REPORT OF BRIG. GEN. GEO. W. DAVIS, U. S. V., ON CIVIL AFFAIRS OF PUERTO RICO. 18 9 9. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 1900. A REPORT OF BRIG. GEN. GEO. W. DAVIS, U. S. V., ox CIVIL AFFAIRS OF PUERTO RICO. 18 9 9. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. 19 0.. ^r 52700 P (qU \J e v 7 o V/ STENTS. /^^ Page. 1. Introduction • 5 2. The former regime 7 3. The provincial deputation 11 4. The present regime 12 5. Policy of the military governor 14 6. The population 15 7. Public order ; crimes and prisons 18 8. The clergy 22 9. Education 23 i 0. The judiciary 26 II. The currency 29 ^2. Trade statistics 33 Sj. Agriculture and its development 35 A. Sugar 36 15 Coffee 38 Pobacco 40 i . Public property 41 j8. Franchises and privileges 42 19. Public works 43 20. Mail service 46 21. The quarantine 47 22. The treasury '. 47 23. Audit of accounts 47 24. The budget 49 25. Mortgages 57 26. Politics 58 27. Municipalities 60 28. Financial statistics 66 29. The hurricane of August 8 67 30. Future civil government 69 S LETTER OF SUBMITTAL. Headquarters Department of Puerto Eico, Civil Division, San Juan, October 13, 1899. Sir: 1 have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of a letter from the Department dated August 3, 1899, directing me to submit an annual report on the civil government of Puerto Pico that has been administered by the commanding general of the troops in this island since the transfer of sovereignty of the same to the United States. The work has just been completed and has proven to be one of very great magnitude, I greatly regret that I could not sooner complete it, but the importance of this subject was so momentous that I felt I wuld be justified in exceeding somewhat the time limit fixed in letter of instructions above referred to. I hope that the presentation which I now have the honor to submit may be found of some value. I am sensible that there are many other subjects that deserve consideration, and phases of considered subjects that might well be further elaborated, but I do not feel warranted in appropriating more time for such broader treatment. In this report I have referred to apposite historical incidents and precedents, but these references are necessarily brief, and perhaps inaccuracies of citation of dates have crept in, for the books of reference at my command are very few. I wish to bear testimony to the universal kindness and deference that has been extended to me by the native Puerto Eicans. Nothing could be more cordial than their reception of the military representative of the Executive branch of the United States Government. I have found it to be necessary, as I believed, in the discussion of civil affairs, past and present, to advert in strong terms to the general unfitness of the great mass of the people for self-government, and unfortunately the number of the intelligent, learned, and responsible natives bears a very small ratio to the illiterate and irresponsible. If the percentage of those who are not able to read and write was as small as that of those who can, I would have the greatest pleasure in recommending the imme- diate endowment of the island with full autonomy. Under such con- ditions I would gladly deliver over the reins of territorial government to men who would be the choice of such a clientele. The report has been arranged into convenient titles or captions. In the appendix will be found a very large mass of data not heretofore published or compiled. The report is submitted as containing the results of my best efforts applied in a limited time to a most important subject. Very respectfully, Geo. W. Davis, Brigadier- General, U. S. Y., Commanding. The Adjutant-General, U. S. A., Washington, D. C. 5 REPORT ON THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT OF PUERTO RICO Headquarters Department of Puerto Eico, Civil Division, San Juan, September 30, 1899. Sir: With respect to the military government of this island and its political, social, and industrial conditions I have not heretofore sub- mitted any formal communication. The reason is that my opportunities for observation and study have been limited to the period of my duty here, which commenced on May 8 last. The problems of government presented have been numerous and greatly varied in aspect and in import. There was scarcely any feature of the existing method of administration under the local laws that was familiar to our countrymen. Judicial procedure was strange, and the temperament, mode of life, and manners of the inhabitants differed greatly from those with which Americans are conversant^ A profound study of the people, their habits, customs, and aspira- tions, is essential to a bare conception of the task with which I was confronted, and a mastery of the problems presented can not be expected in any brief period. At the time of my arrival not a page of the voluminous laws of the island, all of Spanish origin, had been translated into English. Those laws, upon which the whole fabric of society was based, were as a sealed book and had been so to my predecessors. Fortunately I had been able to learn something of Spanish institutions through study and by observation during a brief tour of duty in Cuba. That opportunity was used for observation of the Cuban system of administration and jurisprudence, which was similar to that prevailing in Puerto Rico. It is not, therefore, without misgivings that these general remarks respecting the civil affairs of Puerto Eico are now submitted for the consideration of the Department. THE FORMER REGIME. The regime prevailing in Puerto Eico previous to the adoption of the autonomic system was a constant source of discontent to the natives of the country and a permanent cause of social and economic unrest. All the governmental and administrative machinery being placed in the hands of one man, the cooperation of valuable and responsible native elements was systematically rejected, individual initiative of every sort was rendered ineffectual, empiricism was transformed into a sys- tem of government, and routine formed the basis of public adminis- tration. The natural consequence of such a regime was the stagnation of the country, and this was the actual result. 7 8 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W DAVIS. There were other respects wherein the system was extremely preju- dicial to public interests. It fostered the creation of a political party composed of Spanish residents of the islands, into whose hands was completely surrendered the interior administration in return for the service of helping at all times to elect for representatives of Puerto Eico in the Spanish Cortes deputies and senators identified with the poli- tics of the home cabinet. This policy of do ut des converted the island into a fief of a group of foreigners and their native allies; and, as was to be expected, the most absolute administrative corruption resulted therefrom, especially in the matter of tax assessments, the natural sequel being standing grievances and continual uneasiness. Such a condition of affairs was the cause of complaints and repre- sentations for a period of thirty years, when at last the Spanish Gov- ernment, urged by diplomatic action in connection with the war in Cuba, established in both islands the autonomic regime, which is the origin of the late system of secretaries in existence when the United States came into sovereign power. The functions of sovereignty (which might be called the federal functions) were, by virtue of this system, severed from the functions relating to the local government. The former remained with the Governor-General as the representative of the home government, while the latter were transferred to the insular cabinet, consisting of the council of secretaries. In everything that exclusively concerned the island