The evening times., 1900-01-23

Brig. Gen. George w. Davis, Military
Governor of Porto Rico, left Washington
last night for New York. He will sail
for Porto Rico tomorrow. General Davis
had a final conference with Secretary Root
before he left on the question OF the fu-
ture of Porto Rico, and the reforms to De
instituted in the island. He is unquali-
fedly in favor of Porto Rico being an
nexed to this country at the earliest posi-
bic moment, and believes if the country
is received as a Territory that business
will begin TO improve, and the island soon
be in a prosperous condition. On the
other hand, if Congress fails TO act, busi-
ness, which is now at a standstll in the
island, will grow more and more demoral-
lied, and damage will be done that it Will
take years to repair
General Davis also had a conference with
Representatives Dalzell, Steele, and Payne,
of the House Committee on Insular At
fairs, and is said 10 have strongly urged
that no delay be had in defining the status
of the relations between this country ard
Porto Rico, for every days delay he ar
gued. meant so much more suffering for
the Porto Ricans, whose crops were de-
vastated by the storm of last August He
argued il is said, that Porto Rico be given
free trade with this country, which would
not only benefit the Porto Ricans by CIV
ing them a market for their products, but
would also restore business confidence and
cause capitalists TO invest money in the
island.
General Davis is said to have told the
Representatives that this country owed IL
as a duty to see that Porto Ricans did
-.
their products He cited the fact that in
assuming control of the Island the United
States shut off the principal outlet for the
Porto Rican products and with Spanish
ports closed against them, and this country
failing TO give them free trade the Porto
Ricons had no market The extension of
the time for paying the mortgages, he is
reported TO have said would only act as a
temporary relief for the unfortunate
natives, and that six months from now they
would be as badly of as ever unless they
were given access to the markets of this
country. They would still be unable to pay
the mortgages and being evicted would be-
come charges on the public, and in the end
would have to be cared for by this country.
"One OF the first things | desire to do Cd
my return 10 Porto Rico" said General
Davis. just before his departure from this
city, is 10 begin pushing the public works
Of the Island such as building roads yards
and docks and other things that will have
TO be done AS far as possible only native
Porto Ricans will be employed on these
public works in order that the distress
among them may be relieved 10 some eS-
tent While the work will be only q drop
in the bucket still it will show the natives
that this country intends to assist them all
it can.
The conditions in Porto Rico are very
bad The natives are living from hand TO
mouth on the products of their lands. but
have no market for their goods. ! would
gladly welcome any committee Congress
might want 10 send to the Island, and be
lieye ! could convince the committee OF
the vital necessity for some action 10 re-
lieve the situation.
1T has not been decided what troops will
be sent home from Porto Rico but quite
large number of them will be returned in
the Spring In enforcing order around the
towns the native police will be used TO
large extent Those which have been tried
have proven themselves quite trustworthy
and they command the respect Of their
fellow natives The money paid them is
so much more currency in circulation, and
relieves the families of the men from suf-
fering for the necessaries of life.
Il have considerable faith in the Porto
Ricans. and believe that given a fair
chance they will soon retrieve their broken
fortunes and become a prosperous and law
abiding people. Congress should by all
means give free entry TO their goods into
this country This will settle the question
of the future prosperity of the Island