The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-04-13
Want N PORTO RICO
Here are Two Stories Which
Do Not Hang together.
ONE ALLEGES DEEP WOE
And the Other, Shiftlessness
and Fraud.
ONE ALLEGES DEEP WOE

relief. Without doubt thousands OF Porto
Ricans are destitute and without work.
One need but glance at the poor. ragged.
barefooted poems and notice their ex-
preston OF want and restitution. TO be
convinced Of this fact. Nevertheless, the
situation is not quite as bad as it has
been painted
AT noon yesterday another delegation
of poor people from Aguas Buenas pre-
scented themselves at the palace. The
cession was headed by four or FIVE little
girls, not over 10 years of age. two OF
whom carried black flags. evidently sup
posed to signify that the party was in
mourning for the ones left behind. too
weak from starvation to attempt the long
journey to the capital. The little girls
were followed by Twenty-Five women and
100 men. They were received at the pal
ace by Colonel Hoff. 70 whom they pre-
scented the usual petition. telling Of want
and restitution. This is the second dele
cation OF the sort from Aguas Buenas
this week. the first arriving on Monday
1t might be noted in Ehis connection
that nearly all OF these delegations have
come from this same general district
They arrive at the palace almost daily,
and the general opinion is that they are
view. An army official Is authority for
the statement that a delegation from
some other section of the island once in
a while would perhaps be more effective.
When ali originate in the same district
it appears suspicious.
According to the report OF the post
commander at Aguas Buenas, under date
OF March g. over 1900 rations have been
issued weekly from that post for over
three months. He says that there are
no laborers in die and from the rest Of tn
no laborers Idle, excepting those who do
not wish to work. That there are few
families without at least one able-bod-
led man; that the alcalde has orders taht
every able-bodied man must be made 10
work for the rations received; that the
alcalde has failed utterly 10 have the
roads repaired. although he has had am
pie time, and that the a,calde receives
thirty relief supply tickets monthly. The
officer adds In his report that IN his per-
sonsl opinion, the requests for work and
provisions are simply schemes of the al
calies to provide provisions for the lazy,
idle people
In many cases the people are actually
starving, and with no work to do. Thou
sands OF dollars worth OF provisions have
been issued 20 these people Tor many
months Thousands have been fed. and
the relief supply has never run short.
II Porto Rico. as in every country, class
of people exist who will not work so long
as they may pick up enough to keep the
spark OF life afiame without exerting
themselves. This srt Of people have
learned Of tn s2o95.OO0 appropriate to
Porto Rico, and many Of thin have come
in expecting to receive their share.
The condition of the laboring class will
be materially relieved in a few weeks
Contracts for the building OF nine new
roads from seacOast towns 10 interior
points were let few days ago. The ap-
proximate cost Of this work will be $780,
600. OF which $500 must be earned per
month, according to the contracts. Il
has been estimated that nearly Il, 90 men
viii be given employment.
Correspondence Of the Associated Press.)
Ponce. Porto Rico. April 12.--At no
time since tht hurricane Of August 8. last,
has the condition Of Porto Rico been as
bad as It is today. About % per cent OF
the island may be placed IN the peOn
class, which is made up OF q mixture %
all races. In the other per cent are
well TODD people, ouch as merchants.
planters and professional men and their
families. This better class is able 70
pass through such times as are now pre-
vailiDg without physical suffering. but
their business affairs are AZ a standstin
and have been for a long time and this
deprives the majority OF the large labor
ing class OF a means Of livelihood. This
large body OF laborlng people furnishes
the very cheap and effective labor which
Is needed for agricultural and other work.
but az all times they have been in an
1aderfed and poorly noUrished condition.
The hardships haze been greatly added
TO By the scarcity % fruit since the hur-
ricane and is consequent Increase n
price salt fss. Ties and beans have
been imported fA.e q dirty sncs The hur-
rlca-e. but Iit-le O. the benefit derived
from this has gone 10 the poems and row.
when there 81 a prospect q = per cent
os the DinEley tariH being PLACID o. these
advanced. Merchants hesitate II inport
large stocks because q he pToa3ect q
free trade. and the present scarcity -
also a cause for tae a5vaace 81 prices
Rice has gore uo from 20 6 centavos
pound % ard e certayas. bear1 from
TO z certavos. ard a. one time. q few
DAYS azo. 70 = csntavos a pond. whiIs
sal, Hsh has stva1ce5 from cs1tagoa .
about o.
No one Who u1Ss-sta51s tbe ss.ratl7a
here VII deny TIA. mach - ere sorrss-
good feeling between Porto R3ears ans
Americans has been lost Bes3des. Arner~
teans are fswer IA number n Port9 REQ
today taan a. any tine si3cs shorty after
TIE trooos laa6ss an5 thssr deEzrtirx
hzs Jet a soaz - q fefunct conga1-sas.
bankrupt belslueas. vreckri EcAez3ea and
a-xloas c-est.ors zho, - some czsAs,
hold chosce col e-tlo1s q worthless rofez
and che-kz Not onlT are Americas
leaving the ialard. bs1t large nssz1@rs q
P>rts Ricans have gore 70 Tezez9sfs. %
szn-9 Esorniuz5 ard - CSsaa- Tarss savs
ago more thar 30 natives SAILS ~ Gees
20 o1szl- e-sssoyrneut tasre. an a. is@a.
4 tasarz-d have aansk from fhss r1-s
= one n ths 5est th-se -.0nthz H1cA
.lvestock Is also h@isS sAis9ea - Cszsa- I
TIE greatest less - Po-1o E4eo f. sAla
-ess1-t s. n tzs laTge ioss % Eaarrldesz; /
-2.ii@. which - ziI taks yeaFa 70 re- /
. ace
san Tra.casco. Acrsl it-Tss oea-T- /
% Captain Fs:eT c. Dszzis. e. /
4. ercuse5 % rztsze5-egraatsax frnSs. /
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