these secretaries assumed the powers that under the old system appertained to the Governor-General. Wider latitude and power were given them in financial matters than are accorded the States and Territories of the Union ; for the treasury of Puerto Kico was separated from that of the nation, and the customs, revenues, and imposts of the island were all X>aid into the insular exchequer. From these revenues were drawn large sums to pay a part of the expenses of maintaining the ministry of the colonies, and another very large sum was assigned to support the military and naval establishments in Puerto Eico. Up to the end of the year 1896 the Spanish administration in Puerto Eico was organized in the following manner: First. A Governor-General, who was chief of the civil administra- tion and commander-in-chief of the army and navy. As executive dependencies he had: A secretary, for the dispatch of administrative business; a department of the treasury (intendencia) for economic and financial business; a bureau of public works for roads, bridges, build- ings, etc. ; a chief of staff for army affairs, and a naval commander for naval affairs. Legislation for Puerto Eico emanated from the colonial ministry at Madrid, and was published by the Governor-General in the Gazette here, and by him enforced. Second. For the purpose of administration the island was called a province, and possessed: A provincial board of deputies (diputacion provincial), composed of members elected by suffrage; A towu council in each town, whose members were also elected by suffrage, the suffrage being enjoyed by residents of 25 years of age who possessed a professional diploma or who paid taxes of not less than 5 pesos. The town council had the same powers that they have today. The Government named the alcaldes and could select any one for office. To day these appointments are made by the civil secretary, upon the approval of the Governor-General. When practicable the town council REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 9 is permitted to hold an election and nominate one of its members to the civil secretary for appointment. In the beginning of 1897 Canovas del Castillo's so-called reforms were instituted. These gave larger powers to the diputacion provin- cial and to the town councils. But the reforms were of but short duration, for in November of the same year the decree establishing autonomy in Cuba and Puerto Rico was published. This form of government was put into practice on February 11, 1898, and lasted, with a few variations, until this island was annexed to the United States. The autonomous regime included the following: 1. A Governor-General, named by the Queen of Spain, who was commander-in-chief of the army and the navy. In civil and political matters he could not intervene unless authorized by the cabinet, formed of the secretaries of the insular government. 2. An insular cabinet, composed of a president, a secretary of gov- ernment and justice, a secretary of the treasury, a secretary of educa- tion, a secretary of public works, and a secretary of agriculture. 3. An assembly or parliamentary legislative body to vote the budgets and legislate in local matters, but without powers of legislation in political, civil, or judicial matters; all of which had to follow the laws in force in Spain and were voted upon by the National Parliament. 4. The city councils were to be declared autonomous and universal suffrage for all males of more than twenty-five years to be established. When the Spanish Government granted this plan of autonomy there were said to be four political parties in the island, viz, the Spanish pa ty, which up till then had held the reins of government; the Oppor- tunists, or those of the Spanish party who accepted autonomy; the Pure Autonomists, a local party which had opposed the Spanish Gov- ernment and had incessantly clamored for colonial autonomy; and the Liberal party, an offshoot of the Autonomist party. There were other designations and other groups or factions known by various names, such as the Orthodox Autonomists, Conservatives, and Radicals. It is said that the Spanish Government wished that these parties should have part in the autonomous government. Therefore, on the 11th of February, 1897, the insular government came into existence, with the following functionaries: President, Francisco M. Quinones; secretary of treasury, Manuel Fernandez Juncos; secretary of education, Manuel F. Rossy, Autono- mists; secretary of government, Luis Muhoz Rivera; secretary of public works, Juan Hernandez Lopez; secretary of agriculture, Jose M. Quinones, Sagasta Liberals. Immediately thereafter elections were held for representatives to the national and insular parliaments. It is asserted that the secretary of government had provisionally nominated his political allies to the posi- tions of alcaldes and town councilors, completely excluding the Autono- mists, and that he used his influence with the alcaldes of his nomina- tion to oblige them to see that national representatives in sympathy with Sagasta were returned for the Spanish Parliament and his own political friends for the insular parliament, leaving the Autonomists minority representation. The war between Spain and the United States having just been declared, the Autonomists, as a protest against the scandalous elections which were asserted to have been conducted by the secretary of government in combination with the alcaldes, resigned their places in the government and decided not to attend the insular parliament. 10 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. The three Autonomist secretaries retired from the cabinet on the 20th of July, five days before the Americans disembarked at Guanica. The insular parliament was then conveued, attended only by the Liberals. The members of the other three parties — the Autonomists, Opportunists, and Spanish — all retired, it is said, in protest of the elec- tions just held. During the few days that its sessions lasted this body resolved to modify the cabinet so as to make it as follows: Secretary of govern- ment and president of the cabinet, secretary of the treasury, secretary of education, and secretary of the interior. As all of the Autonomist secretaries had retired, the new cabinet was composed as follows: Secretary of government and president of the council of secretaries, Luis Mufioz Rivera; secretary of the treas- ury, Julian E. Blanco; secretary of justice, Juan Hernandez Lopez; secretary of the interior, Salvador Carbonel. These were in office on October 18, 1898". On February 6, 1899, General Henry discontinued the council of sec- retaries and created instead four secretaryships, viz : Secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, secretary of justice, and secretary of the interior. These officers, who were independent of each other, possessed ampler powers than the former secretaries, all of whom had been under the president of the cabinet. Three of the new secretaries were Lib- erals; the fourth, the secretary of the interior, was an Autonomist. The Autonomist party thereupon dissolved and a Republican party was formed, made up of adherents of the old Autonomists and Opportun- ists, a few Liberals, and some who had formerly belonged to no party, while the Liberal party, with a somewhat changed membership, is still in existence. In order to permit American customs and policy to take root in this island and to prepare it for tranformation into an organized Territory, it is desirable to set aside personal jjolitics, which is one of the inherited vices here. The public mind must also be disabused of the idea, still dominant, that the whole art of politics consists in securing power in order to give offices to one's friends. It has been too much the rule here for officeholders to neglect public interests