Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-07-17

been taken by that bo1g. rhe house Joint
resolution was promptt accepted as assuD-
sdtute and unanimously passed BY the ex-
ecutive council.
liberating upon the Joint resolution the
national salute. at II o'cioeks Of forty-flye
guns Numbered from the fortress Of San
Juan. venerable with af age Of 300 years
joint Resolution Signed.
By 1 o'clock pm. The Joint resolution.
duly enrolled and signed by the president
of the executive coun9l Gddge Hunt) and
by the speaker Of the house (Mr. Manuel
F. Rossy), was placed before Gov. Allen
for his signature. and as soon as the same
was affixed the governors salute of sew
enteen guns reverberated from the fortress
Of San Cristobai. At che same time, high
In air. the signal corps flags OF the interna-
tional code. raised by kites proclaimed the
legend Free trade for Porto Rico"
Means Much fer the leland.
1t is confidently believed that the pas
sage Of the measure, which Will be surely
followed by the required proclamation Of
the President establishing free trade be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States,
will be productive of the best results It
will be gratifying to the people of the is
land, of all classes. as the contamination
Of a measure they have desired, and tho
to this extent part and parcel Of the great
American republic. The wise. conserva-
tive and dignif1ed action Of Gov. Allen has
already silenced the unjust and uncalled for
criticisms which some time ago proceeded
from few malcontents. The federal party
which heretofore held aloof. as arranged
in opposition. has changed its attitude, and
its ablest leaders have avowed their wish
h.
Gov. Aliens action in calling the extra ses-
sion of the legislative assembly, and the re-
suit thereby accomplished. cannot fail to
increase his strength and popularity with
the people of Porto Rico; The Joint reso-
luton suggests to the President to issue
his proclamation on July Is, which Is q
legally established holiday in Porto Rico.
concentrating the anniversary of the
coming of the American flag to the island.
1t Is expected that Governor Allen will
leave for Washington in a few days to de-
liver the joint resolution Of the legislative
assembly to the President.
Other Exercises of the Day.
The two houses adjourned sine die short
ly after 1 o'clock on July 4. The functions
which claimed the remainder Of the day
were base ball game. with prizes. at
pm: a patriotic meeting at the San Juan
Theater at pm. consisting Of patriotic
songs and recitations by the children Of the
ment Band and the reading Of the Decla-
ration Of Independence. in English by
Judge McLeary. the assistant secretary OF
Porto Rico. and In Spanish by DR.. Romero.
the Interpreter for the executive council: at
5 pm. there were boat races on San Juan
bay. with prizes: from 5 to pm. public
reception by Governor and Mrs Allen at
the executive mansion. Mrs. Harlan. wife
of the attorney general: Mrs. Garrison.
wife of the auditor. and Mrs. Elliott wife
Of the commissioner of the interior. with
other ladies, assisted Mrs. Allen in receiv-
ing
the citizens of San Juan. among them
Bishop Blenk. the Catholic bishop Of Porto
Rico: by the judges Of the supreme court.
the officials of the insular government and
many officers of the ARMY and navy. in
Guiding Col Buchanan. commanding the
military division Of Porto Rico; and Capt.
Sterling of the navy, accompanied by his
accomplished daughter. The festivities of
the day closed with aIparade OF an illum-
mated fotilla Of boats on San Juan bay.
and a grand display of fireworks at the
Marina or water front. with music by the
Porto Rican Regiment Band. The good
marked feature OF the Fourth of July in
San Juan. 7 e, u.
Correspondence Of the Associated Press
SAN JUAN, P. R.. duly SIN Governor
Aliens message to the Porto Rican as
sembly July 4. when that body passed
resolution asking President Mckinley to
declare free trade between Porto Rico
and the United States, as the revenues de-
rived from internal sources. exclusive OF
customs. had proved sufficient to meet the
islands financial needs, it was shown that
the expenses OF the government as au-
thorized by the legislature for the fiscal
year beginning July 1.~19N. amounted to
81 .976, sO2.21. of which amount the most
considerable allotments were as follows:
Insular police. 04.35O: board Of prison
control. $40. 1921: board Of public works.
1856. 942; board of charities. $1O4. 1875;
judiciary of Porto Rico, $160.65O.
A careful study Of the financial situation
warrants the belief that there will be
raised from the three sources. namely,
property tax. excise tax and customs du-
ties on imports from countries other than
the United States. the sum OF over two
million dollars. This would provide an ex-
cess of estimated receipts over expendi-
lures.
The governor further pointed out that OF
the two million dollars refunding act
there still remains probably not less than
$500 600 to the credit of Porto Rico. which
could be used in case Of emergency. and
which makes the condition OF the insular
territory still more secure.