Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1901-04-24
THE PORTO RICANS
ARE SETTLING DOWN
Solving the New Problems
Which Confront Them.
OUTLOOK IS BRIGHTER

Activity Manifested In Regeneration
of Coffee and Tobacco Districts. De-
velopment of the Fruit Trade and
Other Lines of Industry.
NEW YORK, April 2S.-L S. Rowe of
the Porto Rican code committee has ar
rived here from San Juan. He brings
with him the report of the committee
appointed by the president in June of
last year. After presenting this report,
Mr.. Rowe will return to San Juan, to
assume the craftsmanship of the new
code committee appointed by Governor
Allen. Speaking of the situation in the
| island, Mr.. Rowe said:
1.-The statements concerning Porto
Rico have been so numerous and so
contradictory that it seems hazardous
to venture an opinion at the present
time. The different points Of Wow re.
ported in the statements that have re-
| Gently appeared are to be expected, but
the fact that Porto Rico, after period
of uncertainty incident to the change
of sovereignty, is now settling down to
the solution of the problems which
should have been faced a century ago.
No Reason For Pessimism.
''The spirit of psssimism which a
small element of the population seems
intent on keeping alive loses Its justifi-
cation when Porto Rico Of today is COM
pared with the Porto Rico Of 1899. To-
day fully organized government, in
which the people are actively partici-
pating, is guaranteeing personal and
property rights throughout the island;
justice is being administered With an
impartiality hitherto unknown; the
taxes, hitherto largelya matter Of favorit-
ism there, are being placed on definite
and sound basis and with the assurance
Of equality and uniformity In admins.
tration.
"No one will for a moment contend
that all or even the greater part of the
economic and political problems con-
fronting the island have been solved.
Nothing less than a miracle could have
worked such a change. But it is equal
ly clear that firm and lasting founda-
ton has been laid for the gradual solu.
ton of these important questions, such
as the regeneration of the coffee and to-
bacco districts, the development Of the
1Iu1G tIdueJ 06C., upon WHICH the 1u6Gre
prosperity of the island will largely de-
pend.
Radical Changes.
cit must be borne in mind that Porto
Rico has passed through three radical
changes of political system in as many
years. First came the change under
Spanish rule from absolutism to the au-
tonomous reign; then the arbitrary rule
of military government, and finally the
more liberal system introduced by the
Foraker act. 1t is not surprising that
under such circumstances a spiritof un-
rest should have developed. 1t is only
within the last six months that Porto
Rico has settled down, determined to
help itself solve it's own problems.
"The impatience shown in some quar-
ters by the native population because of
the failure to give to the island, within
the short space of a gear, complete
system of roads and widely distributed
system of government loans to agricult.
urists, is but an indication of lack of &C.
quaintance with the difficulties of the
situation, and will disappear with closer
touch and with more active cooperation
in the work of public administration. "