and to blindly obey those who, having put them in office, can also remove them. Their endeavors are directed chiefly to obtaining high salaries, and they give little return therefor. Besides, it is necessary to instill vigor into municipal life by granting full local autonomy. This will accustom the people to act for themselves and not look to the Government for every- thing, as has been the case until now. It is especially necessary to wipe out all those inherited vices and to prepare the country for a real democratic regime, to suppress all abuses, and to install new methods of administration and government, so as to allow the people to take part in the control of their local affairs without the predominant influence of persons having only political ambitions to serve. This, it seems to me, must be done under superior supervision ; for to hastily abandon the island to local control unrestrained by superior power would, or might, result in the greatest disaster. In all my intercourse with the inhabitants I have endeavored, on every appropriate occasion, to impress upon them the fact that the time when territorial autonomy could be instituted and the civil power take its proper place as the superior of the military, depended solely upon the people themselves; that the people should demonstrate their capacity for the most important and sacred of all duties of citizenship by furnish- REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 11 ing examples of towns well governed, public moneys properly expended, and full protection in the enjoyment of natural and lawfully acquired rights extended alike — to the rich and the poor, the learned and the ignorant, the strong and the weak. They are assured that not until the people of the United States could see that this had been done would they probably feel that there should be supplied for Puerto Eico a Ter- ritorial government, which in due time could be raised to the highest dignity of membership as a State in the American commonwealth ; that until the achievement of that result, Puerto Eicans should not expect to be vested with those higher responsibilities and privileges. THE PROVINCIAL DEPUTATION. On November 29, 1898, General Brooke ordered the discontinuance of an insular legislative and administrative body known by the above designation. It consisted of 32 members, chosen by the people and charged with several important functions of government. It is my understanding that it was intended by Spain that these functions were to be trans- ferred to the legislative assembly of the autonomical government, cre- ated by royal decree of November 25, 1897. As stated under the caption of "The former regime," the -skeleton of this government was set up in March, 1898, but it never really assumed power. The provincial deputation as a governing body was supported by revenues derived from lotteries, contributions from municipalities, the trade school, etc. For the year 1898-99 this revenue was estimated to amount to 324,592 pesos. It was charged with various branches of expenditure, such as administration of its own affairs, lotteries, public instruction, public works, subventions to railroads; orphan, insane, and other asylums; the reformatory and other correctional institutions, Col- lege of the Esculapian Fathers for Boys, Convent of the Sacred Heart lor Girls, schools of art and music, vaccination, and pensions. The total of all estimated expenses equaled the income. This deputation had various assets and liabilities, ail of which were, under General Brooke's order, required to be liquidated by the secretary of the treasury, Mr. Cayetano Coll y Toste, who is at present the civil secretary. Under date of July 31 the liquidator submitted a statement of the progress made in discharging his duties. On that date he had collected on account of the deputation $107,213.74 in provincial money and negotiable paper. He had paid out on same account 81,140.25 pesos, leaving a balance in his hands of 26,073.49 pesos, which consisted prin- cipally of negotiable paper. He also reported, under date of August 3, that the outstanding obli- gations known to him amounted to nearly 130,000 pesos. He submitted a schedule of assets, consisting principally of real prop- erty, which appeared on the books of the deputation as of value 1,246,878 pesos, but there is no likelihood that the property would realize upon sale a sum nearly so large. The principal items of this property are certain public buildings with a claimed value of 1,145,000 pesos. These in any event should be applied by the insular government to the same or similar uses as those to which they are now put. In order that a fair valuation of this property should be made a board was recently appointed, consisting of one army officer, who is an 12 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. expert in building construction, and three local architects, one an American, with orders to appraise this property. The valuation of the board, expressed in gold, is as follows: The Assembly Chambers ( Deputation Building) $72, 958. 70 The Beneficencia 178,905.79 The Insane asylum 63, 690. 65 The Santnrce College for Boys 90, 715. 33 The Chapel attached to same 12, 810. 75 The Sacred Heart Couyeut, Santurce School for Girls 69, 158. 61 488, 239. 83 The deputation has some other assets, consisting of claims against unpaid taxes, etc., which, according to the statement of the liquidator, amount to ' 59,960.93 Making a total of assets of 548, 200. 76 Against -which is an estimated indebtedness of 78, 000. 00 Leaving a net balance of 470, 200. 76 There is one claim of considerable magnitude against the deputation brought by the Josephite Brethren, known here by the designation of the Padres Escolapios, a teaching order of the Catholic Church. They occupy one of the aforesaid buildings under a contract made several years since with the deputation, under which they are to receive upward of $1,000 per month for services rendered in conducting an educational institution. This claim and the accompanying papers were forwarded to the Secretary of War for consideration on the 10th of July, 1890. It is very important that the question should be speedily settled as to the responsibility of the insular government for the sup- port of this religious order. Another building is used as a school for the education of girls under the supervision of the Mothers of the Sacred Heart. This society also received a subvention, but the order has no claim for a continuance of the subsidy. The building, is valued at $69,158.61 and belongs to Puerto Rico. The final disposition of this property has not been determined; but when all the data respecting value is at hand the subject will be referred to the judicial board for an opinion and with request for advice as to the rights and powers of the insular government as respects the several equities of the municipalities on the one hand and the insular treasury on the other. It is said that two of the buildings were erected with the funds con- tributed by municipalities under Spanish regime, and that these town governments have certain rightful claims to participation in the pro- ceeds of sale, or to reimbursement by the insular government should the latter take possession of the buildings. On the other hand, the insular treasury is now supporting the institutions and works which were formerly a charge against the deputation. THE PRESENT REGIME. The military government here was administered by Maj. Gen. John E. Brooke, U. S. A., from October 18, 189S, until his departure near the close of the year, and by Maj. Gen. Gny V. Henry, U. S. V., from December 6, ±S9S, to the 8th of May, 1899. On the date last named I assumed the command. For a fairly full exposition of the more important orders issued by the several general officers who have