Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-11
AWAIT HUNTS RETURN
Porto Ricans Anxious to
Learn of New Governor.
WINTHROP rs UNKNOWN
NOT ALTOGETHER PLEASANT
LINE OF DUTIES FOR DECISION.
Many Annoyances From Continuance
Of Spanish Customs - Speculation
Over Protection Of Island.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
SAN JUAN, P. r., May 5, 1904.
The return OF Gov. Hunt to make prepara-
tions for his final departure is anxiously
awaited, principally because it Is hoped
he will bring some information concerning
his successor, Beekman Winthrop. When
the appointment of Winthrop as governor
was announced the entire island asked:
who Is hep AS yet, nobody here seems
to know. 1t has been semi-officially an
nounced that he will be inaugurated on
July and that Ex-Governor Hunt will
sail on the day following for the states, and
then Mr.. Winthrop's troubles will begin.
People guess his age at from thirty-two to
sixty-seven, and have vainly searched
Who's Who? almanacs, reports and other
publications for information concerning
him.
The Spanish papers are growing hysteri-
cal and the only English paper cries in an
agony of doubt: rs he Rough Rider or
1s he not? Is he married or single? Has
he a pull with the President or with Mr..
Taft? Is he a Harvard graduate. or just
a New Yorker? These are some of the
very few things that the people would
like to know about the new governor"
Conditions That Await New Governor.
Mr.. Winthrop will not lie in a bed, OF
OF an insular campaign and will face all
sorts of vituperatfon and deceit Many
hand that welcomes him will soon be ready
to stab him in the back He will confront
sweeping changes In the judiciary of the
island which will go into effect on July l.
The Spaniards will despise him because
ne Is an American. The federals will warn
MIN against trusting the republicans and
the republicans will make his course a
rough one II he shows any favor to the
federals.
All the clamoring factions will seek i'm
mediate recognition and diplomatic adjust
ment will be an almost impossible task
Naturally the governor is always the most
violently criticised man in the island and
ms only nope OF peace of mind Is indiffer
ence to this criticism
The executive duties are onerous for in
addition to all the powers of the governors
OF territories that are not locally inappli-
cable, the governor of Porto Rico has been
vested with much authority in the matter
OF appointments and the strife for place Is
always more or less acrimonious
He is also commander-in-chlef Of the in
sular police force and directs all its opera
tions.
Annoyance Of Spanish Customs.
His time, strength and Judgment are
seriously taxed by the continuance of the
old Spanish custom of direct appeals to
the governor for decision as to every con-
ceivable subject affecting the government
or the people.
His mail brings him thousands of petit
TONS communications and protests many
of which require his personal attention
His social duties are not light and he must,
devote considerable time to slow travel
about the island
He must also hold many consultations
with the respective heads of the six execu-
tive departments, these men constituting
what Is called by courtesy his cabinet. His
salary is $1,000 and he lives in the historic
old palace known as La FortaIeza or San
ia Cataline, occupied for centuries by a
long string of Spanish governors-general.
Governor Winthrop will be the 125th
governor of Porto Rico. Juan Ponce de
Leon, the conqueror, was the FIRST assum-
ing Office on March 2, 1910. The American
governors and their terms Of Office have
been: Gen. John r. Brooke, two months;
Gen. Guy V. Henry. five months; Gen.
George w. Davis, one year; Charles Her
bert Allen. one year, four months; William
H. Hunt, two years, nine months.
Troops Leaving the Island.
The quartermaster's department has
made all arrangements for transporting
to the states the 56th and 59th Companies
| of Coast Artillery. At Fort San Cristobal
and MORO all ID activity, the officers and
men being busy packing up preparatory to
sailing The 59th will be the first battery
to leave.
The steamer Porto Rico has been char
tered to carry the company to the states on
May 7. The Maracaibo Is coming from
New York to convey the 56th, and will sail
from here on the 18th of May.
There is considerable speculation as to
what means will be employed to protect
the island. 1t is a known fact that the
present battery which points its nose
seward Is the property of Spain, according
to agreement. and will be taken down
and shipped from here. commission of
Spanish artillery officers having recently
arrived for the transfer.
Hence, the question arises, what defense
will Porto Rico have? The Navy Depart
ment through its representatives, says
Not we," so the suggestion by knowing
ones may have some ground for affirming
that engineers will follow in the wake OF
departing artillerists and rush construction
work in coast defense to such an extent
that In a few months the Island OF Porto
Rico will find itself one Of the best fortified
possessions of the United States. with
strong garrison on its way here to take
care of the superior coast defences.