Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-06
GIVE UP THE PESO
PUERTO RICAN SILVER GOES OUT
OF CIRCULATION.
REPLACED BY AMERICAN COIN,
judicial Changes Needed - $4,000
Votes in the Island of Puerto
Rico.

New YORK, Sept. 6.-The transport Nc
Clellan, which arrived last night from
Porto Rico, brought 179. 900 pesos In Por-
to Rican silver. The coin was in charge
of Captain William Weigel, Eleventh
United States infantry. and a detail of
six men. 1t was turned over to the eX-
press company to take to the Philadel-
phia mint where it will be re-ceined.
A conservative estimate places the
amour of unredeen1ed Porto Rico silver
lin circulation on the island at about
$500, 600. This coin is steadily coming in
through the various bank agencies and
it is safe to say that in about six weeks
or two months at most, but little of the
old circulating medium will remain on
the island. In the larger coast towns
such as San juan, Ponce and Mayagu-
ezm, where the government has estab-
lished direct exchange. the provincial.
coin is exceedingly scarce. being entire
ly replaced by American gold. bills or
silver, butt in the small, isolated interior
towns the new medium is almost UNI
known. The Spanish bank at San Juan
up to date has put out about $500. 600 in
paper. which. although more or less
wild cat is readily accepted and fast
getting into circulation.
When the first time limit expired on
August /, ut was found that but little
over half of the Porto Rican coin had
been redeemed. The smaller merchants
refused TO accept the debased currency
and prices doubled and business remain
ed at a standstill for several weeks. Com
petition and the law of supply and de-
mand has steadily brought about a re-
adjustment and prices have now. 1t is
said. reached the normal conditions.
Besides a full list of passengers from
Porto Rico and Cuba the Mcclellan
brought company l, First infantry, Capt.
Darlington. which is en- route to Fort
I.eayenNorth, kaS.
George NJ. Davis and the Misses Davis.
family of the commanding general of
she department of Porto Rico, We're also
among the passengers.
Major Sharpe. who has been judge ad-
vocate OF the department of Porto Rico
since the occupation of the island, also
.cama on the transport. He is on a four
months leave. 1t is probable that Ma
COR Sharpe will be sen to Hawaii When
His leave expires. In conversation with
an Associated Press representative ne
smoke in the highest terms Of Porto Rlco
ana predicted a brilliant future for the
island.
II have been i'm nearly every port and
,ity in the United States. he SAID, rnut
| had much rather live in Porto Rico
than any place l have had the pleasure
of visiting. The climate is all one could
wish for"
Major Sharpe says that the reorgan-
izarion of the judicial system Will bring
about a startling change. There Is n
good deal of work to be done there
along that line, and the commission 7"
revise the laws viii have no time 70
spare to turn in their report by April
l." said he. The civil code now in force
is admirably adapted 70 Resisting con-
ditions. and should, in my opinion. be
allowed to stand to a considerable eH-
tent, but the system of procedure is en-
tirely impracticable and should be abol-
ished as soon as legislation can 90 II.
The whole system is crude and genera
tions behind the times
H. -n,,r,,1,inO rho f1tlra
government Of the island under the For
:ker law. the major said he could not
make predictions in that direction. "Ihat
is a question which can only be an
swered as it works itself out he SAID
II will say. though. that ! do not be
lieve the upper and lower mouse system
will be a success. The lower house
which will be composed of 80 members.
elected directly by the people, will prob
ably prove a failure. That depends.
though, on which political party carries
the elections. There are about $1,000
eligible voters on the island. Az the
elections last spring the federals carried
the island by a majority of about 5000.
If that party controls the house and
occupies the speakers chair. 1T will be
in a position to dictate to the. upper
house. The other party. the republicans
are pro-administration in every way. or
at least purport to be, and are IN faNol
of the Introduction of American institu-
lions, The federals are anti american
in their sentiments to a surprisi g eX-
tent and seemed opposed to things a cr-
lean on general principles. They want
to see all the offices and clerkships filled
by men from their party, and it is a
calling sight to them to see so many
Lucrative positions held by the continen-
tails or Americans.
Il am very anxious to see how the
Legislature works ont. I will not be
,s,1rnrised if it deadlocks at it's first SEES
sion and accomplishes nothing. II such
should be the case, congress would have
to pass a new bill. n it is probable
that the lower house would be abolished
A government by a governor and his
cabinet of the six heads of department.
would be an admirable institution"