The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-17
THE PORTO RICO COURTS.
Congress VIII b., Asked 10 Extend
Their JuriSd:ction-

The jurisdiction of the Federal courts
IN the island Of Porto Rico should be eX-
tended by al means" said X. F, Abbott,
OF San JUAN at the ShOreham. this morn
ing. I came here for the purpose of Sc
curing hearing before the proper House
and Senate committees The Jurisdiction
should be extended so rs to include all
cases IN which either an American citizen
or foreigner is Interested I hope to
present blu 10 ths committees win that
end il view today. With the exception of
professional agitators and politicians the
Porto RIcaus all favor American institu-
tions, and the business people more so
than the Iaboring class.
The InsUlar Congress convened on the
LIST Of December last. and is working very
we'll The principal matter impending in
the legislature is TIE question OF taxation.
It is a serious question because of the
revenues for the support Of the govern
msnt July three-C quarters now are derIv-
ed from customs duties on business done
between the United States ard Porto Rico.
THIS Will cease in March 1902. and some
provision must be made for raising reTe-
uues. The old Spanish systems OF taxation
were all very unjust Imposing. as they did,
the burden Of taxation largely on the poor,
while the rich and influential escaped Il
is impossible, therefore. to continue the
Spanish system and an American measure
which would impose a substantial tax on
land with means Of enforcing 1t is cot
looked upon with favor by those who for
merly paid nothing and are influential
with legislation.
There are two political parties in the
island the Republican and the Federal.
There are no essential differences in The
principles Of the parties It's politics OF
personal affairs. and they carry politics
to an extreme we nave No idea Of.
The school system has been greatly
improved during the past year under The
administration Of Dr. BrumDaugn, Of
Pennsylvania. With the funds which
were placed at his disposal he has built
sixteen new school houses. He has in
augurated a perfect system Of inspection
in charge Of persons speaking both Ian
gUages- The teaching force has been
greatly enlarged numerically as well as
lar as efficiency IS concerned The chill
dren are very bright, and learn English
rapidly
Commerce is nourishfng. Exports to
and imports from the United sta e5 have
largely increased, and many new arrange
Inents between New York houses and he
large shipping firms in Ponce and Leon
are bein6 MADE constantly. ne COIee
industry IS the only one which has not
revived The sugar crops viii Be largest
in the recent history Of the island
Grinding CT cane has already commenced.
and the ships reaching New YORK last
Saturday brought the first shipment of
new sugar
The Spanish code Of law IS still in
force in the civil and criminal courts of
the island. Only it the United States
courts tne English language is used be-
sides the Spanish. bug IN the insuIar
courts the Spanish is used almost excIu-
sively- Yes, indeed, sir, We had to IA
InillariZe ourselves with the Spanish Ian
guage before being able 10 do any law
business al all
No. sir. I am not a Government Office
holder: I an q lawyer: have been in
Porto Rico enc year and a half, and my
home is IN Illinois"