New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-18
APPEAL TO THE y. S.
Salaries of Porto Rican Ofceh0lders
Held Back.

z~skine leaf out of the historical programme
- revolutionary legislatures, the Porto Rcan
Assembly recently refused to pass the island
hndget for the coming year, and a situation OF
such gravity at once arose that direct appeal
vae made TO the authorities at Washington.
Already the lack of funds has closed courts and
scbooIs and continuance Of the legislative
strike rnenaces the salaries of those who have
assumed the white mans burden" there. The
annuaI appropriation bin, amounting to about
81 600 coo is normally due to be operative on
June l. This year it looks as if the ghost VIII
not walk and that officeholders will find the
tropical climate too chilly for comfort There Is
hone that the Attorney General of the United
States who has been directed by President Ialt
to investigate the trouble. may find a way TO
tap the island treasury without hurting the
Porto Rico constitution. If Mr. Wickersham
fails 20 discover a remedy Congress may be
asked for special legislation appropriating funds
for the insular government to pay current eX-
penses.
The Porto Rican Assembly went on strike
against Governor Regis H. Post and the ExeCu-
tive Council. which the upper house or SEN
ate. because it wanted to increase The number
of municipal judges, take the power Of reFnov-
ing MAYORS from the Governor and institute
other alleged reforms. The Executive Council,
couposed Of five natives and six Americans, re-
iected the measures Of the Assembly. where
upon the latter padlocked the governmental
strong box and adjourned Governor Post called
two extraordinary sessions Of the Legislature
and still the Assembly would not loosen up.
Then Attorney General IToyt, Federal Judge
Rhody and a delegation from the Assembly
Sourncyed to Washington TO present the oppos-
ing sides Of the controversy to this government
After discussion OF the situation at Cabinet
meeting President Taft left it to Attorney Cen
eral Yickersham to study the Porto Iacan con-
rtitution and report on methods Of keeping the
native government in funds despite balky
Assembly.
But whatever the difficulties with the iegis-
lstura the Porto Rican school system estao-
usbei by Americans is a great success, accord
ing to Arthur G. Mayo who is Superintendent
of Schools in three districts OF the island, and
IN now visiting his old home in Springfield.
Nase Within ten years the school enrolment
has Increased from 1900 to $1,000. There are
still less than one-quarter of the children OF IN
structible age in the schools, but the number Is
RAPIDLY increasing. new system OF using the
buildings for two sets of pupils from early
morning until late in the afternoon has doubled
the capacity of the schools
I'VE expect great results from the University
of Porto Rico, which should in time become the
academic point of contact between the English
and Spanish speaking peoples Of the Western
Continent said Superintendent Mayo. "Of
course the plan of a great insular university is
an old one but never before the time so
opportune for its realization to-day. Only
two languages are spoken by any considerable
number Of people in the Western world, and
each needs the other.
CHI FREQ NirclI
iating libraries In every graded school on the