exercised military control in Puerto Bico, you are referred to the paper herewith, an allocution that was REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 13 recently published here. Its purpose is stated iu the first paragraph, aud its issuance has had, and will have, a good effect as supplying an exposition of the aims and policy of the temporary military government. Inclosed are copies of all important orders issued by the military gov- ernor, which give further information. In office were four so-called "cabinet officers," each receiving a salary of $6,000 iu gold per annum. One of these was the secretary of justice, whose authority over the judges, courts, and procedure was very great; and, as it resulted in a certain degree of dependence of the courts upon the secretary, his influence was too much extended, and not only detri- mental to good administration, but also opposed to those ideas of gov- ernment that would of necessity prevail should territorial autonomy be accorded to the island. The local system was an inherited one, no other being known. It gave to tire secretary of justice, or permitted him to exercise, a certain influence over the courts and justices, and even over the prisoners in jail, whose pardon or mitigation of punishment was practically regulated by him. It was expected that this officer would oppose any curtailment of his prerogatives, and it so resulted. However, after a month of discussion, illustration, and comparison, the secretary of justice recommended the discontinuance of his own office and the organization of a board that should advise the military governor respecting all judicial matters. This board is composed of three prominent Puerto Eican lawyers and two Americans, one of the latter being an army officer. After considerable delay and opposition a recommendation was pro- cured from the supreme court for the appointment of a board of par- dons and prison control, composed of three Puerto Eican s and two army officers. They have administered this branch of the service success- fully for several months. Mixed boards of similar composition have been appointed in charge of education, public works, charities, and health, and all the secretaries have been discontinued. The former department of state, with a secretary at its head, has been constituted a bureau, with a chief at a salary of two-fifths that previously allowed to the secretary. The department of the treasury has been reorganized as a bureau of internal revenue, with same reduc- tion of salary for its head officer, and a bureau of agriculture, formerly under the secretary of the interior, has been reorganized, its chief hav- ing the same salary as the other heads of bureaus. The remaining duties formerly committed to the interior department have been assigned to the boards of public works and education, and the department of the interior has been discontinued. This reorganization, except in some details, was also recommended by boards of eminent residents of the island, all natives. The three bureaus — state affairs, internal revenue, and agriculture — are all under the official supervision of the civil secretary, who reports directly to the military governor. In appointing members of administrative boards representatives from the two political parties have been selected, so as to balance partisan ambitions and rivalries. The army and other American members, in their intimate association with the natives, learn much of the latter and their institutions, while the Puerto Eicans learn of the new system — all of which is mutually advantageous and educational. The only alternative to this method of administration was to make the changes by military decree. This course was not thought to be wise, and the measures would have had opposition instead of support. 14 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. While the so-called cabinet is discontinued, there is in its stead a non- salaried board of Puerto Ricans to whom are referred questions of public policy for opinion and recommendation, but they have no initiative or control. The Advisory Board has been very helpful by its advice on many important questions of administration, especially as respects relief measures necessary after the hurricane of August 8. But the board has not moved smoothly, as already reported to the Department under date of September 20, 1899. So long as no question of patronage was before them, their deliberations were harmonious; but when the board was asked to suggest the names of census super- visors, the three members of one political party retired and gave notice of renunciation of their functions. Later the subject was withdrawn from their consideration, and supervisors were chosen unaided by their counsel. Then the board resumed its functions. The incident was dis- couraging, as showing that it was impossible for nine distinguished natives of Puerto Bico to separate themselves from political considera- tions in taking action upon a small matter, when that matter involved a disposal of patronage. It also gave grounds for fear that a larger body — one possessed of legislative functions — would not be uncon- strained by party considerations in carrying on the work that would necessarily occupy the attention of such a body were the island endowed with territorial autonomy. In only three individual cases do Puerto Rican members of boards receive salaries. Two members of the prison board are members of the supreme court, and are paid as such ; one member of the board of public works, who is a civil engineer, is also the head of the agricultural bureau, in which position he receives a salary. The present organization of the personnel of the military government of the island is shown by the directory herewith enclosed. In the circular to the people of Puerto Rico, dated August 15, the motives actuating the military governor were stated. The process by which the civil government, pure and simple, could and probably would replace the military regime was also explained. POLICY OP THE MILITARY GOVERNOR. As might be expected, the Puerto Ricans hold very tenaciously to their local manners, customs, and laws, with which they are familiar. To carry out a reform or to institute an innovation is attended with many difficulties ; not so much because the public are wedded to all the old customs, for some of these they readity concede to be vicious, but because they can not understand the measures proposed as substitutes. They prefer to retain the old institutions and laws, even though defective, rather than to adopt new and unfamiliar codes, procedure, and admin- istration. It has not been easy to overcome this very natural human prejudice. Prom the first the course has been adopted which involved the argumen- twrn ad hominem, instead of the severe dictum of the military mandate. Almost every proposition to change or repeal a Spanish statute that was obnoxious to our laws and repugnant to good administration was at first opposed or resisted ; but this opposition was met by the citation of palpable defects and suggestions of a remedy. The Puerto Ricans would usually make some concessions, but hold to the general objection. A counter draft would then be offered, and this would receive attention and discussion. Other concessions would follow; and so far these REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAYIS. 15 methods have never failed to secure the favorable recommendation of the most interested, best informed, and prominent Puerto Ricaus, for the adoption of the changes proposed. These methods have character- ized the administration. The only written instructions received for guidance of the military- governor are contained in General Orders, ISTo. 101, of 1S98, which, mutatis mutandis, was promulgated in this island by General Miles on July 28, 1898. The