Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-03-23
PORTO RIcANs STARVING.
Gen. Davis Sends Word Tint He VIII
Need 500 Tons of Provisions
Every Week.

Washington, March 2o.-Adjt. Gen.
Corbin received cable mes
sage Monday from Gen. Davis, COM
manding the department of Porto
Rico, saying that the condition of
the inhabitants of Porto Rico is dis
tressing and the suffering so general
and widespread over the island that
he will require at least 500 tons of
food supplies weekly until further
notice in proportions of Al rice, 2-7
beans and lila each of bacon and cod
fish. Arrangements are being made
in the subsistence and quartermaster
generals departments to meet this re-
QUESTION as promptly and regularly
as possible. The transport Burnside,
which is scheduled to leave New York
for San Juan on the 21st inst, prob
ably will take the first consignment
of relief supplies and similar ship
ments will be made each succeeding
week by other transports.
San Juan, Porto Rico, March 20.-A
large gathering of 10000 people, head
ed by the San Juan chamber of COM
merce, assembled at the palace of the
governor general Monday to submit a
petition with reference to the needs of
the island. The deputation selected to
present it was received, in the absence
of Gen. Davis, who was indisposed, by
Lieut.. Col. Hall, adjutant general.
On behalf of Gen. Davis, Lieut.. Col. Hall
expressed pleasure at seeing so many
people who were interested in ques-
tion of such Importance, and assured
them that Porto Rico would receive JUS
tice. An account of the proceedings
will be transmitted to Washington.
Following is the text of the petitions:
1.-THE people of Porto Rico, of all classes.
represented by the mayor OF this city and
by the chamber of commerce in peaceful
assembly convened, call upon Gov. Gen. Davis
| respectfully to direct his attention, and
through him the attention of Washington
to the following most salient points of the
present critical condition of the island:
"First-The CONSERVATION into which the
| business community in general has been
thrown on account of recent cabled news
| from the United States setting forth the
negative attitude of the senate as regards
| the tariff question.
"Second-The utter inability of the island
to hold out much longer under existing
| conditions, as the senate's delay in COM
| ing to a decision on the tariff simply aggra-
Yates the almost absolute state of penury
| throughout the island.
"Third-The urgent necessity of a final
| settlement of the question as n means OF
saving to their owners, mostly men of small
| means, the sugar and tobacco crops, which
would pass under the control of specula-
| tors, If no conclusion should soon be
| reached, this being the time for planting
| new crops. and failure to act promptly
being also calculated to have most preju-
| dicial results.
| "Fourth-The distress and alarm that are
| daily becoming more harassing in all
| branches of trade, owing to the virtual lack
| of fixed and definite standard for trans
actions, and the grave apprehensions az
| to the future now so generally entertained
| by all merchants.
| "Fifth-The absence of buyers of prod
| ucts. which. with the loss of their former
| markets as consequence of the new
| regime. are now at practical standstill.
| 'Sixth-The enormous depreciation OF
property. more especially on the planta-
tions, and the ruin staring a majority of
| planters in the face. as the result of a nat
ural uneasiness which has made Itself felt
among capitalists and loan institutions,
leading them to curtail or to shut off en-
| tirely the credit necessary in moving crops.
"Seventh-The lack of power as we'll as
the absence of credit, to contract loan
| for the relief of most of the present neceS-
stiles and the development of resources.
| "Eighth-The need of undertakings of a
| public nature instead of relief supplies.
| which, although necessary, tend to make
paupers of the working classes.
"These statements, respectfully made,
| your petitioners respectfully request the
| governor general TO bring to the knowledge
| of the government at Washington, trust
ing that favorable solution may speedily
be found
ANDRES CROSAS,
president of the Chamber of Commerce of
San Juan"