Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-03

the country people ola NOT nave u
migrate from camp to camp, driven by
their hunger and misery TO roaming the
streets devoid of clothing. Formerly
we did not hear insults in the mouths
of ministers and American Senators In
Congress, as we have from Mr.. Root and
his Republican partisans. Formerly no
colonel could have taken from the bench
in Ponce man like Senior Beoerra with
out the least good motive or cause.
Gen. Brooke, upon the recommen-
dation of Senior Riviera Munoz, sup
pressed a personal pass or 'cedula.
Now, instead of what was good in
the way of taxes there has been estab-
lished tax upon matches, alcohol,
arms. and this letter gives the police
the right OF search of any Porto Rican
citizen.
The army transports bring provis-
ions here from the United States, and
nothing is purchased from the natives
by the business people of the island.
AS to salaries, Mr.. Boutwell,, who is
marshal of the Supreme Court, and, at
the same time, executive officer OF the
prison board, receives an annual salary
for his services of $500.
million of dollars which belong TO the
people of Porto Rico, who are in dire
need of this money TO prevent starya-
ton.
I'VE are utterly broken down by the
Is per cent tariff, which amounts, in
gold, to more than the whole of the for
mer Spanish tariff.
We have to pay school taxes-Ihat
as, each inhabitant has 10 pay one dol
lar taxes to over the expenditures for
useless schools in Porto Rico and use
less buildings for schools here. We
paid for the construction of model
school, which has an intrinsic value OF
$4,000, the sum of $4,000.
Taxes have to be paid now on horses
dogs, cats, etc. The public funds arc
collected and disbursed with no ac-
count being taken, and nobody here
knows how much comes in and how
much goes out This state OF affairs
has existed from tie 18th of October,
1888, when the Americans took posses
sion OF the island, up TO the 9th Of
July, 1900. And the veil which covers
these transactions can only be lifted by
MIR. Mckinley and his official family,
including baggage, Republican carpet
baggers).
These are some of the reasons why
we kept quiet and felt no disposition
to celebrate the 25th of July with Amer
lean flag services. 1t was on this day
that the American military rule-our
slavery and our funeral-began. When
we believed that the Sun of Liberty
would rise and shed it's rays upon us,
and when we aided in the circumstances
which brought about this change from
the rule of Spain, we only assisted in
bringing on the present spectacle of
terrible absorption. We thought we
would at least be declared a territory
but we are only a colony. We really
do not know what we are. We are
changed from the Spanish rule to that
of America, the purpose of which we
do not know
I'VE desired prosperity and we have
been reduced TO abject misery. We are
prevented from making loan in Wash
ington and as absolutely denied the
privilege of making a loan elsewhere.
The typical Spanish manana has been
repeated. We have changed in name
only and have changed from the shower
to the downpour. Much has been prom
Used us by Mckinley and has admins
traton, and he and they only know
whether such promises have any re-
mpte hope of fulfillment.
Doubtless not less can be said Of the
civil appointments to the Philippines,
especially if we judge by the case Of
that young mar who though but nine
niA rod
is alleged, special postal agent to re-
organize ard supervise the postal SER
vice OF the islands, although his only
previous training In the government
service was gained in the capacity of a
priya,o IN . volunteer regiment which
. served IA Cuba and from which he Sc
cured a discharge. Those VINO are en-
gagged in condemning cargoes of govern
ment food and then selling it for a song
to the hotels and the American colony
at Manila, as well as those VINO are
chartering private ships for the gov
crnment at one thousand to fifteen hun
dred dollars per day and then holding
them idle in port at each end OF the
trip, in some instances as long as thirty
days at time. are undoubtedly men of
training and experience" in this sort
of business. But ii was scarcely ex-
pected that the Republican party would
have the effrontery to specifically en-
dorse such a civil service in its national
platform.