The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-06
PORTO RICO IS +.
DOING WELL
Mr.. Harlan Brings a Most Encour-
aging Account of the Sturdy
Colony.
Extraordinarily Fair Treatment by
the United States-People
Are Busy.

AID says: James .. Harlan, attorney SeIl-
eral Of Porto Rico, Is visiting his father,
Justice Harlan Of the supreme court, in
this city, having rendered his resignation
to President Roosevelt before the latter
started on his western tour.
From practical standpoint" said Mr..
Harlan, in reply to a question, "the poll
tical status Of Porto Rico is very salts
factory. Our relations with the United
States are SO explained under the Foraker
act that we have every advantage that an
organized territory could enjoy, under tho
constitution and in addition have a fiscal
independence that is very important. If
they remain undisturbed for the next gen.
Grafton the people Of Porto Rico will be
enabled to work out magnificent results i'll
the way of internal improvements. agri-
cultural developments, educational and So
cial progress and moral and material pro-
gress generally. The local legislature has
more authority than Is intrusted to the
legislatures of any other of our states in
making laws and doing whatever is neces-
sary for the most complete satisfaction
Of the people and the development of the
resources Of the island. We have no con-
stttutional restrictions of any kind.
1.-The internal revenue and customs re-
ceipts under the Foraker act stay with us
instead Of being turned into the federal
treasury like those collected in the states.
The island has the benefit of every dollar
OF taxes collected from the people, local 8
we'll as federal. Federal revenues amount
to nearly 1900, 900 year and the total in
come OF the insular government Is about
$780, 900, which is available at all times
and for all purposes.
There is no debt. On the contrary we
have q 100000 surplus in our treasury
over and above our liabilities. which is
unique situation in the history Of gov
ernment And what is still more extrau-
binary. the expenses Of the government of
Porto Rico are annually less than it's re-
ce1pts, so that like some other wise and
prosperous business institutions our sur
plus Is increasing every year.
2. "Ihe native leaders in the legislature
and IN politics generally are impressed with
the advantages of this situation and the
Importance of avoiding debt and living
within their income. During the session
OF the legislature just closed the native
members acted with restraining influence
upon the American members and reduced
the amount Of appropriations made in the
regular bills in order. that the surplus
might be increased. We appropriated
nearly 100000 for the construction of new
roads and maintenance Of old ones. We
provided. .liberally for the establishment of
new schools and the extension OF the sys-
tenn Of free education, in which the people
take a great interest We give 25 cents
out of every dollar collected by taxation in
Porto Rico for the education Of the people,
There are now about 1,2OO schools: five
times as many as during Spanish rule and
they are mostly taught by native teachers
trained In American methods, by American
professors at normal institute
English Is taught in all the Porto Rican
schools and it is taught exclusively in
some OF the high schools. Both LANGUAGES
are spoken Every native on the island is
studying English and every American is
studying Spanish. The children and the
young people are eager to learn English
1or 1T gives them better opportunities to
| secure positions In business houses and in
| the government service and enables them
to command higher salaries. The percent
age OF 1lliteracy is still very large among
the people, for during Spanish times
schools were comparatively few. but it is
confined almost exclusively to the adults.
The present generation Of children will
all nave an opportunity to learn at least
the rudlments of an education, but the
school system is still inadequate in the
rural districts, where 1t is being gradually
extended. In the towns and cities the op-
portunities for free education are as good
as they are III the United States. In the
cities we can rent school houses, but in
the rural districts there are no houses
available and we have to erect them and
building Is very expensive.''
How large is the American population
of Porto Rico?" I inquired. 1.-The Ameri-
can population of Porto Rico is now about
5000 and Is increasing slowly and in q sub
stantial way said Mr.. Harlan
1--WE have our share of adventurers and
people who have failed elsewhere but most
of the Americans are the best class of the
population. This is particularly true of
those who have come recently and have
brought capital to invest in agricultural
enterprises and public works. Probably
$6,0O0,0O0 or $7,000,000 Of American capital
has already been invested in Porto Rico
since our occupation, and it has generally
paid good dividends. There have been
very few disappotntments. We have not
had our share of failures. 1t is difficult
to find a dead enterprise in Porto Rico,''