The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-06
ALLEN Will NOT RESIGN
The Governor of Porto Rico to Re
turn to the Island.

Decision Reached After n Confer
ence With the President This
MoruinS-DecIines to Discuss the
Prospect of Future Retirement
Charles H. Allen, Governor Of Porto
Rice, will not resign at present, but viii
return to the island and resume his du-
ties there. He made this statement today
after an hours interview with the Presi-
dent. who strongly urged him to return
and abandon his idea of resigning-
It is stated on good authority that Gov
ernor Allen came to Washington firmly
resolved to hand the President his resig-
nation as Governor OF the island. In fact
he would not deny this report when ques-
toned concerning it this afternoon. He
is reported to have said this morning be-
fore he saw Mr. Mckinley that he in
tended to give up his Office, and that he
would not go back to the island.
The President, it is said. is highly sat
isfied with Mr.. Aliens administration
It is said to be entirely due to the urgent
request of the President that Mr. Allen
has consented to return and resume his
duties as Governor It is thought that
the President agreed to relieve him at
later date, but for some months at least
he viii continue to be the islands execu-
tive. Governor Allen would not discuss
this phase Of the matter.
Accompanied by Mrs Allen, the Gov
ernor arrived in washington at O'Clock
this morning, aboard one Of the Norfolk
and Washington steamers. He went to
the Portland, where he Will remain dur
washington. Re called at the White
House about II O'Clock. but remained
only long enough to exchange greetings
with the President He then went to the
Navy Department and called upon Secre-
tary Long and the other officials there.
Later in the day he returned to the White
House and had a conference with the
President.
1.-The condition of the island has improv-
ed immensely during the last two years.
said Governor Allen y think I can safely
say It is better than it has ever been be-
fore. and certainly there is d very bright
prospect for the future The people look
better and getting along better than
Bhent went there. There is
from four to five times as much land
under cultivation this year as there has
been bafore in many years, yet now less
than . per cent of the land IS being TILED
The coffee growers are, however, in a
distressing condition. Their plantations
are heavily mortgaged; they have had
several seasons OF bad crops. and these
facts, together with the hurricane Of last
year. placed them in bad shape We win,
however. have IOoOea tons Of sugar this
year Some Of it is being shipped now.
Porto Rico is destined to be a great
fruit-growing island, and in a short time
viii probably De shipping an immense
amount Of early vegetables to the United
States markets Within the past year
thousands of acres within ten miles Of
San Juan have been acquired by Auaeri-
cans for fruit-growing purposes, espe-
ciaIly for raising oranges.
Speaking of the Hollander Tax law
Governor Allen said:
The tax is destined to take the place
of the loss of revenue derived from the
Tariff law which ceases after next March
It is patterned after the tax laws of the
States The people Of the island have
for hundreds of years been living undyr
Spanish laws and any American method
of taxation is necessarily novel to them.
The Spanish law does not provide for any
opportunity for redemption of property
while the Honander law gives six
months. Perhaps that is not long enough
and it should be a year, but the LegisIa-
ture meets in December and can remedy
the defect If II exists
About S2.OO0,o00 is required to pay the
running expenses Of the island each year.
The tax law is calculated TO provide about
81 100000 Of this amount. The total val
uation of the island Is nxed at a little less
than SlO0, 900, GOO. One-haIf of 1 per cent
Of the money raised IS TO be voted to in
suIar purposes and one-haIf of l per
cent to municipal uses. The balance Of
the money needed WI be derived from the
excise taxes. The act passed by Con-
gress which maintains in force the old
Spanish laws does not extend TO the isl
and the internal revenue laws of the
United States and thus Porto Rico ope-
rates It's own excise laws
Governor Allen expects TO remain in
Washington for week or ten days, and
viii then go to his old home in Massa-
chusetts for the purpose of attending to
his private business. He expects TO leave
for Porto Rico during the first week in
May.
A TYPHOID FEVER EPIDEMIC.