general provisions of this order were reiterated to the undersigned verbally by the President upon the eve of the latter's departure from New York to assume his present duties. The President also intimated his hope that it would soon be practicable to establish in Puerto Rico a civil government, so that the military could be relieved or withdrawn from the direction of civil affairs. The authority of the military governor of the island for issuance of orders changing existing laws and instituting reforms is contained in General Orders, ISTo. 101, above cited. When convinced that a change ought to be made — and no changes have been made until each project was most thoroughly considered from every point of view — effect was given to the resolution in a general order from headquarters. A proposition to establish a United States provisional court was authorized by the President before issuance of orders promulgating it. In the appendix will be found a copy of every order of importance that has been issued by the military governor respecting civil affairs. A few orders of minor importance were published only in the Official Gazette of the island. On September 9 cable instructions were received from the Secretary of War directing that a draft of all orders, etc., proposed for issuance be submitted for his approval in cases where the same would result in a form of government, or have a tendency thereto. THE POPULATION. Inclosed herewith are certain papers relating to population, which were prepared by the able civil secretary, Mr. Goll y Toste. Among these documents is a statement of the population from the time of dis- covery to date. The movement of population, it would appear, has been something like the following : In 1765 the population was stated by the governor to have been 44,833. During the succeeding eighteen years the number had increased to 87,984, or an increase of nearly 100 per cent. In 1803 the inhabi- tants were reported as numbering 174,902, i. e., in nineteen years they had again doubled. By 1834, the total had reached over 358,000, which is somewhat more than double the population of 1803. By the year 1877 it was again more than doubled. These last two periods of more than 100 per cent increase were thirty-one and thirty- three years, respectively. The figures also show that from 1765 to 1846 — that is, eighty-one years — the population had been multiplied very nearly ten times, and in the fifty-three following years it was again more than doubled. To what extent immigration aided this increase it is impossible to ascertain, for there is no available or accessible data on the subject. That large numbers arrived from foreign lands is known. Including natives of the Peninsula, of the Canary and Balearic Islands, of England and her dependencies, and the French, Corsicans, Danes, and Venezuelans resi- 16 KEPUKT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. dent here, there must be now on the island well on to a hundred and fifty thousand foreigners; but if immigration should be stopped abso- lutely — which is not possible — the natural increase, at a rate approximat- ing that shown by reports, would, in the absence of a plague or famine, doable the population every thirty or forty years. In the British West Indian Colouies there are now about 1,500,000 negroes, and in the French, Dutch, and Danish islands 300,000 more. In Cuba and Santo Domingo there are another million. A large pro- portion of these blacks are ready to immigrate to Puerto Eico whenever a wage rate is paid exceeding that — say Is. per day or less — which they can secure in their own islands. In Puerto Rico but few women work in the fields, but in other islands they are employed as field hands, receiving about 16 to 20 cents per day as wages. The last census, that of 1897, showed that the pure- blood negroes here numbered but 75,821 out of a total of 800,301, while of the same total there weie 242,000 mulattoes. Combining the full and mixed bloods, and designating them as colored (the term by which they are- known in the States), it would appear that the pure white are in a con- siderable majority; and comparing both totals with the statistics of the year 1887 it would seem that in that decennial period the numbers of those denominated above as colored are not increasing in numbers, but instead have actually decreased. The numbers of pure-blood negroes and mulattoes above mentioned comprise the survivors and descendants of those who in 1873 were slaves. The number of slaves set free in the year just given was about 31,000, and the cost to the island for their manumission is stated at 10,996,219 pesos, all of which has been paid save 21,801 pesos. A census of Puerto Eico was taken in 1897, but the results were never published or even tabulated in full. Some of the returns have been available, while a portion have but just been discovered, and a small part are still missing, in the appendix will be found such data as are deemed of importance that could be extracted from these papers. They had never been collated before. The enumeration of 1887 gave the total number of inhabitants as 800,700, of which number there could read and write, males, 57,216, and females, 39,681; making a total of 96,867, or 12 per cent. Those able to read only were reported as 14,5 13. It is claimed that the number that can read and write at this time has a considerably larger ratio to the whole population than in 1887. The statistics for 1887 report the number of legitimate births as 14,847, and illegitimate as 10,947, giving a total of 25,794, or 32 per 1,000, the percentage of legitimate births being much larger than in many of the islands owned by Great Britain. The mortality in Porto Eico was reported at the rate of 26.8 per 1,000, which compares favorably with other countries, and is lower than in Madrid, St. Petersburg, Rome, Berlin, and Vienna. The compendium of the Eleventh United States Census shows, from registration returns unward of 21,000,000 population, a death rate of 20.27 per 1,000. In 1888 those receiving instruction in schools were reported as num- bering 26,103, while those of age suitable for instruction must have been at least eight or ten times greater. Further data respecting education will be found elsewhere. On March 27, 1898, an election was held in Puerto Eico for delegates to the insular house of representatives. At this election suffrage was REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 17 accorded to all males over 25 years old who did not belong to the army or navy or had not been convicted of crime. One hundred and eight thousand one hundred and ninety-two ballots appear to have been cast. Early in the present year the commanding general of the department called for reports from alcaldes that would show the number in the respective jurisdictions who were eligible to be chosen as members of the town council. Only taxpayers were eligible under the then existing law, whose names were included in the upper two-thirds of those classed as such. The number of eligibles reported was 12,231. Three small municipalities were not reported. A calculation was made by a local authority to show the number of electors, on the supposition that the franchise should be exercised only by male natives over 21 years of age who could read and write or were taxpayers of record. The numbers of these two classes are given as: Those who could read and write 28, 073 Those who were taxpayers 26, 285 Total 54,358 On the 25th day of July, 1899, an election was held in Adjuntas for municipal officers, and the registration was made in conformity to General Orders, No. 112, c. s., Headquarters Department of Puerto Eico. The order imposed the following qualifications for electors: Men over 21 years old, able to read and write, or who were taxijayers of record, who