The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-07
Wonderful Progress Made by the Peo-
pie Since He Assumed the Gov
ernOrship Last Year.
SUGAR OUTPUT INCREASING
AMERICANS AND BERMUDA FARM
ERs INVESTING IN LAND.
Will Engage I'm Fruit, Onion and
Flower Cuiture-Taxation and EN-
iEration-No Serious Riots.


Allen, Governor of Porto Rico. who ar
rived in Washington this morning. had an
hours conference with President Mckinley
to-day. Great interest was manifested in
Governor Aliens visit on account of the
rumors that have been rife ever since he
sailed from San Juan that II was his In
tention to relinquish his post in the island.
After the conference, however, Governor
Alien announced that he would not resign,
but would return to his duties in Porto
Rico about the first week in May, after
settling up some private affairs in Boston.
1t is pretty well understood that Governor
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 pre-
vailed Cn him to continue at the head OF
the administration OF the affairs of the
island Governor Allen enjoys the conf
dence of the President TO a very high de-
gree, and he Selt that it was his duty to
accede to the wishes of the chief executive.
Speaking al out the affairs of the island,
Governor Allen said that the situation had
improved very materially in every way
since ne became Governor, over year ago.
The civil government established in Porto
| Rico" Governor Allen said, "is working
smoothly. The various departments have
been organized, and our administration Is
seemingly giving satisfaction. In ma
terial way there has been wonderful prog
ress. Much of the island which was not
under cultivation under the old regime Is
being taken up and made profitable. There
| IL a great field in the island for products
| that be shipped to the United States
! especially oranges and other fruits. The
| advantages possessed by the Porto Rican
| fruit growers on account of the discrimi-
| nation in their favor as far as tariff duties
| are concerned, which will be increased
when all duties are removed July l. cannot
| but result in making ii a great fruit-grow-
| ing country.
PROMISING INDUSTRIES.
Recently people who interested in
| the growing of lilies and other flowers, as
| we'll as onions and potatoes, in Bermuda,
| have been looking over the island with
| view to transferring to Porto Rico the
| agricultural industries that have made
| Bermuda famous A faint idea of what
| this would mean to the islands be
| gathered from the fact that last year this
| country imported from Bermuda 100000
bushels of onions alone. In the old-estab-
l
been a great Improvement in all except
| coffee growing and production. Unfortu-
nately it is languishing at the present time.
| The production Of sugar has been increased
from 10000 tons last year to probably
! 100000 tons estimated for this year. The
sugar industry is bound to flourish owing
| to the tariff discrimination in it's favor.
| Upon the crop estimated for this year. the
|
duties. The orange industry is being in
creased by the investments Of Americans
| The fruit is delicious and there is plenty
of land to be had for the cultivation of
oranges
| "I believe Senator Foraker builded more
wisely than he knew in the organic law
governing the island, and feel, after
somewhat intimate acquaintance with the
situation, that the law itself, interpreted
in the spirit in which it is made, will be
| found TO work quite satisfactorily in Porto
| Rico for some time to come"
When asked about the alleged unpopular
| ity of the Hollanded tax law, Governor AL
len explained that there was naturally
misunderstanding about the Inauguration
| of a purely American system of taxation,
| based on property valuations, 70 take the
place of the old Spanish system that had
| been in vogue for over 800 years. He said
| the total valuation OF the property in Porto
| Rico would be close to 500, ,O00, ,OO0 and un-
| der the law but y of per cent could be lev
] led for municipal purposes and the same for
insular purposes. This would raise about
| siOOOOO0 The other million necessary to
| make up the total budget would be raised
by excise duties on rum, cigars, cigarettes,
|
CAN BE REMEDIED.
| Governor Allen explained that the COM
| plant made against the feature of the
| Houander law, which only allows six
months for the redemption of property
| sold for taxes, was one that could be
remedied by the next Legislature which
| meets in December, if the time was found
| to we too short. Governor Alien said that
| tax, ltion under the Hoilas /, law was
| lower than in any of the States of this
| country
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 aspire
| to insular office that they should be loyal
| TO the American government. and that fit
| ness for office with such loyalty should
be the fundamental Endorsement 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 and some rattlinp
sticks along the paIings have been sur
| hcient to occasion sensational cables to
the north. which. though promptly de-