The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-03-18

Suburbs.
San Juan Porto Rica. February 26.
editor Messenger:
After mailing a letter 20 you this
morning I paid my second visit to the
Porto Rican legislature. There were
less than twenty members on the floor
and in their seats and the proceedings
were not marked by that interest which
is generally manifested by members of
our North Carolina legislature during
Its closing days. Day after tomorrow.
Friday. the Porto Rican legislature adj
1ournS sine die. One member read a
lengthy bill with no one paying any
special attention to him. the speaker
being absent from the chair much OF
the time. Not a word was spoken that
{ could understand while there except
when one member asked another if he
a noticed section eight of the bill.
L am Just in from the Plaza Alfonso
XII, which is a square in the heart of
the city. where the different bands play
n the people from all parts of the
city assemble to near the music, prom
enade and look at each other under the
orlsnt lights. If n prefers he can oc-
cupy a comfortable seat instead of
walking. and view the throng as it
moves by. Plenty of native policemen
are on hand to keep order. The insular
police band and the Porto Rico Battal-
ion band. with some thirty members
each. furnish the music, and splendid
music they make. The musicians are
natives and the bands compare favora-
bly, with those of the large cities in the
states.
At the Allen News Company's book
and news stand a great variety of the
reading papers, magazines. ETC., of the
states are to be found. Mr.. Allen in
forms me that the Porto Ricans buy
largely of American literature and
seem to be much interested in the news
from the states. The bands play Amer
lean patriotic music n the people ap-
plaud. showing that they are gradually
imbibing the spirit of American patriot
ism.
On last Saturday. which was Wash
tngtOn's birthday. the stores were near
3y all closed in San Juan, and nothing
k the way of dry goods. ETC., could be
purchased. as 1 was told that it was a
$50 fine for a merchant TO sell goods on
that day, Governor Hunt, with a large
number of friends and a band of mu-
sieians went over to Arecibo, a town
some forty or fifty miles distant from
here. and delivered an address to the
people on George Washington. which,
according to reports. the people heartily
received, while they gave the govern
or n great reception
While San juan much resembles the
-sther Spanish cities and towns I have
seen as to the style of buildings, mar
row streets, people, etc. yet In none OF
them have / seen so nearly all the pr1n-
eipal streets SO nicely and substantially
paved as here. and 1 am told that quite
I@-~ hAfnr ArNnrIRan nn-
supation. While nearly all the paving,
except the sidewalks, is of brick vitri-
Hed, glazed on top and imported from
Spain. yet now and then stone blocks
are used similar to those used In the
states. The streets are kept In splenold
order. as clean n nice as could De
sound almost anywhere. and the Sanl-
sary condition of the city seems to be
excellent. I have so far heard of no
sickness of any character to amount 10
much.
The Stars and Stripes are to be seen
En every direction, and L nave Deen
much impressed with the sweet music
heard from so many of the residences
and other buildings while passing along
the street by day or night mostly from
the pianos and often some OF the latest
American compositions. Indeed the
Porto Ricans seem to be not only a mu-
sie-loying people, but fine musicians,
many of them
while passing along one of the
principle streets the other day l was
attracted by q number OF natives
standing On the sidewalk looking IN at
something. l walked up and looked IN
10 see what was attracting their ar
tention and found it to be a life size
picture of George Washington. stand
ing in the position of one addressing
an audience. with one hand outStretch-
I'd. with a table near by, on which was
zen. ink and other writing materials
After standing and viewing 1t a MIN
ute 1 said: George washington Inc
words had hardly been uttered When
one of them said in broken English:
First in war, first in peace" and stop
ned when I finished the sentence OF
him by saying: And IN the heai.S
Of his countrymen." He 1--WE ms
head with a smile, seeming to lnder-
stand me, and / passed on.
Today FEBRUARY 2sth. listed the
French Railway head Offices ana
found the officials very courteous. also
visited again the legislature. this time
the executive council. which Is slmllar'
in some respects, to our state sendte'
I also, his afternoon, called on GOV,
aernor William H. Hunt, who received
me very courteously and who suppieo
me with NOR valuable Information
than had before been able to obtain
regarding the island and its people,
Iac
The French railway extends out one
vav in one direction about 100 kllo-
reters and in another some twenty
two. 1t is narrow gauge. There are
also three other short on the
island and they are being cohsIah'lS
improved and extended.
The legislature of Porto Rico Is mace
I'D of the executive council n Ine
house of delegates. the former CORE
spending in a degree to, as L san ue.
fore to our state senate and the latter
% the "lover house" The executive
council consists of eleven members ap.
pointed by the president of the United
states. five of hon are natives. AM
their term of office is four years, "hlIe
the house of delegates is composed o.
thirty-fve members elected
by the people.
Acting Governor William H. HUNT
was. before the resignation of Cover
NOR Allen, first vice-president of the
executive council. He was born in