Omaha daily bee., 1900-01-09
DAVIS VIEWS ON PUERTO RICO
Governor General Appears Before House
Insular Affairs Committee.
PEOPLE SHOULD Be GIVEN FAla TRIAL
He IL Unable Ia Formulate n Sntisfnc-
tory Scheme for Future civil Cow
ernmcnt-Isinnd Entitled TO
Trade Privileges.

fahlititu wv
Trade Privileges.
WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-General Davis,
governor general Of Puerto Rico. appeared
before the insular aNairs committee of the
house today and made a general statement
regarding the situation of affairs in that
island. When he assumed charge there was
a cabinet OF secretaries in charge of several
departments. The people Of Puerto Rico,
he said, were accustomed to arbitrary con-
trol-control of the king through ministers.
He had believed when he came to the ad-
ministration OF the affairs Of the island that
things could be bettered by eliminating
these Intermediates and getting closer to
the people. Mixed boards had everywhere
been substituted for these secretaries and
the result. General Davis said, had been
very satisfactory, from his point Of view.
The civil administration was now entirely
in the hands of boards of health. charities,
education, public works, etc, in all of which
the natives had representation. The GUS
toms were collected by army officers. as
sisted by natives. Natives were everywhere
the principal employees.
The industrial situation on the island,
General Davis said, was not satisfactory.
He sketched the encouragement which had
resulted from the trade and tariff discrim-
nations against the products of the island,
both in the United States and in Cuba,
before the great hurricane devastated the
island last August. In that awful desola-
ton coffee plantations had been ruined and
every banana plant on the island had been
destroyed. For five years preceding 1895
the average exports had reached about 49,
900, 900 pesos. In 1898 they were cut in
half and this year General Davis figured
that they would hardly exceed s. $500 900
pesos. The people were discouraged, They
lacked the Anglo-Saxon energy to face a
gloomy outlook.
Extension of
General Davis justified the arbitrary
action of General Henry in extending for
one year from January 10, 1899, the time in
which mortgages overdue could be fore
closed, but that year would expire shortly
and thousands of properties would change
hands. This added another discouraging
feature to the situation. He (Davis) thought
something should be done, but did not be-
lieve he had authority to further extend
the time under the treaty with Spain, but
that property rights of individuals and cor
porations must remain in the status quo
which obtained when the treaty was rati-
fed.
Regarding the political situation, General
Davis described the fury with which the
natives plundered and murdered the Span
iards after the war closed. All that, how
ever, had been stopped by the military and
civil disorders had ceased.
Regarding the future civil government of
the island, General Davis said he had given
the subject much thought without being
able to formulate a satisfactory scheme. 1t
would be a difficult undertaking, but he con-
Stdered II essential that tho DnOD1a of Puerto
Rico should be given an opportunity to
demonstrate their capacity to enlarge their
responsibilities. He thought they might be
given representation in a legislative body,
but that body, he said, should have in it a
majority Of persons appointed by the presi-
dent in order to be sure that control should
not pass into hands which would use 1t
improperly. F'
General Davis said the island was with
out debt, but a loan must be raised or the
present industrial paralysis must continue.
The revenue of the islands were inadequate
to meet its wants. For instance, 300, 900
pesos had been allowed in the budget for
t"dcation. That sum provided q very limited
education for 80, 900 children. There were,
he said, $50, 900 other children who had not
the slightest chance of receiving an educa-
ton. In his opinion 900, 900 pesos a year
should be expended on the roads for twenty
years.
General Davis said he thought less than
1 per cent of the inhabitants understood the
responsibilities Of government.
Entitled to Trade Privileges.
In answer to a direct question from Rep
resentative Henry of Texas General Davis
stated that he did not think a territorial
form Of government, such as was proposed
for Hawaii, would be for the best interests
of the island. But he thought that the peo-
pie of Puerto Rico were as much entitled
to trade privileges as the people of Hawaii.
If trade privileges were granted he thought
they would go far toward industrial regen-
Grafton, but in addition some responsible
body in Puerto Rico, in his opinion, must
have the power Of borrowing money until
the taxes became adequate. He thought
5000, 900 pesos should be raised by taxation
for municipal, insular and school purposes.
Mr.. Cannon asked him If, with free trade,
the people of Puerto Rico, considering the
climate and resources Of the island, would
be able to work out their salvation.
quite able to support themselves" re-
piled General Davis; land, besides, con-
tribute much wealth to the United States
whenever the island is put upon a sound
basis"
The local currency, consisting of about
O,UUU,UUv pehoS, ne IuOuSuL, huOulu NC TellIei
and recoined, our money to take its place.
The local Legislature could make the ad-
justments necessary.
American sovereignty said General
Davis, in answer to a question from Mr..
Maddox, has been a disaster to the aver
age Puerto Rican."
That is" suggested Cannon, 1.-THE old
order has disappeared and the new has not
come in?'
THAT is it," replied General Davis.
Continuing he said that about 70 per cent
of the population of the island were eau
casians, in the sense that the Spaniards
were. There were 10000 negroes and ESQ.,
900 mulattoes. The native Spaniards were
in the best condition. They were faithful,
Industrious and temperate. They were
thrifty. Every Puerto Rican was either
actively or passively a Catholic. A large
proportion of the population was of illegit-
innate birth. But i~llegitimacy did not in
volye crime. In many cases there were
obstacles.
The natives he said, "are married but
not parsoned."
H. Ia,,-I nn,v a.I.An l-sI4 g T1..-.4- .