Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1906-12-20

Washington.--President Roosevelt's
message, describing conditions In P0r.
to Rico, and making recommendations
for legislation he believes necessary.
was read to the congress. It 10 - fol.
lows:
To the Senate and House Of Represen.
tatives:
On November Fl I visited the island
OF Porto Rico, landing at Ponce. cross.
Ing by the old Spanish road by Cayey
to San Juan. and returning next morn.
Ing over the new American road from
ArecibO to Ponce; the scenery was
wonderfully beautiful, especially
among the mountains Of the interior.
which constitute q verltable tropic
Switzerland. l could not embark at
San Juan because the harbor has not
been dredged out and can not receive
an American battleship. l do not
think this fact creditable to as as .
nation. and l earnestly hope that i'm.
mediate provision will be made for
dredging San Juan harbor.
uOuOI WuCtuCI OuT DoODI0 ~
whole realize the beauty and fertility
OF Porto Rico. and the progress that
has been made under its admirable
government. We have Just cause for
pride in the character of our represen.
tatives who have administered the
tropic Islands which came under our
flag as a result Of the war with Spain;
and OF no one OF them Is this more
true than OF Porto Rico. 1t would be
impossible to wish a more faithful. a
more efficient and a more disinter.
ested public service than that now be.
Ing rendered In the island OF Porto
Rico by those In control of the insular
government.
stopped at a dozen towns all told,
and n OF the notable features In
every town was the gathering OF the
school children. The work that has
been done In Porto Rico for education
phasis. as IL eminently wise and prop
er, has been put upon primary educa.
ton; but In addition to this there Is q
normal school. and agricultural school,
three industrial and three high
schools. Every effort IL being made to
secure not only the benefits Of Gle.
mentary education to all the Porto
Ricans OF the next generation, but
also as far as means will permit to
train them so that the Industrial. agri
cultural and commercial opportunities
OF the Island a be utilized to the
best possible advantage. It was evil
dent at a glance that the teachers
both Americans and native Porte
Ricans. we're devoted to their work
took the greatest pride In 1t. and wer,
e~ndeavOring to train their pupils. NO
only In mind. but In what counts To-
far more than mind In citizenship. tina
Is. In character.
! was very much struck by the 81
cellent character both OF the insula
police and Of the Porto Rican reg
ment. They are both Of them bOdie
that reflect credit upon the American
administration Of the island. The IN
sular police are under the local Port
Rican government. The Porto RIGA,
regiment Of troops must be apprt
priated for by the congress. carr
estly hope that this body win be keI
permanent. There should certainly b
troops In the islanl. and II Is wis
that these troops should be theI1selve
native Porto Ricans. II would b
!, from every standpoint Q miStake nc
TO perpetuate this regiment.
. In ~traversing IRE island even tn
. most curs0ry survey leaves the b,
holder struck with the evident rapi
. growth In the culture both Of the 81
! gar cane and tobacco. The fruit Il
dustry II also growing. Last year va
. the most prosperous year that III
i. island has ever kro w before or sine
:. the American occupation. The tot,
). 1t exports and imports Of the islam
vas S+6. 1000. 900. Al against SIS. D on
1901. This II the isrses. In th
Stands history. Prior TO the Amer
can occupstiou the greatest trade e