Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-17
A MEMORABLE DAY.
Porto Rican Celebration of the Fourth
Of July.
CIVIC AND MILITARY PARADE
Providing for Free Trade With This
Country
ALIENS MESSAGE


Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star
SAN JUAN. P. r.. July 8. 1901.
The one hundred and twenty-fifth ami
versary Of our national birthday was a
notable day in Porto Rico, destined to be
long remembered in the island mainly for
the important measure enacted by the leg
islative assembly. but also for the mag
nlfcent celebration Of the day in San Juan.
The proclamation issued by Governor Allen
on June p converting the legislative as
sembly in extraordinary session ON July
Fourth. for the purpose Of considering q
joint resolution looking to the establish
ment OF free trade between Porto Rico and
the United States In accordance with the
provisions OF the Foraker act. naturally In
vested the day with more than ordinary
interest to the people of the island, who
look forward with intense earnestness and
satisfaction to the prospective cOnsumma-
ton Of this measure. Furthermore, it was
determined to celebrate this great Ameri-
can day in manner worthy Of its historic
significance
Successful Celebration.
By request of the executive council. duly
passed on motion, Governor Allen appointed
an executive committee. consisting of M. G.
Brumbaugh commissioner of education, as
chairman: Lieut.. Colonel James A. Buch-
anan. United States army; Captain Lewis
Lucas. Uaited States Marine Corps: Andres
Crosas. member of the executive council:
Francisco Acuna, a distinguished lawyer
Of San Juan and the present head of the
federal party in Porto Rico, and Manuel
Egozcne, the mayor OF San Juan. The
citizens of San Juan. without regard to
party lines. and the officials of the insular
government co-operated heartily with the
committee and contributed literally. The
result was a great success.
BY the evening of July 3 the executive
mansion and all of the public buildings in
the capital were beautifully and elaborate
ly decorated with American flags and bunt-
ing. and throughout the principal streets
Old Glory noated from every building, most
of which were also tastefully decorated.
This was sight not heretofore witnessed
in San Juan Early in the morning of the
Fourth the streets were thronged, enliven-
ed with the music of number of bands
and busy in getting ready for the process
sion. which moved promptly at o'clock.
under the leadership of Colonel Buchanan
the chief marshal. AS early as o'clock
salute Of twenty-one guns was fired from
the battery at MORO, and throughout the
day there was aerial display Of the
American flag borne high in air by means
of kites.
The Parade.
The parade and civic procession was very
Imposing. starting from the corner OF
CrlstQ and Fortaleza streets. passing down
Fortaleza to the Plaza Colon: thence up
San Francisco street to the Plaza of AL
fonzo XII. where the procession was re-
viewed by the governor. who left the lines
at that point and took his place on the re-
viewing stand in the Acadia fronting the
plaza. The procession was headed by a
squad Of insular police. on horseback and
on foot. after which followed Col. Buchan-
an. with his staff and civil and military
assistants. Next came the governor OF the
island and the veterans OF the civil war.
in carriages, followed by two companies
of the United States army. on foot, and
one company on horseback. with their
band at the head: and Immediately follow
ing the naval officers and marines from the
United States steamer Yankton:' next in
order the justices of the supreme court of
Porto Rico and the district courts in car
riages. followed by the chief of the insular
police with his staff and company.
After these came the heads of the several
departments Of the insular government
spective employees. arranged in companies:
then the public schools of San Juan and
Rio Pledras. preceded by the Municipal
Band the charity schools (boys and girls)
Of santurce. in uniform. with the band Of
the boys charity school. followed by dele
gates from Arecibo. Camuy, Bayamon. Rio
Piedras and other towns. with the Arecibo
band Of twenty-five pieces: the city council
and other municipal employees and tho va
rious labor declarations. In companies with
their distinctive banners. The heads of the
civil departments left the lineS at the AL
caldia and joined the governor on the re-
viewing stand. which was thronged with
distinguished citizens OF San Juan.
Meeting of the Legislature.
Promptly at 10 o'clock am. the two
houses Of the legislative assembly were
called to order and duly organized. Com
mittees from both houses were appointed
to wait upon Governor Allen. who occupied
a room in the same building (the Disputa-
ciOn) and inform him that the legislative
assembly awaited any communication he
might be pleased to make. The two houses
then resolved themselves into Joint ses-
sion to hear the message from the gov
ernor. who was escorted into the hall Of
the house of delegates by a joint commit
tee appointed for that purpose. Governor
Allen delivered his address. or message. in
a most impressive manner. presenting a
very able and exhaustive review OF the
finances and financial condition Of the
island and reviewing the reasons why, in
his Judgment. the propitious hour had
struck for the legislative assembly to take
the appropriate action. under the provisions
of the organic act. for securing free trade
between Porto Rico and the United States.
The message was received with enthusi-
asm. and the Spanish translation. read by
DR. Romero the interpreter. was vocifer-
ously appiauded by the members of the
house of delegates. very few of whom
speak english. After the governor had re-
tired the joint session was dissolved and
the executive council proceeded to its own
chamber. Ioint resolutions following the
form indicated in the Foraker act were
simultaneously introduced in both houses:
In the executive council by Mr. Hollander.
chairman Of the finance committee, who
supported the resolution by a scholarly
speech. In the house of delegates the joint
resolution was introduced by Mr.. Sanchez
Morales. ex-mayor Of San Juan and chair
man of the house committee on finance.
After few eloquent and forcible speeches
the joint resolution was unanimously
passed by the house and transmitted to the