Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-05
HUNT IS COMING HOME
Sails From San Juan April
IL for United States.
CONSULT ROOSEVELT
IMPORTANT CHANGES IN INSU-
LAR OFFICES TO BE DISCUSSED.
Delegation Also Coming to Negotiate
Loan for Improvement in
Porto Rico-Terms.


SAN JUAN, p. r. March %, 1904.
Governor Hunt has announced his inten-
ton to sail on April IL for the United States
ON a six weeks trip. He will proceed d.
rectly to Washington to consult with Presi-
dent Roosevelt about many important In
sular matters. including changes in the
near future In certain high offices in Porto
Rico.
1t Is said that General William II. Elliott
of New Castle, Ind, is to retire as COM
missioner of the interior, and will be sue
ceeded by Regis H. Post of New York, now
auditor of Porto Rico Captain E. S. Will
son, now United States marshal for Porto
Rico, has, it is said, been rendered by Presi-
dent Roosevelt the place now held by Mr..
Post.
The term of three native members of the
executive council appointed by President
Mckinley are also about to expire Two OF
these men, Andres Crosas and Mat1nezo'
may not be reappointed, but the third, Dr.
Jose C. BarbOsa, the republican leader OF
Porto Rico, will be retained.
The four years term of Judge William
H. Holt of the United States district court
and Noah B. K. Pettingill, United states
district attorney, also expire in June. II
is believed both men will be reappointed
There are again strong indications that In
July or August Governor Hunt Will be given
a federal judgeship by President Roosevelt
and resign his position here. The three
leading candidates for his gubernatorial
shoes are Secretary Charles Hartzeh, Attor-
ney General Willis Sweet and Auditor Post.
To Negotiate Loan.
Treasurer Willoughby, chairman; Auditor
Post and Delegate Manuel v. Domenech of
Ponce the commission appointed by Gov
ernor Hunt to negotiate in the United
i,S,1 nf
So, 100000 for general public improvements
in Porto Rico sailed today on the Coamo
for New York.
1t is the purpose of the commission to
proceed at once to Washington and enter
into preliminary negotiations with the Sec
rotary of the Treasury, as prescribed in the
bill recently passed by the legislative as
sembly of Porto Rico.
The commission will then proceed to con-
fer with such bankers and capitalists as
may be interested, to the form In which
the bonds should be drawn, the rate of in
terest, the length of time which they are
to run, and, in fact, endeavor to perform
all the preliminary negotiations as pre-
scribed in the bill
AS rapidly thereafter as possible they will
draw up a report to the governor with such
recommendations as they may decide upon,
and presumably an extra session of the
legislature will be called, to which will be
presented the report of the commission, for
such action they may see fit to take In
the premises.
Looking to Secretary Shaw.
Much will depend upon the attitude which
the Secretary of the Treasury may take as
to the bonds. If he consents to receive
them as security for deposits of government
funds it will add very greatly to their de-
STABILITY to the banking interests of Amer
lea, and as the security which the island
has to offer is of undoubted value, and as
the amount of the issue of bonds is COM
paratively small, 1t Is hoped that very Ia
vorable terms will be obtained.
The powers of the commission are limited
merely to the preliminary negotiations OF
the loan, and the disposition to be made
of the proceeds, and of the money accruing
tirely for the legislature to decide. and one
which they will without doubt pass upon
at the extra session.
Attitude of Island Banks.
The commission has already commune
Gated with the various banks of the island
in regard to the matter of depositing the
proceeds of the bond sale on the island,
with a view of aseertaining how much
money could be safely and advantageOusly
cared for by the banks of the island.
Their replies, when received, will have a
material influence with the commission, as
to the amount of the issue, 1t having been
Ielt 10 the oiscretion VI the COMMISSION do
to whether they recommend an issue OF
s., OO0O0O or s., DOC, 900.
1t would be highly Instantaneous to
borrow more money than the needs of the
island require, but on the other hand 1t
might be advisable, If satisfactory ar
engagements could be made, to authorize a
bond issue to the full amount of s., O00, 900,
only dispOsing at this time of such an
amount as is necessary for present needs.
If everything goes well the commission
should be ready to report in the course of
a month or six weeks.