The evening times., 1900-04-16
MONDAY. APRIL 1s. 1900.


Carpet BnEgcrs for Porto Rico.
It is expected that, within the next
fortnight. the President will appoint the
Executive Council for Porto Rico. which
will have the sole power to giant fran
chises and concessions in the Territory.
A ajority of the members of this body
need not be residents Of Porto Rico eX
cept during their tenure OF office. As a
natural consequence Of this prospect the
corporations and combinations which are
seeking valuable franchises Of all kinds n
the island are bringing heavy pressure 60
bear upon Mr.. Mckinley in favor If can
didates for membership in the council
who cen be relied on to further the IN
terests Of their principals Most Of these
seekers after help will have their labor
for their pains. as the total area with
every one Of its possibilities OF exploita-
tion, long ago was scientifically parceled
out among Eastern and Western syndi-
Gates in close alliance With the Admins
trstion. and willing to pay handsomely FOR
their privileges. The personnel of The
Executive Council may not yet have been
decided. but that is a matte. Of no conse-
Den TO be. they will be men reliably GER
tain to carry out the deal and ask no ques-
uons. Executive orders will govern as
absolutely in Porto kico as they formerly
did in Burmah and Dahomey.
The suspicion is not without foundation
that one of the chief reasons why oppres-
sion Of Porto Rico has been made the key
stone Of the Hanna insular policy is to be
found in the dosirability of keeping the
island in poverty until the potentially good
things i'm il can be absorbed by friends Of
the Administration. It must be repem-
bered that the Territory is naturally rich.
productive. and capable of great develop
mcnt indu5trially and commercially. II
property and conccssionary values can be
Kept down to the vanishing point incident
90 current conditions. the favored combi-
nations will be able TO acquire what they
want i'm the way Of estates and privileges
al nominal cost. For example. control OF
the limited harbor facilities Of Porto Rico
could hardly be sold for song by he Ex-
scutiye Council. if local commerce were
hourishing. without exciting comment and
Indignation. II is obvious. therefore. that
''our plain duty" and every considera ton
Of justice and humanity" demand that
commerce shall be throttled until the
right people are in a position TO gain pos
session OF every foot OF land where
Wharves and docks are possible.
There are old Spanish concessions. which
some Of our best business interests
have bought up at Confederate money
viii be expected TO revive and ratify much
as Mr.. Hay has tried to establish the
Clayton Bulwer Treaty. which never mad
a legal existence There is one of these
ancient and lapsed grants. for a belt line of
railway around the island. which. ii is re-
ported. has fallen into the hands NJ a New
ioTk hnancial party belonging IL the Re
publican trust combination. The attorney
Tor the interest in question is in Washing
Ton. and will doubtless arrange for proper
representation in the Executiv. Council
before leaving.
That interesting agency will have many
things besides Spanish concessions to look
after. The mountain streams Of the in
terror are capable of furnishing a great
deal OF power for electric railways light
ing plants. and so on, and il is desirable
that they should be permanently monop-
olized at once. The same may be said a.
10 public facilities. After all the on
pOrtunities have been embraced and sx-
hausted. il will then be time enough in
talk about allowing Porto Rico the mos
perity which would be hers now were the
Administration willing to obey the man
dates Of the Constitution.
OF course. 1t is beyond question that
the trust leaders. both executive and Iegis-
lative, are perfectly aware that what they
are about to do in the way of looting Porto
Rico must be done quickly. All Of the con-
cesS-ons. franchises, and other things OF
value must be made over to the Intended
benehciaries before the present conditions
Of famine and devastation shall be chang
ed The change will happen when Porto Ri
cos constitutional right OF domestic trade
with other parts Of the United States IS
declared by the Supreme Court. Then
prosperity viii come TO the island ike
sunburst. and fits further oppressive or
criminal exploitation for the enrichment
Of few individuals and corporations will
attract an uncomfortable amount OF atten-
tion.
Just how long the Administration nay
be able TO prevent a test case. involving
the political status OF Porto Rico, from
reaching the Supreme Court. We are
unable 10 guess But. probably. a Wig
orous resort to influence and obs, ,ruction
will result in delay enough to enable the
Executive Council to make complete job
Of ifs carpet bag mission