The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1900-08-02
Porto Rico Bsaes7ted.

Porto Rico Beaetited.
Washington, July so. Mr.. Charles
K. Buell., who was secretary of the
United States Special Commission to
Porto Rico. and is familiar with the
various conditions Of which he speaks,
makes it plain that our occupation Of
that beautiful Island has been Of
greatest benefit to the people Of
Porto Rico. Among other things,
he explains that under Spanish rule
imprisonment without . hearing, or
the preferring Of charges against the
persons arrested, was common, aud
the Imprisoned persons frequently
passed several years without being
informed of the nature of the offence
for which they had been thus held.
Under American rule no more Span
ish methods are permitted in dealing
with those charged with unlawful
acts.
Before the American occupation Of
Porto Rico it was common custom
to rent q burial place in the ceme-
teries, and to demand renewal Of
the rent from year to year, after
the first five years; q failure to
promptly pay tho renewal resulted in
the disinterment Of the body and the
throwing of the skull and bones pro-
miscously into a common bone heap
to be thereafter ever exposed to the
gaze of the curious, and to tho action
Of the elements. This custom was
discontinued upon an order issued
by the Military Governor, making it
unlawful to disinter bodies without q
special permit from tho Governor
General, and then only for tho pur-
pose Of reinterment.
Under the Spanish rule marriage
had been heGged about with arbi-
trary rules which had made it i'm
possible for the poor, especially In the
the rural districts, to enter into mar
riage, and the result was that more
than half of the families were living
in state of concubinage, aud more
than half of the children born on the
island during latter years were ille-
gitimate, and deprived of natural
right under the laws, due to the fact
of their illegal birth, circumstance
over which they could have no con-
troll. By order of the Military Gov
ernor the contract of marriage could
be entered into without cost. before
q magistrate, or priest. or minister,
and everv barrier to marriage was
removed. Those having children
could marry, and and the status Of
the offspring Of such as had been
born out of wedlock be thereby es-
tablished.
Under Spanish rule the island was
scourged with diseases due to unsani-
tary conditions and to q lack of care
for tho people by those in authority.
The Military Governor established .
vaccine farm, aud the army physi-
clans vaccinated the population of the
island. Every disease is being con-
quered by Government agencies, aud
eve:y sanitary measure is being car
ried out to prevent filth diseases.
Under Spanish rule everything was
taxed, and to all the very exacting
taxes on property, real aud personal,
were added duties ON imports, port
dues and q consume tax Of no small
rate. In addition there were exac-
tions by the church, which was backed
by the crown aud the insular govern
ment, aud last, but not least there
was governmental lottery; the mayors
were instructed to sell certain
amount Of the drawings, and they in-
vited the citizens to purchase q draw
ing, which was understood to be
thin-veilcd order to contribute the
amount asked for to the government.
With the occupation by the Ameri-
cans the lottery disappeared, aud the
burden OF taxation dwindled down 10
Is per cent Of the tariff upon imports,
and, what is more important the