New-York tribune., 1901-05-10
PORTO RICAN AFFAIRS.
\ CORRECTION OF CERTAIN MISSTATE-
MENTS CONCERNING THE GOVERN
MENT OF THE ISLAND.


In a NeW-York paper recently an article appeared
criucistng Governor Allen denOunCing the revenue
law Of Porto Rico and making various complaints
against the administration Of the government III
this island. II said that the revenue law was
rushed through the legislature just before lis ao
1ournment, and was signed by Governor Allen VINO
refused TO listen to the protests of the taxpayers
This is a misleading ana erroneous statement.
The Legislative Assembly met December d
On December j the Revenue bin Council Bill No
- was introduced in the Council. by the Committee
Of Finance. On the same day it was read and
ordered to be printed On the 18th it was returned
printed. read a second time and referred TO the
Committee Finance; it was then reported back
with amendments and considered in committee OF
the whole and January again reported
back with amendments. and passed by the Couhcii
by a vote Of eight TO On January S, having
been eEgrossed, II was sent to the House Of Dele
gates. and considered there for twenty days
passed almost unanimously. and returned TO the
Council on January 2s with amendments II then
went TO a conference committee. which in three
days reported agreement. and II passed on
the last day Of the session. The Governor had
very short time after its passage TO consider the
bill to hear protests, but ne had considered II
during its pendency in the Assembly, and never
refused TO hear any objecting to il. ON the
contrary. he has always been accessible 10 all the
people of Porto Rico and every else, on al!
occasions. Mr.. Magee, the secretary OF the Coun-
Gil, gave a copy OF the bill every who asked
for 1t until the printed edition of two hundred
copies was exhausted. The terms of the bill were
we'll known all over the island of Porto Rico, and
objections from some OF the distant parts
were flied and considered by each chamber Of the
Legislative Assembly. The revenue law was the
deliberate legislative act OF the people Of Porto
Rico
RECEIVED MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.
The Governor. after sixty days and many nights
OF hard work during the session Of the Legislative
Assembly did leave the city for a few days recrea-
tion, of which he was in great need. The bill had
be signed within the session Of the Legislative
Assembly would have failed to become a law.
There was not a bill passed. out of thirty-slX
which became laws, that received more caretul
consideration than this A printed protest was
prepared by some bankers and merchants against
the bill. but it never presented 70 the Gov
ernor owing TO delay the part of those VINO
had the matter IN charge: although every man OF
Intelligence In the island knew that under the act
Of Congress the Legislative Assembly would ad-
journ on January 81, the protest was dated Feb
ruary !.
1t was also stated that there was only 100000
in circulation in this island. There is evidently
great miscalculation I'm this; for, according 10 the
last returns made, there was deposit IN the
banks here S2SH2s4. Besides, when the currency
was changed, IN the month OF August, 1900 S5''''-
COO left in Porto Rico in exchange Tor the
Spanish silver taken 10 Washington 10 be re-
coined So there must be in this island at least
100000 in circulation or 81 per capita for each
man. woman and child enumerated in the census
1t IS also a great mistake 10 say that the banks
in Porto Rico do not lend money That IS what
they are here for But like the banks in New
York they demand good security. Let the com
painaut OFFER any banker in San Juan the COL
lateral and he get the money.
The people OF Porto Rico are said TO be land
moor" That Is taken 10 mean that people have
uuproductive land on which they cannot pay taxes
There Is less unproductive land in Porto Rico in
proportion 70 its size than in any New-Ensland
State Town property In this city IS held at N""
Fe1a md
valued at from 500 10 500 acre. Not an acre of
the uoorast land on the island can be bought for
less than g.
OTHER FALSE STATEMENTS,
II IS charged also that the taxpaying element Is
not represented in the Council and that the mem
bers voted themselves a salary or 4V" year
Both OF these assertions are unfounded in fact.
The five native members os the Executive Council
when first appointed by the President were two
persons from each OF the political parties and one
independent Becoming piqued because they could
not carry everything their own way, the two Fed
erals in the Council. in obedience 10 the orders OF
their political chief a fit Of childish passion re-
signed, and after considering the subject for more
than two months the President filled their places
with two excellent from the Republican party
While only one Of the 1--WE. Mr.. Crosas the inde-
pendent IS a rich man, all Of them taxpayers
and capable, PATRIOTS Porto Ricans. The salary OF
the heads OF departments who also members
OF the Council is fixed by the act OF Congress at
81 0s1 per annun but the salary OF the native mem
bers, who have administrative duties to per
form outside OF the Council left 10 be hXed
by the Legislative Assembly. a bill. originated In
and passed the House OF Delegates fixing their
salary at s4O00 but II amended in the Coun-
ell reducing the salary 10 5000 annually, and not
one of them voted TO pay himself more than that
The statement is also made that Governor Allen
abolished the high school in Porto Rico and caused
the employment Of American teachers, who are
the cause OF many troubles This IS entirely un-
true. Governor Allen has never abolished single
school OF any kind in Porto Rico, and, what Is
more. the Department of Education, under the civil
admins ira ton has abolished single school
o. any kind but has opened in San Juan graded
high school good be found in any city
of equal size in the United States. And. besides,
seVeTl-eighths of all the teachers Of all grades
in Porto Rico natives educated here. The
naming one-eighth American teachers, giving
instruction in the English language and have
never caused any trouble whatever.
II is charged that Governor Allen refused TO
give statistics trade at the present time. 1t must
be borne IL mind that the custom houses in Porto
Rico are under the control of the insular gov
ernment. and that the Governor does not always
have at hand the statistics of the export and import
trade However. he has made no such refusal, and
a full statement will be given In his Forthcoming;
annual report to President, and will doubtless
be published in d time The imports doubtless do
exceed the exports and four-hfths OF them
from the United States. So. whatever balance of
trade is against the island is In favor OF the Amer
leans. and not to the credit OF the English ana
Spanish. as formerly.