had been actual residents of the island for at least two years, and of the municipality for six months preceding the date of the election. The number who proved these qualifications before the board of regis- tration was 906, out of a population, according to the census of 1897, of 18,505; that is, less than 5 per cent could vote under the conditions stated. There was much public interest in this election, and it is believed that about all who were eligible were registered. This incident indi- cated that in the whole island there may be approximately 45,000 who could vote under the conditions of the order above referred to. The class who can not fulfill these conditions, say 75 per cent of the males over 21 years of age, are usually in a state of abject poverty and ignorance, and are assumed to include one-fifth of the inhabitants. They are of the class usually called peones. This word in Spanish America, under old laws, defined a person who owed service to his creditor until the debt was paid. While those laws are obsolete, the condition of these poor people remains much as before. So great is their poverty that they are always in debt to the proprietors or mer- chants. They live in huts made of sticks and poles covered with thatches of palm leaves. A family of a dozen may be huddled together in one room, often with only a dirt floor. They have little food worthy of the name and only the most scanty clothing, while children of less than 7 or 8 years of age are often entirely naked. A few may own a machete or a hoe, but more have no worldly possessions whatever. Their food is fruit, and if they are wage-earners, a little rice and codfish in addition. They are without ambition and see no incentive to labor beyond the least that will provide the barest sustenance. All over the island they can be seen to-day sitting beside their ruined huts, thinking naught of to-morrow, making no effort to repair and restore their cabins nor to replant for future food. 12558 2 18 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. The remarks of Mr. Jaines Anthony Froude in his work on The English in the West Indies apply with fall force to these people: Morals in the technical sense they have none, but they can not be said to sin because they have no knowledge of law, and therefore they can commit no breach of the law. They are naked and not ashamed. They are married but not parsoned. The women prefer the looser tie that they may be able to lose the man if he treats her unkindly, yet they are not licentious. * * * The system is strange, but it answers. * * There is evil, but there is not the demoralizing effect of evil. They sin, but they sin only as animals, without shame, because there is no sense of doing wrong. They eat the forbidden fruit, but it brings with it no knowledge of the difference between good and evil. * * They are innocently happy in the unconsciousness of the obligations of morality. They eat, drink, sleep, and smoke, and do the least in the way of work they can. They have no ideas of duty, and therefore are not made uneasy by neglecting it. Between the negro and the peon there is no visible difference. It is hard to believe that the pale, sallow, and often emaciated beings are the descendants of the conquistadores who carried the flag of Spain to nearly all of South America, and to one- third of North America. One family of industrious people, such as are found all over the United States, contributes more to the general prosperity and wealth of the country than ten families of these peones. Among the merchant and proprietor classes there are many Span- iards and other foreigners, but nearly all such are actual residents of Puerto Rico. Among the cane growers are a few English, Americans, French, and Germans, but usually they are old residents. At this time there is but one sugar "central" being installed — this by American capital. All the tobacco growers and nearly all the cottee proprietors are natives or Spaniards. PUBLIC ORDER — CRIMES AND PRISONS. The distribution of troops has been such as to have available at all the centers of population ample force to repress all attempts, should any be made, to disturb the peace. At present the forces are located as follows: At Sun Juan. — One troop of cavalry, 6 companies of infantry, 2 batteries of artillery, 2 companies Puerto Rico Battalion. At Mayaguez. — Three troops of cavalry, 1 company Puerto Rico Battalion, 1 com- pany of infantry. At Ponce. — One troop of cavalry, 3 companies of infantry, 1 company Puerto Rico Battalion. At Hnmacao. — One troop of cavalry. At Lares. — One company of infantry. At San German (subpost of Mayaguez). — One troop of cavalry. At Ad juntas. — One troop of cavalry. At Aibonito. — One troop of cavalry. At Cayey. — One troop of cavalry. At Arecibo. — One troop of cavalry. DETACHMENTS. At Las Marias. — One officer, one-half company. At San Sebastian. — One officer, one-half company. At Maricao. — One noncommissioned officer and 10 men. At Yauco. — One officer and 25 men. At Vieques. — One officer and 22 men. At Guayama. — Two noncommissioned officers and 12 men. At Caguas. — Detachment of Puerto Rico Battalion. At Vtuado. — Two noncommissioned officers and 8 men. The regular force, as will be seen, consists of one regiment of cav- alry, one regiment of infantry, and two batteries of artillery. The battalion of native Puerto Ricaus are specially useful, as they are REPORT OP BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 19 acquainted with the country and the people, and speak the local lan- guage. They are principally employed as jail guards, and spare the necessity for the employment of hired guards, etc. The commanding officers of these guards are also the inspectors of the jails. There is also in the service a force of insular police of 400 men, all natives. They are distributed in small groups of from 5 to 10 men throughout the rural districts, and have been specially useful in arrest- ing criminals and in preserving the peace. While this organization bears a resemblance to the Guardia Civil of the Spaniards and has some analogous duties, it differs from the latter radically in that it is not made the instrument of oppression as the former is said to have been. The insular police are held to the strictest obligation to observe the laws and to molest no one save the criminals. All who are arrested by it are immediately delivered to the nearest local magistrate, by whom, in the formal manner, the cases are disposed of as required by the penal code, and the guilty punished. The cases of arrest are numerous. The offenses are usually personal assaults originating in the vendetta or they are predial larceny. Dur- ing the period from the landing of the American troops last July to the withdrawal of the Spanish forces in October there was, as might be expected, much disorder. The evil-disposed classes rose against the Spaniards, and murders, robberies, and arson were common. It is claimed by some that property to the value of many million dollars was burned, aud personal property and money in large amounts were seized aud carried away. This lawlessness was not stopped until the American troops had taken control and established garrisons in the most disturbed districts. The difficulties encountered by the United States Army in stopping these outrages were very great. All was strange to the officers and men — the country, the people, the laws, aud the language. Almost immediately after the signing of the peace protocol the with- drawal of the volunteers commenced, and, although considerable num- bers remained, there were cases where thoroughly efficient protection could not be extended owing to the difficulties above noted. The murderers or robbers would take refuge in the remote parts where there were no roads and but few trails. It was sometimes