The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-01-03
GOV. HUNTS IDEAS
PORTO RICO's CHIEF EXECUTIVE
IS CONCISE AND FORCEFUL IN
HIS MESSAGE
EDUCATION SPREADS RAPIDLY
Srong Views Expressed in Favor ,sf
the Right of Laborers to Or
Ganize Themselves
Into Unions.

SAN JUAN. P. R.. Jan. 2-Gov. Hunts
message to the legislature of Porto Rico
was read at II o'clock this morning be-
fore a joint session of that body held in
the theater of San Juan. The building
was crowded. The message congratulate
ed the legislature upon the fact that It's
work in 1901 had been indicated as wise,
conservatively, progressive and conducive
to the establishment Of free trade be-
tween Porto Rico and the United States
seven months before the existing tariff
duties provided for the cessation Of the
collection of such duties. In his message,
Gov. Hunt says:
Tranquility and contentment prevail
in Porto Rico; schools have multiplied;
railroads are being constructed; the COM
merce of the island has been developed
and exports have increased; agriculture
has become profitable; roads are being
built, and debts are being paid. Tolerance
of opinion has become more common,
former antagonisms being forgotten
Education Is Spreading.
Gov. Hunts report said further that
1856 schools were open throughout the
island; 954 teachers were employed in
them.-and 5000 pupils attended them.
Thirty-two school houses had been con-
structed and 129 Porto Rican students
were being educated in the United States.
The insular revenues had increased the
available balance by $12S,000 over the bal
ance of July, 1901, and the total balance
today, including tariff rebates, etc.,
amounted to $2,OO0,0O0
Gov. Hunt recommended the revision of
the municipal laws and the adoption OF
modern city charters; also an increase in
the taxes on beer, cosmetics and per-
fumes and a road tax of 81 head.
Concerning the case of Santiago IglesiaS
(the representative of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor who was sentenced
here on Dec. II to three years and four
months Imprisonment on a charge Of
conspiracy, the governor referred to the
antiquities Of the existing law, and said
that the remedy therefor was in the
hands of the legislature.
Labor Organizations Lawful.
''There is no room for lawlessness in
Porto Rico" said Gov. Hunt, ''but 1t IS
perfectly lawful to organize to secure
better wages by peaceful measures. The
ambition to better ones condition Is In
tensely American, and where the purpose
of organization is merely to increase the
profits Of labor or to dignity its worth
through peaceful means, a law susceptl-
bic to a construction forbidding the ex-
ecution of such a purpose is unworthy
the American government, and should
be wiped out, no matter how unworthy
the particular individual may be who
initiates the organization. The law knows
no distinction between individuals
In conclusion Gov. Hunt said: 1--WE are
absolutely free in our course, but we
cannot escape responsibility for our
course when this is once chosen, or avoid
responsibility for our acts when once
committed. Let US demonstrate that love
of country is to be found here beneath
the palm, and let US so labor that the
civil government of Porto Rico shall be-
come an element of national strength and
PRIDE