Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-28
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
VISIT OF CONGRESSIONAL COM
MITTEE TO PORTO RICO.
To Investigate and Report on Harbor
Conditions-Brilliant Reception
to Notable Party.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence OF The Evening Star.
SAN JUAN, p. R.. March %, 1905.
All local interest has centered for several
days in the actual or nearby presence of
the distinguished party which arrived on
March 16 on the United States army trans
port Sumner and which includes the col
gressional committee sent to investigate
and report as to the needs of harbors in the
American possessions in the West Indies
and especially in Porto Rico.
The twelve members of the rivers and
harbors committee of the House of Rep
resentatives now here are Theodore e.
Burton of Ohio, Blackburn B. Dovener of
West Virginia. Roswell p Bishop of Mich
igan. Ernest f. Acheson of Pennsylvania,
George Lawrence of Massachusetts, James
Fl. Davidson of Wisconsin. James McLach-
Ian Of California, William Lorimer of ILL
nois, Wesley J. Jones of Washington, J.
Adam Bede of Minnesota, Joseph e. Rams
cell of Louisiana and Benjamin G. Humph-
reys of Mississippi. Representatives Sam
uel w. Smith of Michigan, Charles B. Ian
dis of Indiana and A. s. Burleson of Texas
are also with the party. Others are Mrs.
B. b. Dovener. Mrs. E. F. Acheson, Master
Acheson, Mrs. James H. Davidson, Mrs.
George P Lawrence, Mrs. James McLach-
Ian, Mrs. w. c. Jones, Miss Jones, Master
Felix Jones, Mrs. ]. Adam Bede Mrs. ].
E. Ransdell. Mrs s. w. Smith. Miss Lam
us, MIS- A. D. f5uTJeSOn MI. ana MIS-. D.
H. Cassidy, Q. M. Gen. C. F. Humphrey
and Mrs. Humphrey. Mr.. ]. H. Mccain,
Mr.. E. F. Hutchinson. Mr.. Bailey, Joseph
Humphrey. Mrs. Chase. Capt. De Chandler.
Capt. c. A. f. Flager and Mrs. Flager,
Rutherford Corbin. Mr.. T. C. Muller Mr..
E.. E. Hagen, Mr.. Moss, Mr.. Harry West
and Mr.. Dent.
Reception by Commandant.
No official reception was given to tie
party on it's arrival, but on the following
evening Capt Andrew Dunlap command
ant of the San Juan naval station, and Mrs.
Dunlap held at the station what was per-
haps the most brilliant reception in the
records of Porto Rico The entire station
was thrown open to the guests of the COM
mandant and his wife and the commits
sion, in whose honor the reception was
given.
The walls were covered with flags of all
nations, the stars and stripes" taking a
conspicuous place, and the whole was made
brilliant by varied-colored lights. The beds
of plants on each side of the path leading
to the garden sheltered and half concealed
many lights of all colors, and the sea-wall
and the arcade were brilliantly Illuminated.
In the center of the runway was an cleo
trio fountain, spray of water rejecting
al the colors of the rainbow, and the
moss-coyered rocks and the green foliage
appeared as natures work of years rather
than the result of the days work of busy
marines. Governor Winthrop and his off,
cial family, all the army and navy officers
of the city, many prominent natives and
Americans not in official circles and all the
Sumner passengers were present. Gold
lace and beautiful costumes added to the
brilliancy of the scene, and the Porto Rico
regiment band, just back from the Roose-
welt inauguration, furnished music.
Dancing Under Tropical Moon.
The visitors enjoyed dancing under a
tropical moon, and were seemingly de-
lighted. Since then the Sumner has visited
Culebra harbor, and the commission, ac-
companied by Governor Winthrop has sail
ed to the harbors of Ponce, Mayaguez, HUI
macao and Arecibo.
Porto Rico is praying that Congress will
realize the Importance of improving the
island harbors, especially that of San Juan.
1t is indeed of transcendental Importance.
world and could easily shelter the entire
American navy Yet because of it's being
so shallow a frst-class battleship has never
entered.
In time of war Porto Rico would doubt
less be the first point of attack, and today
1t is absolutely defenseless, with a shore
line many times greater than that of most
inhabitants, 10000 of them living in San
Juan. Yet Congress has not yet spent a
dollar for harbor improvements or forti-
fications.
To the west lie Panama Hayd Santo
Domingo and Cuba, all pregnant with pos
Sfbilities. To the east are splendid forcing
harbors, where hostile fleets might mobil-
ize to move on unprotected American ter
ritory Commercially, too, harbor improve
ment in Porto Rico would mean incalcu-
liable good These facts and many more
the commission now here is being urged