New-York tribune., 1900-04-01
PUERTO RICAN CONDITIONS
ROAD WORKERS sTRIKE-PILGRIMAGE
OF DISTRESSED COUNTRY PEO-
PIE TO SAN JUAN.


San Juan. Puerto Rico March 1.-THE hrst
strike Of any Importance TO occur in Puerto Rico
since the American occupation started on Feb
ruary 27 Five hundred workrnen employed on the
Poncs-Adjuntas- -Utuado Government road quit
work They formed themselves into orderly
band and marched to Adjuntas. carrying flags and
banners bearing the inscription, THE workmen on
the military road demand FIVE cents gold per hour
The prevailing rate had been three cents an hour.
or 80 cents for ten hour day. delegation in
terviewed the contractor. and amicable settle
ment effected The men were told that no
concession would be made. that others were ready
to take their places. and that they must work for
three or work at all. The men thereupon
returned TO work, apparently satisfied.
Another strike was organized on March Il, this
time at the Arecibo end OF the road Over six hun
dred employees Of the Central Contracting Company,
of New-York, went out. These demanded
uniform rate OF 80 cents day The shovellers
were then receiving 20 cents and the drillers %
cents This rate higher than was being paid
to the same labor elsewhere the island The
contractors refused to consider any proposition for
an advance Of wages, there were. at the very
lowest estimate. fifty thousand laborers the ISL
and without employment The strikers remained
quiet and orderly and made no attempt at demon
strations.
On account Of lack Of funds to keep up the
estates many plantations idle, and are being
fast overgrown with wild vegetation. Thousands OF
workrner are out Of employment this account
ttoa thres hundred thousand bitants of Puerto
Rico are dependent labor. 1t was thought
that the country in such a condition as 10
allow the distribution of relief supplies 70 De
stopped, but Immediately after this was attempted
the cities and towns began 10 Ill up with oegsars'
and instances may be recorded where whole faTnl-
lies have died from starvation. AS a consequence
General Davis has suggested 10 the authorities a.
Washington that the supplies be continued
About six hundred natives have emlgrapeo rom
Ponce TO Cuba hut from letters received by their
families here they have fund conditions in CUBA
even worse than in Puerto Rico.
A "cOxEY ARMY REACHES SAN JUAN
A "Coxey army" arrived in the capital on the
morning Of March 16 composed almost entirely Of
women Over sixty barefooted. ragged, dusty,
dirty haggard, weary lame. hungry bundle laden
| half naked. discouraged and desperate country
women with a few men of all shades and color,
trudged their way through the city and matted at
the palace at o'clock. They had LETT the city 'I
Naranjito on Thursday at midnight TO come on FOOT
to the Governor-General with petition to save
| them from starvation and TO provide them with
| food or work. Srvano Torres. one OF the men OF
the party. acted spokesman and presented 'helr
petition of grievances 10 General Davis
The petition related that the times were very
hard in their town; that there was no work 10 De
/ had: that rice beans and bread mad risen so IN
price that they were beyond their reach. and tnat
| there was no fruit to be had, all Of which com
| posed their daily subsistence. The petition also
ualangos yuca and trijoles. their principal FOODS
which they raised around their own huts, were all
destroyed, and that starvation stared them in the
/ face
/ General Davis asked n the plantations had all
been cleaned Of the wreckage Of the hurricane for
relief supplies he said had been furnished planters
| to feed laborers to do this work
! They replied in concert that II had been com
! peted The spokesman added that the planters IN
/ this respect had favored and only employed those
/ hands who lived upon the plantations The Cen
| eraI then promised TO send rations 10 them 10
/ alleviate the distress
The spokesman Torres. then requested, Of the
! General that ne give them written statement TO
that effect that they might present the Alcalde
! Of Naranjito 10 compel the immediate delivery OF
/ some necessaries. He replied that he would attend
1 to that.
! Later tbev went 10 Mayor Egoscuo and asked
/ him 10 provde them with means of transportation
back their town, as they feared otherwise many
/ Ths Mayor answered that he could not comply
with their request, as the city was as poor as .ney
/ and for this even the police force had not
ing afoot 10 retrace their steps, some begging an
easier way. and some receiving the hospitality OF
From Narantito to San Juan by foot is about
/ Bayanon is very mountainous and bad. almost
! impossible. The pilgrims came over the FTencn I
delegations will shortly arrive from other towns
TROUBLE IN THE SCHOOL BOARD.
The resignation OF Victor S. Clark, president OF
! the IpsuIar Board Of Education five days ago, was
J received as a surprise It had been known for
some time that the Board of Education was not
/ working as smoothly it might Professor Clark
/ for nearly year has filed the chair OF president
/ of the Board. The educational system Of the isl
/ and has vastly improved since he took possession
at a less expense than under the Spanish regime.
/ But his position unique in that he was the
! only civilian at the head Of a department Il is
/ thought generally that Professor Clark was asked
| TO resign.
DR. SaIdana a member OF the Board, in an inter
view March !, with GovernOr-General Davis,
made complaints against the management OF the
affairs of the Board. DR. Saldana charged that the
president had not complied with the orders Of the
Board; that the Board had been kept in ignorance
of financial affairs. and, that the president had
made incompetent appointments. The Governor
General called Professor Clark. who denied the
charges. "A special meeting of the Beard was
called, the charges Investigated and declared
sustained Professor Clark sent in his resignation
saving that the work too hard for him.
DR.. George G.. Croft was appointed March ! 70
fill the chair vacated by Professor Clark, who IS
retained under the salary assistant super
intendent. DR.. Croft is an ex-major-surgeOn OF
volunteers ranking lieutenant The Board
of Education is headed by Army officer.
/ That divorce laws needed in Puerto Rico
made apparent the other day when little Rosalia
Murch OF Huracoa consulted a LAWYER TO aid her
| in obtaining a divorce d separation from A H
Murch. u member of the Signal Corps. Until fur
ther notice San Juan Will claim the record for the
youngest divorce suitor IN American territory
the girl is only thirteen years OF age The couple
married last December by municipal Judge
| marriage certificate issued. In Certif-
stead OF r. Fl. Murch and the address of his
parents as Benton Ne. The brides age is given at
fifteen years instance of Murch, who
is twenty-four years old. The couple II appears
{ until N7afV-