The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-04-27
THE PORTO R|C0OF TODAY.
L. S. Rowe, of the Porto Rican Code
Commission, Talks About
the Island.
A COMPARISON WITH TWO YEARS AGO.
The Islanders. For the Most Part
Busy on the solution of Problems
Which should Have Been Faced
Century Ago, But Progress IL
Being Made.

New York, April 24.-L. s. Rowe, of
the Porto Rican code commission,
has arrived here from San Juan. He
brings with him the report of the
commission appointed by the presi-
dent in June of last year. After pre-
senting this report. DR.. Rowe will re-
turn to San Juan to assume the chair
manship of the new code commission,
appointed by Gov. Allen.
situation In the Island.
Speaking of the situation in the is
land, DIR. Rowe said:
The statements concerning Porto
Rico have been so numerous and so
contradictory that it seems hazard
GUS to venture an opinion at the pres
ent time. The different points of
view represented in the statements
that have recently appeared are to
be explained by the fact that Porto
Rico, after a period of uncertainty
incident to the change of sovereignty,
is now settling down to the solution
of the problems which should have
been faced century ago.
Comparison with ISo9.
"The spirit of pessimism, which Il
small element of the population
seems intent on keeping alive. loses
it Justification when the Porto Rico
of to-day is compared with the Porto
Rico of 1899. To-day a fully organ
lied government, in which the people
are actively participating, is guaran-
teeing personal and property rights
o. / I'll. A.. i he,
ing administered with an impartiali
ty hitherto unknown, and taxation
which has been largely a matter OF
fa,oritsn and partisan discrimina
ton, is being placed on definite ant
secure basis ard with the assurance
of equality and uniformity in admin
stration.
Many Problems Have Been SolN ed.
NO one will for a moment conten'
that all or even the greater part o
the economic and political problem
confronting the island have beel
solved. Nothing less than miracl
could have worked such change
But it is equally clear that firm
and lasting foundation has been lai,
for the gradual solution of these i'm
' portant questions, such as the re
generation of the coffee and Tobacco
l districts. the development of the frui
trade. etc, upon which the futur
D prosperity of the island will largel,
depend.
Three Radical Changes.
. at must be borne in mind that Por
to Rico has passed through three rad
ical changes of political system in a
many years. First came the chang
under Spanish rule from absolutisn
to autonomous regime, then the arbi
trary rule of military government
and, finally, the more liberal system
introduced by the Foraker act. 1t i
not surprising that under such cir
cumstances the spirit of unres
should have developed. 1t is onl,
within the last six months that Port
Rico has quietly settled own, deter
mined to help itself and solve its owI
problems.
, Impntience In Some Quarters.
"The impatience shown in som
quarters by the native population be
cause of the failure to give to the is
land within the short space of yeal
! a complete system of roads and
widely-distributed system of govern
! ment loans to agriculturists is bu
=, an indication of lack of acquaintanc
/. with the difficulties of the situation
: and will disappear with closer touc
! and more active cooperation in tn
work of public administration.