impossible for the troops to follow the marauders to their haunts and it was very difficult to apprehend the criminals. These conditions resulted in the creation of the insular police above referred to, which reports directly to the Governor-General. Their con- tinued maintenance for some time to come is indispensable. The annual cost of the force to the insular treasury is about $165,000, or a little more than $400 per man per annum, for services, material, and food. One-fourth of the whole number are mounted men. Spain maintained in Puerto Rico before the war a force of upward of 4,000 regular troops, about 1,600 more than the number now in the island, while the Spanish guardia civil had double the strength of the present insular police. The former government, it is said, was administered with great rigor and the civil guards were the agents for apprehending violators of the laws aud of royal decrees and orders. The accounts given of the barbarities practiced by these men tell of a condition that is scarcely conceivable. The island was peaceful, but it must have been such a peace as exists only where the inhabitants are subjected to a reign of terror. With the departure of the Spanish forces came a swing of the pendu- 20 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. lam to the opposite side. The pressure was released. The people, good and bad, had yet to learn and see that there could be no rule of order or well-being without subjection to the ordinary requirements of organized society. It was difficult for them to conceive of a reign of law without display or constant exercise of force. Obedience to law for the common benefit of all seemed to them incomprehensible, and the inculcation of this docfriue has been far from easy. But notwith- standing the unfavorable conditions much progress has been made, though the advance from day to day and from month to niomh has been scarcely perceptible. But comparing the past with the present it is not difficult to recognize the general advance and progress toward a greatly improved system of administration, a system that will insure peace and tranquillity and that will furnish a fair opportunity for the island to prove its capacity and to take its place as one of the well- governed communities of the world. The steps by which this result has been attained are stated in the circular of August 15 herewith and it is unnecessary to enumerate them a second time. In any country where more than one-half of the population is con- tinually on the verge of starvation or are pinched by hunger; where labor, when employed at all, is remunerated only to the extent of from twenty to thirty-five cents per day; where thousands upon thousands are unable to secure work at any rate ; where only 10 or 15 per cent of the inhabitants can read and write; where the ordinary standards of public morality are largely ignored ; where half the children are ille- gitimate; and, finally, where the functions of the government have been used to discourage, repress, or prevent initiative, and the people have no knowledge oi* any duty or obligation but to obey the orders of the governing classes — it would be strange if, under such condi- tions, murder was unknown, and pilfering, stealing, and plundering were uncommon. Let it be supposed that under conditions such as are recited a government of repression should be suddenly relaxed and for it another substituted, which these ignorant people have heard of as one under which freedom is the predominating characteristic; it would be still less strange if, when released from restraint, the ten- dency to lawlessness should greatly increase, and a reign of terror should take the place of a reign of oppression. Although General Brooke announced upon assuming command that the existing local laws would be enforced by hold-over officials, yet the latter were intimidated; and, knowing little or nothing of the laws and customs of the new sovereign, they were apathetic and largely helpless. They were overawed by the threats of the lawless, and the local police, if not in actual sympathy with the plunderers, were afraid to act. It was not until the United States troops had been generally distributed through these disturbed districts that the civil officers began to feel that they could have effective support. While the native Puerto Ricans welcomed the American troops, the resident Spaniards would naturally deplore their coming. The number of this latter class was large, and if to the natives of the Peninsula are added the emigrants from the Canary and Balearic Islands (whose sympathies are largely with the former Spanish administration and gov- ernment), the number of Spanish sympathizers would reach, perhaps, one-tenth of the total population of the island. There were also many other foreigners from the neighboring English, Frefich, and Dauish islands, and from Corsica, so that it is within the bounds of proba- bility to say that approximately one-eighth of the residents of Puerto REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 21 Rico were either of foreign nationality or not in sympathy with the nation which by conquest had acquired the sovereignty of Puerto Rico. If industrial conditions change, insuring better remuneration for labor, and if the. local administering of the laws shall be just and uni- form, the state of society and public order will, it is hoped, assume conditions that will compare favorably with other tropical islands in these waters. The official reports from the island of Barbados for the year 1898 show that the number of commitments in prisons and jails of that island aggregated 3,558, and the number committed by local magis- trates which resulted in conviction numbered 9.134, in a total popula- tion of 189,000; that is, a total of convictions of 12,07-}, which is at the rate of G.< per cent of the population. At the present time, while the condition of this island is peaceful, there are frequent cases ot robbery and personal assault, often result- ing in murder. That this crime should still be prevalent a;.d fir too common is not strange when we take note of the exceptional condi- tions that now exist, due to intensified destitution, the result of the destructions caused b} T the hurricane of August 8, referred to elsewhere in some detail. The statistics of crime in the island are not full or complete. So far as can be learned, an annual report on tins subject is not known here. Rules have been made that will secure from the alcaldes such rej orts in the future; but the frequent changes of local officials has made it impossible to collect data such as well-governed and well-administered communities render to the central government. Connected with each of the courts of first instance there was always a jail in which were, confined prisoners under sentence or awaiting trial. These institutions were supported from municipal expenditures. Each town in the district composing the jurisdiction of the court of first instance contributed to jail expenses in proportion to the population. But upon the arrival of the United States troops thesequotas of expenses were greatly in arrears, and as a result "the jail expenses remained unpaid for many months in nearly all towns. The condition of the jails, as regards discipline, administration, and sanitation was reported to be very bad indeed. If was evident that the municipalities in their enfeebled and often chaotic condition could not or would not bear the burden. As before remarked, the jails have been consolidated into five, and, with the penitentiary in this city, there are six places where malefactors may be confined. By order of a predecessor the whole expense of the jail support was assumed by the insular treasury.. The total expense of this service for the current fiscal year was estimated at $232,000, but as it has been found practicable in many cases to substitute soldiers of the Puerto Rico battalion for the civil guards and turnkeys the total will probably be brought down to about $173,000 tor the year. In no jail or prison had it been the practice to require any labor of the prisoners, either of those undergoing confinement or of those await- ing trial. A reform in this respect has been instituted. Shops are being installed in the penitentiary, where articles for use in the prisons, clothing for those confined, and goods for sale are being manufactured, thus making some approach toward self-support. Men under sentence are required to do work on the roads and to do police work in the towns and cities. The manufactured product of prison industry, consisting principally of clothing, is used for the insane and the orphans. 