. ~ Skctched the discOuraGcment
hirh had resulted from the trade ana
-lrin Determinations against the pro-
ducts ~ the island both in the United
States and cuba before the great hur-
ticano devastated the island. last Aug
ust. when coffee plantations had been
ruined and every banana plant on the
island had been destroyed. For five
wears preceding 1898 the average ex-
ports nid reached about 10000, 0000
pesos m l>9N. they Were cut in half
ana this year. Gen. Davis figured that
they would hardly exceed 100000.
The people We're discouraged. They
lacked the Auglo-Saxon energy 70 face
20 gloomy outlook
Cen. Davis justified the arbitrary
action ~ Cen. Horny in extending fpr
ma year from Jan. 10. 1899. the time
in which mortgages overdue could hc
farcclas.l. but that year. he said.
would expire shortly and thousands Of
properties would change hands. This
added another discouraging feature to
the situation. He Gen. Davis did not
believe he had authority To further eN-
tend the time under the treaty with
SPAIN but the property rights Of in
diviiuals and corporations must Re-
main in the status quo which obtained
when the treaty was ratified.
Regarding the political situation,
Gen. Davis described the fury with
which the natives plundercd and muir
lorcd the Spaniards after the war
closed. They sought to even up old
scores. This had been stopped by the
military and civil disorders had ceased
The elections in the towns shortly al
ter the United States assumed military
control he said, We're farces. No cleo
ton was ordered until the result had
been previously ascertained. Gen.
Davis said that under his discretion
suffrage had been limited to the people
who could read or write or VINO had
paid 81 in taxes in two years. Then
new elections Of alcaldes ana town
had been held Under these
terms less than . per cent. OF the IN
ha bitants had been able to qualify. In
half the towns elections had been heId
and hut 80 900 voted out of 100000 peo-
ple. The elections had been held un-
der military supervision and had gwen
eminent satisfaction so far as their
fairness was concerned. Gen. Davis
regarded the election as an education
Of the people.
Regarding the future civil govern
ment of the island, Gen. Davis sad ne
had given the subject much thought
without being able to formulate sat
isfactory scheme. 1t would be diff
ficult undertaking but he considered 1t
essential that the people Of Puerto RICO
should be given an opportunity 70
demonstrate their capacity to enlarge
their responsibilities. He thought they
might be given representation in leg
isIativc body but that body he said,
should have in it a majority OF per
sons appointed by the President in or
der 10 be sure that control should not
,,oee into hands which would use It
Shaking Of the need of many things
in tha island, Gen. Davis pointed out
the fact that the island was without
IaLt Unless a loan could be made. ne
said. the present industrial paralysis
must continue. rcverting To the queS-
lion of mortgage foreclosure, Cen
Davis said that there were mortgages
to the amount Of 5000. 900 pesos on reai
estate. The interest rates ran rs hisH
~ d por cent. He would not comm
himself as to the ACCESSIBILITY OF eN-
tending the period for forecloslhS
but expressed the opinion
that something must be done. 1hc
revenues Of the island were Inadequate
to meet its wants.
For instance. 600, 600 pesos had beenai-
lowed in the budget for education
THAT sum provided very limited edu-
carton for 10000 children. There We're.
no said 10000 other children who had
NOT the slightest chance of receiving
an education In his opinion l00o'Ooo
nesos - wear should be expended on the
roads for 20 years.
cen Davis said he thought less than
F, ner cent. of the inhabitants under
stood the responsibilities OF govern
mont. In answer to a question from
Henry of Texas, Gen.
D,vis stated that he did not think that
, territorial form of government such
nc was proposed for Hawaii would De
CO.., tho hest interests of the island, put
,iet;nctlv thought the people of Puerto
pico were as much entitled to trace
privilege as the people Of Hawai-
. trade privileges We're granted,