The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-19
A REPORT ON PORTO RICO
Commissioner CAROLS Review OF
Conditions in the Island.
The Population. Government. COM
mcrce. Tariff and Currency the
Chief Topics Trcntcd-A Great Need
OF Scholastic Cost of Marriage
Works Evils i'm Social Life.

The report of Henry X. Carroll, United
States Special Commissioner TO Porto Rico
on the conditions existing in the island
was made public by the Secretary Of the
Treasury yesterday This report is of spe-
cial interest at the present time in its
bearing upon the discussion of the proper
legislation 10 be enacted for the people
of that insular territory.
The report treats of the population OF
Porto Rico its civil government, COM
merce industries. roads, tariff, and cur
rency. and includes many special recon-
mendations for the improvement of social,
political. Industrial. and commercial az
fairs.
Mr. Carroll spent more than year on
his visit. and made careful tour of the
island. visiting all the chief towns and
districts. and receiving cordial welcome
everywhere. He reports the heat as not
torrid. the highest monthly average being
Sc degrees in June. 1885, the lowest re-
corded being &c degrees. Showers during
the winter are frequent but of short du-
ration. The death rate is moderate, the
prevailing diseases being malarial fevers
anc consumption. The census OF 1897
gave the population as 9.203, and in COM
parison with previous years. 1t shows a
decrease in the negro population. Much
space is devoted to full historical re-
view OF the island under its former
regime. and the report gives summary
OF its system of government. Church
property is a large item, the whole being,
with few exceptions. under the Catholics.
The system of public schools was an
tiquated. and few improvements seem 10
have been made. In practice ii was decid-
eddy inferior and insufficient. Most atten-
ton was given, naturally, to urban schools,
and these were inadequate in almost every
respect. Something was done for the boys,
but little for the girls. the first rural school
for girls having been established no longer
ago than 1850 The general administration
of public schools was under the direction
of the provincial deputation.
There are no later figures for literacs
and illiteracy than those Of the census of
1860, when the population was 5s3,1sL. OF
this number 81, $50 were literate and 3d.
s31 illiierate. Over so per cent were un-
able to read. The estimates of present
conditions vary: some say that Is, others
is or 20 per cent Of the population are lit
crates. OF the population Of Ponce, num-
boring according to the census of 1897,
between $4,000 and $4,000, about $4,000 can
read or read and write. This is over 29
per cent, showing gain since 1887, when
the percentage was a. The population of
that district was as follows: Poncenos,
1929; from other districts OF the island
and Cuba, 1898; from the Peninsula, 2.2s3;
from other foreign countries, 1921. The
floating population was remarkably small,
being only 342. The greatest amount of
illiteracy is, Of course, in the rural dis
tricts, where the population is hard 10
reach with school facilities.
Public charities are few and poorly sus-
tanned, but in San Juan there is an excel
lent asylum for children under the care
OF the Sisters of Charity.
The statistics OF births in 1897 show that
about 90 per cent were of legitimate ana
As per cent Of illegitimate children. This
condition of affairs in social life is &C.
counted for by the excessive fees charged
by the clergy for performing the mar
riage ceremony, the poorer classes being
unable TO afford II. while in some dis
tricts the relationships are such that
nearly every family is related by consan-
guinity, and the laws Of the church for
bid marriages among them. According TO
the statistics of 1897, the deaths were con-
is accounted for by reason OF the facts that
births are not faithfully reported or re-
corded, because they are illegitimate
OF the character CT the people, the COM
missioner says:
THE Porto Ricans are kindly, hos
pitable, polite people, very sociable, and
always ready TO do Americans a friendly
service. If q stranger in their streets
asks the way TO any particular point the
obliging native will often go with him In
stead Of simply directing him, and refuse
any reward. Courteous 10 everybody, they
seem glad to be able to grant favor.
They are cheerful in disposition, uniform
ly kind to one another. Although they
have always been accustomed to the pres
ence OF soldiers, they appear to be grieved
that they are kept under a military gov
eminent. To the commissioner they said
again and again, We want civil govern
ment as soon as possible. Let the mill
tary regime be shortened. What have we
done that we should be placed under mill
tary law? We have done nothing worthy
of punishment They spoke fayorably of
the character Of the military government.
fits honesty, efficiency, and devotion TO in
sular interests, but were impatient to
have their civil status fixed.
They are fond of music, especially OF
EtTlEP lnSlEulutulS, Dul are nOl Il rtdulHS
people Books and periodicals are seldom
seen on their tables. Games and outdoor
diversions are not general, among either
young or old, men or women. Balls and
dances are perhaps the most popular and
universal diversion"
With regard 20 the Porto Ricans in their
welcome to American occupation, the report
Gays:
"Tbey expect under American sovereignty
that the wrongs of centuries will be right
ed; that they will have an honest and eff
fcient government; the largest measure Of
liberty as citizens of the great Republic
under the Constitution; home rule as pro-
Sided by the territorial system: free access
10 the markets of the United States, and no
customs duties on goods coming from our
ports: school system modelled after that
Of the United States; the adoption Of the
English language in due time. and the
general adaptation to the island Of all those
institutions which have contributed 10 the
prosperity. progress, and happiness of the
American people"
HEMEDAT TEEsC NEMnpv