The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-15
DISTRESS IN PORTO RICO.
Gen. Roy stones Startling account of
IndnstrinI Conditions There.

Gen. Roy stones Startling account of
Industrial Conditions There
4 statement of the melancholy condi-
tion of Porto Rican industries was made
before tn, Insular Affairs Committee of
the House of Representatives by Gen
Roy Stone. whose interest in the island
and Information regarding it are great
At the session of the committee. in the
course of plea for prompt legislation.
he said,
We have been two years and a half in
possession of the island. ard today la
boring people from the interior are ab5n-
doning their homes and going by ship
loads G.0Qe miles away to seek a living
and these people are so famished and en-
feebled as 20 make il doubtful whether
they are worth the transportation This
movement is spoken OF as q blessing 10
the island. and new line Of large steam
eTS IS being started 10 accommodate the
traffic Ne cause of this state Of IN ngS
IS easy TO find. It is not the hurricane,
Tor the island has recovered from many
such without deportation q its people,
and without the abundant aid given in
this case by our people and Government;
nor Is Il neglect on our part, since for
many months more study and care IL
Congress and eiseW here have been de
voted 10 the promotion Of prosperity in
Porto Rico than to any home interest IN
the land We have given the island
civil government which is satisfactory
ana successful. peace, order. and justice
prevail, and education IS rapidly ad-
yanCIng. We have practically given the
people an open market in the United
States to buy il and an exclusive one
here to sell IN. We give them the pro
lection OF the nation without any of the
burden Of national taxation. and, as they
have 10 public Cebt Of their own, they
should be among the Iightest taxed of
all civilized people. Their soil and eli
mate are unsurpassed, and their chief
products are always IN demand for ex-
port
But. with all this. capital has not been
attracted TO develop the industries and
communications of the island and this
fact IS reason enough for our failure 10
make IL prosper. The withdrawal Of Span
ISL capital and loss OF the Spanish market.
the damage by hurricane and floods. the
depression In coffee and the cutting of of
the Cuban market for. tobacco altogether
left the island bare OF means and re
sources.
As to railroads. Porto Rico has possibly
more need OF them for its proper develop
ment than any other region Of its size in
the world. L has no 5nayigaDIe streams
and only few hundred miles of wagon
roads. where some thousands are needed.
The short sections Of road which are be-
ing built by our Government cost over
I $1o,co0 mile. and Niil be expensive TO
. maintain II is not likely. therefore, that
; when the island is thrown on its own re-
sources such roads can be far extended
Meanwhile. for want of an outlet TO mar
f, keI. three-fOUrths Of the island remain
uncuili2 ated. Unfortunately. while the
traffic Tor railroads is large il prospect il
, IS not yet in sight" and Il requires great
. foresight and courage in capitalists 10
Z build railroads for a short haul in dis
taat tropical and mountainous island. with
/ an Unfamiliar people and an unseen traffic,
especially when as now. safe and profira-
bic investments offer on every hand at
. home.
Other tropical countries endeayOr TO at
( tract capital for railways by perpetual
{ franchises. with liberal subsidies and land
grants, and BY valuable mining and other
: privileges. but IN Porto Rico Congress. in
/ view OF the prevailing approximations Of a
/ raid by INSCRIPTIONS corporations upon
/ every thing in the Island offered no en-
( enlargement TO railroads but a simple
franchise ''tO build and operate" made re-
4 Tocable a. VIII and surrounded By all the
! restrictions that could be devised I sub
I nit whether II IS not wiser and more Just
( to Porto Rico 10 abolish all Congressional
restrictions upon franchises and invest
( ments and leave the island government as
I free 10 invite capital as any State govern
ment in the Union.
} The Executive Council is an able body Of
/ men devoted 70 the welfare of the island
/ and keenIy alive 20 every interest and con
/ dltion there. This body should be better
/ able. On the spot and at the moment. 10
/ guard the public interests without dis
/ coITagIng private enterprise than Con
/ gress can possibly be al a distance of time
+ and place. The council has proved its
( wisdom in the franchises already granted
/ wherein il has required a large deposit Of
! cash 10 insure construction and demanded
/ speedy construction under penalty Of for
/ feiJure-
There is but one direction in which I
/ can see that Congress could aid the local
! government by restrictive legislation Mo-
: nopoly in land Is strongly entrenched in
! the island, and it may be increased. as
| Congress feared, by speculative investment
| from The outside and become too strong
/ for local legislative control This would
/ perpetuate one Of the greatest evils al
/ ready affecting the lsbOring population
/ the difficulty OF buying little SPOT for a
/ "a