Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-04-07
PORTO RICO IMPROVING
SAYS GOVERNOR ALLEN.
GREAT OPENING. FOR RAISING
ORANGES AND OTHER FRUITS
AND TROPICAL PRODUCTS.
GOVERNOR ALLEN TO 60 BACK.
WANTED TO RESIGN, But THE
PRESIDENT PREVAILED UPON
HIM TO STAY.

WASHINGTON, April 6.-Charles h
Allen. governor of Porto Rico, who ar
rived in Washington this morning, mad
an hours conference with President
Mckinley to-day. Great interest was
manifested in Governor Aliens vHlt on
account of the rumors that have been
rife eyer since he sailed from San Juan
that it was his intention to relinquish
his post in the island.
After the conference, however, Gov
ernor Allen announced that he would
not resign and would return to his dn-
ties about the first week in May, after
settling up some private affairs In bos-
ton. 1t is pretty we'll understood that
Governor Allen came to Washington In
the hone that the President would re-
leve him of his duties in Porto Rlco'
and that he asked the President TO 90
SO, but the President prevailed upon
him to continue at the head OF the ad-
ministration of the affairs or the
island.
Governor Allen enjoys the confidence
OF the President to very high de-
gree, and he felt it was his duty to ac-
cede to the wishes Of the chief execu-
tive.
Speaking about the affairs of the
island, Governor Allen said that the
situation had improved very material
ly in every way since he became gov
ernor over year ago.
THE civil government established in
Porto Rico" Governor Allen said, lis
working smoothly. The various de-
partments have been organized and our
administration is seemingly giving gen.
eral satisfaction. In material way
there has been wonderful progress.
Much of the island, which was not
under cultivation under the old regime,
is being taken up and made profitable.
There is great field in the island for
products that can be shipped to the
United States, especially oranges and
other fruits. The advantages possess
ed by the Porto Rican fruit growers on
account of the discrimination in their
favor as far as tariff duties are con-
cerned, which will be increased when
all duties are removed July LIST, cannot
but result in making it great fruit
growing country. Recently 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 a view to
transferring to Porto Rico the ag-
ricultural 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 established industries in Porto Rico
there has been a great improvement in
all except coffee growing and produc-
ton. Unfortunately this is languishing
at the present time. The production
of sugar has been increased from 49,
600 tons last year to probably 100000
tons estimated for this year.
When asked about the unpopularity
of the Hollander tax law, Governor
Allen explained that there was natur-
ally much misunderstanding about the
inauguration of a purely American sys-
tenn of taxation, based upon property
valuations, to take the place of the old
Spanish system that had been in vogue
for over 300 years. He said that the
total valuation of property in Porto
Rico would be close to 100000, 900,
and under the law but one-half of one
per cent. could be levied for municipal
purposes, and the same for insular pur-
poses. This would raise about 81 900 900.
The other million necessary to make
up the total budget would be raised
by excise taxes on rum, cigars, cigar
cites, etc.