The times., 1901-04-07
ALLEN CHANGES HIS MIND
Persuaded by the President to Re-
main in Porto Rico.

The Governor Discusses Condition
iu the ISInnd-Cn npacity for self
Government Manifested by "a
PeopIc-PcuccfuI and industrious
When Charles H Allen. Governor O
Porto Rico. went to the White Hous
yesterday he was firmly resolved 20 re
sign his office. bat when he departed
an hour later, after having had con
ference with the President, he had com
pIetely reversed his decision. The Pres
ident urged him to return to the island
and resume his duties, and. although
somewhat reluctantly, Mr.. Allen yielded
to Mr. McKinleys wishes and con ente-
10 continue in his office.
Governor Allen. accompanied by Mrs
Allen. reached Washington early yes
terday morning, having come up from
Norfolk on one Of the Norfolk and
WASHINGTON steamers. They went to
the Portland. where they viii stay dur
ing the week or ten days they are to
remain in this city. The Governor
then expects to so to his old home in
Massachusetts to attend to some pri-
vate business and will leave for Porto
Rico during the early part of May.
Before Governor Allen saw the Presi-
dent yesterday morning he made the
statement that he did not intend TO re-
turn 10 Porto Rico. 1t is said that Mrs
Allen is not we'll pleased with life on
the island and that is one of the reasons
why the Governor desires to remain in
the United States. The President, how
ever, expressed his warm approval of
Governor Aliens administration of af-
fairs in the island, stating that any
change made just now would be to the
detriment not only to the people there,
but also to this country. and finally
persuaded him 90 relnquish his thought
Of resigning and return TO Porto Rico.
While Governor Aliens tenure Of Of
fee is at present indefinite. it is thought
that the President will yield TO his
wishes after a time and accept his
resignation. perhaps after another year.
Governor Allen was asked yesterday
concerning his return 10 this country
and the affairs in the island, and said;
Yes. it seems very pleasant to get
back home after nearly year in the
tropics. You recall, perhaps, that my
commission as Governor Of Porto Rico
was dated April is. not very far from
this time It has been a year Of eX-
ceedingly active work, interesting
and absorbing because it has bsen
the working out of one Of the most
interesting experiments ever undertaken
in the way Of colonial government
Other nations have had large expert
ence and an established form Of govern
ment for the colonies, and a trained
service from which to draw for eXpe-
rienced administrators.
In our case it was a novel expert
ment TO attempt to implant a civil gov
eminent based upon American insdtu-
tions in country where the people had
been under very different rule for near
ly 400 years. Of a different race, Ian
guage. habits. and religion. It was,
therefore, necessarily a process Of edu-
cation and evolution which ! have no
doubt has been watched by those inter-
ested in such questions with as much
interest perhaps as upon the part Of
those actually engaged in the work.
II I may be considered impersonal
in the matter and as not in any degree
referring TO myself. I am sure / viii
not be misunderstood by you in say
ing the people OF Porto Rico are TO be
congratulated upon the character Of the
men whom the President persuaded TO
go to that post Of duty as patriotic
service. l can testify. as ] cheerfully
do, to the diligent and painstaking work
which they have carried on under con
ditions most wearing and entirely un-
appreciated by those who. in the nature
Of things. could not know of the diff
culties surrounding the position.
During the period TO which I refer
civil government, based upon the law Of
Congress, complete in all its depart
ments, working along as smoothly as
could possibly be expected, has been es-
tabIished in Porto Rico. The people
have carried on by themselves a gen
eral election. a fun legislative session
has been had, and / have had the pleas
ure Of presenting To the President the
bound volume Of the first book Of laws
passed by the Legislature Of the island,
and ] am satisfied a careful examina-
tion Of the character of the legislation
viii prove complimentary to the ca
pacity Of the people.
Il ought to say, however, that I be-
lieye Senator Foraker builded better
than he knew in the organic law gov
erning the island, and / feel, after a
somewhat intimate acquaintance with
the situation, that the law Itself, inter
preted in the spirit in which It was
made, viii be found 10 work quite salts
factorily in Porto Rico for some time
10 come"
"A commission from Porto Rico has
recently been in Washington, and has
some notice through the news
papers" was suggested to the Cow
ernor
Yes. Any legislation new to coun-
try is accepted with great reluctance,
naturally The Foraker bill provided
FOR the collection Of customs at rate
Of Is per cent Of the full tariff, but 1t
also provided that the collection Of Gus
toms should cease in the island in
March, 1902, unless sooner repealed by
resolution Of the Legislature Of Porto
Rico 70 the President, reciting that it
had enacted and put into operation
system Of local taxation to meet the ne
cessities Of The government Of Porto
Rico.
1T therefore became the duty of the
Legislature to provide such legislation