Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-08
Judge Wilcox Tells of Con-
ditions in Porto Rico.
JUDGE EtHARLAN'S CANE
ISLAND LOOKS EVENTUALLY TO
BECOME A STATE.
Judiciary and the Good Work Of Gov
Hunt-The Price Of
Coffee.

Judge E. B. Wilcox Of Ponce, Porto Rico.
Is in Washington, commissioned by some OF
the citizens Of that city with the presenta-
ton of handsome cane to Associate JUS
tice Harlan of this city. The cane Is made
OF tortoise shell, the knob Is Of Porto Rican
gold and has inscribed upon 1t the shield
of Porto Rico and tine name Of Judge Har-
Ian. The people Of Porto Rico greatly ad-
mire the opinion Of Judge Harlan In the
insular cases, in which he holds that the
Constitution follows the flag. On tho fer
rule Of the cane are inscribed the words,
THE Constitution follows the flag"
The cane is one Of those used by Spanish
officials to indicate their rank of Office. It
was presented to r.. N. Colon of Ponce by
his father, who used 1t when he was ap-
pointed mayor Of the city of Ponce. and
who. by the way, was the first mayor In
Porto Rico under the American regime
Judge Wilcox is completing his arrange
ments for his early departure for Ponce,
Porto Rico. he having spent his vacation in
the states Judge Wilcox leaves Washing
ton tonight for New York. He will sail
Saturday from that city for Porto Rico.
Mr.. Wilcox is the judge of the Ponce dis
trtct court. He Is also a lieutenant colonel
on Gov. Hunts military staff.
Future OF Island.
In a talk with reporter for The Star
Judge Wilcox spoke entertainingly of the
people of Porto Rico. and Of the great
future that Is in store for the island. When
asked II the conditions in the possession
were improving under American rule he
was Immediately drawn into an animated
conversation regarding the island.
Yes. the conditions are improving, and
improving greatly and regret that have
not by me some comparative statistics
which recently saw on this point. They
are conclusive that there has been wonder
from the United States now amount to
nearly 100000 year, while In 1898 1t
was an insignificant sum.
There has been great Improvement In the
tobacco and sugar industries and orange
growing will soon become one of the larg-
est and most profitable Industries of the
island. The coffee industry alone Is not
showing the improvement seen along other
lines. This has been due to the injury re-
ceived by the plantations during the cy-
clone soon after the American occupation,
and to a tariff law enacted by Spain
against Porto Rican coffee. For long
time Spain had used this coffee, which Is
high-grade, costly article.
The coffee grower has been forced to look
to the United States chiefly as the market
for his coffee. and has been in this way
placed in competition with the cheaper
there is a large crop on hand It Is be-
lieved that as soon as the American public
becomes acquainted with. the merit OF the
Porto Rfcan article there will be strong
demand for II. %
For the first time Porto Rico Is having
Its money raised by taxation spent in the
island. Formerly much of its yearly bud
get found its way to Spain. OF the budget
Is spent for the education Of Porto Rican
children. During the five years of Amerf-
can occupation more miles Of public high
ways have been built than during the 400
years prior to this time. The department
of health Is literally supported. which by
its last report shows q little over 1900
fewer deaths in the island than In the
prior year
Want Statehood.
Are the people looking forward to be-
coming territory and then a slater
Judge Wilcox was asked
Eyes, they wish it very much" he said.
but the thinking men realize that present
conditions will not permit 1t. At present
Of the 81 300. 900 raised for the expenses of
the insular government only about $4OOOOO
is raised by direct taxation. By special
legislation Porto Rico has been allowed to
retain its custom house receipts and its
internal revenues. The difference between
the amount raised by direct taxation and
the $2.300OOO Is raised by custom house
receipts and internal revenue
IF orto Rico were to become state she
would lose this amount, which she Is not In
condition to do at this time. The 5000 900
at present spent for education alone, as will
be seen, Is more than her whole budget
would amount to, or in other words, the
amount raised by direct taxation Is less
than 20 per cent Of the amount raised for
governmental purposes now on the island
1.-THE thinking men of the island realize
that the administration has been generous
to them In thus allowing 1t to keep and to
use the custom house receipts and internal
revenue, and this Is very much appreciated
by the people of the island"
The Judiciary.
In speaking Of the department of Justice
he said: There has been a marked i'm
provement in the administration of Justice
in the island The work of the late attor-
ney general. James E. Harlan, was excel
lent. Mr.. Willis Sweet. the new attorney
general. who has recently arrived, is taking
hold of his department vigorously.
THE courts are well organized; American
laws are being placed on the statute books:
American presidents are being followed;
the jury system as we have It in the United
States has been partially migrated into the
insular system and Is giving good results
It may be properly said that the depart
ment of justice Is in the htnds OF the Porto
Ricans, because such a small per cent of
the employees Of this department are Ameri-
cans. t--
1.-THE island Is divided into five judicial
districts. Each district court is composed
Of three judges. one Of whom Ia an Ameri-
can and the other two natives. The ma
jority of cases are heard and decided by
these judges. In cases of felony alone the
accused may be tried by Jury, IL he 50
elects. The number Of Jury trials up to
date has been small. For instance in my
own court Of the 500 or coo criminal cases
disposed of during the past year only
twenty-five Of. theSe are heard by Jury.
1.-THE supreme court Of the island Is COM
posed Of strong men. three natives and two
Americans. Who have the confidence of the
people of the island. Too much cannot be
said of the way tn which Governor Hunt
has handled, fhe situation in Porto Rico.
which In soma respects has been a difficult
one. To begin with. he is greatly Interested
in the Porto Riehns. and has done every
thing in his power to advocate their inter-
ests. He-has shown himself a kind and
plant. < 20
No one, hswevsr poor or humble their
station in life. has ever failed to receive a
courteous and c9nsiderate hearing when
they go to him: The success Of his admin
istration there ~ worthy. of what the Presi-