Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-26
Annual Report of Commander
Schroeder, the Governor.
A DECREASED BALANCE
FAILURE OF CONGRESS TO MAKE
AN APPROPRIATION.
Natives Want to Learn American
Ways and the English Language
Desire for Citizenship.

The annual report of Commander Sea ton
Schroeder. governor of the Island OF
Guam, which Is dated July rs, and which
has just reached the Navy Department, in
dicates a rather serious condition with ref
erence to the finances of the island, owing
to the failure of Congress to appropriate
the sum asked for last year. The receipts
last year were in round numbers s6j,0oO,
and the expenditures $4,000, leaving bal
ance of 5000. which, however. is a de-
crease of over $4,000 in the cash balance
for the preceding year. This loss Is largely
due to the unexpected expense incident to
the establishment of the leper colony and
the decrease of over $4,000 in import du-
ties.
Failure to Appropriate.
Commander Schroeder reports that the
failure of Congress to appropriate for the
expense of school teachers and of the con-
struction OF roads. the cost of which con-
sequently came out of the revenues of the
island has created some discomfort among
the inhabitants. who seem to believe that
these expenditures drawn from their own
pocket are not inuring to their benefit. lie
says that it Is not anticipated that lack of
funds will compel closing the courts or the
leper colony at any time, but that 1t has
been deemed prudent to abruptly stop all
work of public improvements, which he
thinks is an unfortunate necessity, espe-
cially as some of the work begun is value
less until completed. He says 1t is hoped
that the bridges will remain serviceable
until the financial situation permits repair
ing them.
Industries Depressed.
The value of the exports and imports iur-
ing the year have BEEN respectively, $50 o4i
and $50, 1856. The exports consisted almost
entirely of Mexican dollars. Not a pound
of copra has been exported and neither
cocoa nor coffee has been produced in suffi-
cient quantities to supply the home market
owing to the slow recoveries from the
effects of the hurricane of 1900. The gov
ernor suggests that it would be great
boon If the Department of Agriculture
would establish an experimental station In
the island.
In connection with the finances the gov
ernor recommends that if Philippine sill
yer dollar of fixed value is to be coined
under the laws of the United States that It
be made legal tender also in Guam in place
of the present Mexican dollar
Population and Education.
The census of the island. taken last au-
tumn. shows the total population to be
9.G76. of whom only 46 are foreigners, IA
being citizens of the United States. The
the navy or other civil employees temper
arily imported from the United States.
Above the age Of seven 46 per cent of the
natives read and write Spanish. He says
that the natives still continue to refuse to
allow their sick to receive medical atten-
ton, but that conditions are improving, an
excess of births over deaths being shown
for each of the last two years.
Commander Schroeder reviews in details
his work in establishing leper colony,
- l. -
port to the Navy Department some months
ago. He says that there now are twenty
four lepers in seclusion at Tumon Bay,
and that everything possible is being done
to mitigate the unhappiness and distress
OF the unfortunates and he expresses the
hope that no material harm in the way of
dissemination of the dread disease resulted
from the lack Of segregation during the
period following the typhoon of 1892, when
the leperS were at large.
Instruction in English.
The governor says that the system of
public instruction In English which was
begun In three schools in October, 1901, and
subsequently, extended to two other
schools. has been satisfactory In the ex-
IRENE. The people wish evidently to learn
American ways as well as the language.
and the attendance has been good. The
schools are being conducted by H. H. Haiti.
his wife and daughter and two non-com-
missioned marine officers. The law re-
Quirfng attendance of children between the
ages of eight and fourteen is imperative,
however for lack of school buildings and
English teachers. and the governor rec
ommends that for the present admission
be limited to one age-thirteen years-in
order that every youth may have at least
one year of instruction.
The Courts Efficient.
The judiciary system of the island Is re-
ported to be sound and in efficient opera
ton. largely due to the labors of Ensign
A W. Pressey, L. S. N, the judge of first
Instance. The dockets have been cleared
and the courts rescued from the chaos
which resulted from the transfer of sover-
eighty. The principal inadeQuacy at this
time Is the exact status of appeal to a
tribunal superior to that in the island No
court of appeal exists and this fact has
caused some confusion, especially in the
case of a man now being tried. whose crime
was committed under Spanish sovereignty
while the tribunal supreme lin Madrid) had
jurisdiction. The governor suggests that
the laws for the government of the island
should be remodeled and codlned and that
a commission should visit the island for
that purpose.
Desire for American Citizenship.
The governor says there Is desire for
United States citizenship among persons
domiciled in the island. He calls attention
to the case of Pedro NJ. Duarte. at present
the auditor of the island He occupies an
anomalous position. He was an officer In
the Spanish army. who resigned after the
war and who obtained an acceptance of
pronunciation OF allegiance. The result is
that he is today a citizen of no country
I The governor devotes considerable space
TO the question OF the necessary public i'm
,provements. and recommends an appropria-
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