The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-07
ALLEN ON PORTO RICO
HE GIVES A RosEATE VIEW OF THE
SITUATION.
WILL NOT RESIGN POSITION.
PEOPLE MAKING WONDERFUL PRO
GREsS, HE SAYS.

After an Hours Conference With the
President He Decided Not to Re-
siGn-GovernmentaI system work
ing Smoothly and Giving satiSfac-
tion, He Says-MOrc Land Under
Cultivation and the Outlook Very
Is Lnnguishing-A Fine Prospect
for Fruit and Truck Growers.
Washington, April 6.-Charles II. Allen.
Governor of Porto Rico. who arrived in
Washington this morning. had an hours
conference with President Mckinley to-
day. Great interest was manifested in
Gen. Aliens visit on account OF the rum
ors that have been rife ever since he
sailed from San Juan, that it was his
intention to relnquish his post in the ISL
and.
After the conference. however. Gov.
Allen announced that he would not re-
sign and would return to his duties about
the first week in May. after settling up
some private affairs In Boston.
1t is pretty wen understood that Gov.
Allen came to Washington in the hope
that the President would relieve him of
his duties in Porto Rico. and that he
asked the President TO do so. but the
President prevailed upon him to continue
at the head of the administration of the
affairs of the island. Gov. Allen enjoys
the confidence of the President to a very
high degree, and he felt that 1t was his
duty to accede to the wishes of the chief
executive.
Speaking about the affairs of the island.
Gov. Allen said that the situation had
improved very materially in every way
| since he became governor over a year
ago.
The system Working smoothly.
''The civil government established in
Porto Rico" he said, '1s working
smoothly. The various departments have
been organized and our administration is
seemingly giving general satisfaction In
material way there has been wonderful
| progress Much of the island which was
not under cultivation under the old re-
gime is being taken up and made profit
able. There is a great field in the island
| for products that can be shipped to the
United States, especially oranges and
! by the Porto Rican fruitgrowers on ac-
count fthe discrimination in their favor
as far as tariff duties are concerned which
| will be increased when all duties are re-
moved July i, cannot but result in maxi
ing 1t great fruit growing country. Re-
| Gently people, who are interested in the
growing of lilies and other flowers, as
well as onions and potatoes In Bermuda.
have been looking over the island with
the view n Of fn
the agricultural industries that have
made Bermuda famous. A faint
idea of what this would mean TO
the island can be gathered
from the fact that last year this
country imported from Bermuda 100000
bushels Of onions alone. In the old estab-
lished industries in Porto Rico there has
been a great improvement in all except
coffee growing and production. Unfortun-
ately this is languishing at the present
time The production of sugar has been
Increased from 1000 tons last year to
probably 1O0,000 tons estimated for this
year The sugar industry is bound to
flourish on account of the tariff discrim-
ination in its favor. Upon the crop esti-
cated for this year the Porto Ricans will
save $3,JO0000 in tariff duties. The orange
industry is being increased by the in
vestments Of Americans. The fruit is de-
had for the cultivation of oranges
Senator Foraker's Good Work
II believe Senator Foraker built more
wisely than he knew in the organic law
governing the island, and l feel, after a.
somewhat intimate acquaintance with the
situation that the law itself, Interpreted in
the spirit In which II was made, will be
found to work quite satisfactorily in
Porto Rico for some time to come"
When asked about the alleged unpopu-
larity of the Hollander tax law Gov. Al
len explained that there was naturally
much misunderstanding about the
Inauguration of purely Ameri-
can system OF taxation, based
upon property valuations, to take
the place OF the old Spanish systems
that had been in vogue for over 300 years.
He said that the total valuation OF prop
erty in Porto Rico would be close to
$780, 900, 000 and that under the law but one
half of one per cent. could be levied for
municipal purposes and the same for in
suRar purposes. This would raise about
Sl0O0.0OO The other million necessary to
make up the total budget would be raised
by excise taxes on rum, cigars, cigarettes,
etc.
A Porto Rican Civil Service.
1.-THE administration of the island" con-
tinued the Governor, has in all respects
desired the cooperation Of all good citi-
zens. II is required of those who as
pire TO hold insular office, that they should
be loyal to the American government,
and that fitness for office with such 10y
atty should be the fundamental indorse-
ment rather than that OF some political
leader Some disturbances have occurred,
but never with such serious results as
has often occurred IN the United States
Barroom brawls, hooting and bowling
crowds on the streets, few stones
thrown. some rafting sticks along the
pallngg. have been sufficient TO occasion
sensational cables 10 the North, whlcn,
though denied promptly. have been cir
culated TO the discredit OF ,he island"