White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1931-04-30
Porto Rcan Field Laborer and His Humble Thatched Hut

the constabulary system under Amer.
lean supervision.
The police force, which under the
Spanish regime consisted Of less than
300 officers and men, when the island
was formally taken over by the United
States, was replaced by military pc.
lice under the command of General
John r. Brooke. I'm
In 1899 the present insular police
of Porto Rico was organized with a
force of six officers and 100 guards
men. This was almost Immediately in.
creased to 16 officers and 1856 guards
men, with an officer Of the United
States army as inspector. Their work
was confined to rural districts and
towns of less than 5000 Inhabitants,
with the municipal police guarding the
larger cities.
Efficient Police.
In 1902 law was enacted which in
trusted the protection Of the entire
island to this organization. Seven
police districts were established, each
commanded by captain, lieutenant,
and as many warrant officers as the
chief might find necessary. The head
quarters of the chief are at San Juan.
1t Is said that no state In the Union
has force that does the entire po-
licing of the commonwealth-cit
and rural districts alike-and Porto
Rico has for the protection Of her
population Of 1,544,000 less than 800
policemen, distributed over rs dis
tricts.
The insular police roughly divide
the masses in Porto Rico into four
categories for identidcation-the ur-
ban jewellers who wear shoes, and
three other groups that proclaim the
regions from which they come by the
shape of their bare feet.
The jibaro with broad, fiat foot
can usually be designated as worker
in the cane lands along the coast.
A native with short, stubby feet usual
ly comes from the tobacco districts,
where he uses them to plant his crop.
A man with overdeveloped great
toes (helpful in climbing) probably
comes from the hill country and the
mountains, where the coffee planta-
lions abound.
The professional mendicants Of the
island are persistent band. With any
sort of shack suff1cing for shelter,
with native fruits and vegetables
available for food, with a very toll
Grant law and no suffering from the
rigors of climate, the beggar has lit
tie to worry about.
Saturday is beggars' day, and stores,
offices, and individuals lay in supplies
of pennies. In the larger establish
ments clerk is stationed near the
door, and as the mendicants slip in
he nonchalantly pushes several PEN
MES to each. The coins are usually
accepted without thanks and as a JUST
due.
Liberal With Beggars.
Statesmen going their rounds usually
carry a pocketful Of pennies, as they
make better impression on customers
if they are liberal with beggars.
AS in most tropical countries, the
hyperbole is a tremendously over
worked figure Of speech. Admire a
natives horse, his saddle, his gun,
his dog, his house, and he'll tell you
in the most convincing tones that 1t
is yours. But it is yours only after
a manner of speaking.
Ask him why his people talk in
such prodigal fashion and he will re-
ply, at is the CUSTOM" and custom is
law to them.
Betting on horse races is almost q
passion. Every bettor contributes to a
pool and the person who picks the
winner takes the money. In this way
q dollar stands a chance of winning
thousand or more.
The average market place on Sun.
day is riot of color and beehive
of animation. Afoot and on donkey.
! back, the peasant folk throng the
roads. bringing flowers, vegetables and
fruits on their heads and in panniers
slung on burros or hauled in oxcarts
The rural and village people have
very simple amusements. The bap.
tism of an infant is the occasion OF
feast or dance. From Christmas
to Three Kings Day, January 8, q
succession Of fiestas takes place. A
mig roast, resembling the familiar bar.
becue of our southern states, Is one
of the eliminating events of the ma.
| tive calendar.
On the eve of Three Kings day, com.
memorating the bringing Of gifts ia
the new born babe Of Bethlehem, the
children put bundles of grass unde,
their beds or outside the house, sc
| that the camels of the kings will stoI