22 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. THE CLERGY. In the insular budget for several years past there has been carried an item of expenditure for the support of the Catholic clergy. The total for each of the fiscal years 1897-98, 1898-99 was stated at 1G>,(»10 pesos. Allowance for the priests continued at this rate until October 18, 1898, when the sovereignty of Puerto Rico was transferred to the United States. Since that date no further payments have been made, notwithstanding claims for a continuance by the local representative of the Catholic Church. These claims are understood to be based on the treaty of Paris, and particularly on the second paragraph of Article V r ILI of that instru- ment. In further support of the claim it is asserted that for and in con- sideration of the stated allowance referred to above the Church, in 1857, by agreement between the Pope and the King, relinquished in favor of Spain certain tithes or "first fruits of the earth," which by long established custom had previous to that date been enjoyed by the clergy. The claims preferred by the vicar capitular of Puerto Rico were, on June 29, 1 S99, forwarded for the action of the Secretary of War. Among these papers, will be found a full exposition of the claim, and also a copy of the concordat between the Pope and the King of Spain. It is very importaut to Puerto Rico that this question be speedily resolved. Almost all the inhabitants, both native and foreign, are Catholic, or nominally so. In every towu there are one or more churches, and in charge of each church there are one or more priests. The control actually exercised over the people by these ecciesiastica is only nominal. Beyond the fact that nearly all the people are bap- tized by the priests, that the last rites of the Church are celebrated at their funerals, and that such as are married at all are married by the priests, the visible evidences of the intiuences of the clergy are very few. Many thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, never enter a church save to attend a christening, a wedding, or a funeral. Until cocktighting was prohibited this barbarous sport was much better patronized than the Sunday services. Sunday schools for teaching the catechism are seldom held, or, if held, are not well attended. A request has been made by the vicar capitular to permit religious instruction of children in the village and rural schools during hours when the buildings are not occu- pied by the regular instructors, the teaching of the catechism to be given by the priests, and by representatives of other religions. There are a few Protestant churches in the island — perhaps half a dozen in all — the attendance being made up largely of newly arrived foreigners and Americans. While no formal claims have as yet been preferred by the representa- tive of the Catholic Church for restoration to the Church of certain pub- lic buildings and lands, it is understood that it is the intention of that representative to claim ownership to several valuable structures in San Juan and to ask for surrender to him of the property. The basis of these claims is understood to be that said edifices belonged originally to certain religious orders, but were taken possession of by Spain with- out good reason and held as public property, finally being transferred as such to the United States. Some of the most valuable lots in San Juan are understood to be included in this category. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 23 EDUCATION. Herewith is submitted the report of the board of education, in which the former and present conditions respecting public education are dis- cussed. From the census of 1887 it is learned that the number of Puerto Eicans who could read and write in that year were 96,867 (age limit not given), and in addition those who could read only (same limitation) were 14,513, out of a total of 806,708 of all ages. The proportion of inhabitants of the United States who are less than 10 years of age is very nearly 24.3 per cent of the whole. Assum- ing that this numerical relation of those less than 10 years of age is applicable to Puerto Rico, then there would be 610,678 in this island who are more than 10 years of age. The proportion of the inhabitants of the United States who are more than 10 years of age and who can not read and write is given by com- pendium, Eleventh Census, as 13.34 per cent. If the ratio of illiteracy in this island were the same as in the Union, then of the 610,678 stated above there would be 529,234 who could read and write. I assume that the 96,867 reported as so able are all over 10 years of age. The census records for Puerto Eico, year 1887, would indicate that of the class of persons, assumed to be 10 years old and upward, who have not the degree of education stated, there are here 514,811; or, in other words, of those who can not read and write there are : Per 100. In the United States 13.34 In Porto Rico 84.14 But, as before stated, the figures for this island are based on the cen- sus records of 1887, the accuracy of which can not be verified, and further it is assumed that all who were reported as able to read and write were more than 10 years of age. In some towns the percentage of the inhabitants having a knowledge of reading and writing is as low as 5, while in others it is as high as 18, and in one as high as 46. In each municipality, under the Spanish regime," was a board of edu- cation, and these boards are still in office. As municipal elections are held, new boards will be elected by the qualified electors. In more than one instance persons have been found serving as members of local boards of education who could not read or write. In a few towns there are some poor school buildings owned by the municipality, but there is not one that, as respects its construction and equipment, conforms to modern ideas of essentials. In the report of the insular board of education will be found much valuable data respecting a great variety of subjects cognate to educa- tion and social conditions, and special attention is invited to this valu- able paper. The board of education consists of two Americans and three Puerto Eicans, two of the latter serving gratuitously. The education laws of Puerto Eico were all revised and greatly changed shortly before the undersigned assumed his present duties. The revision was prepared by Mr. John Eaton, who was formerly Com- missioner of Education in the United States. These new school laws were approved and promulgated by Major General Henry, then com- manding the Department of Puerto Eico. The changes which result from the new code are very radical and have been subject to some complaint, but a return to the old system was not felt to be justified. If, considering the subject de novo, so radi- cal a measure would not have been adopted, but instead a procedure 24 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. on the lines of gradual adaptation; for it lias been found that, in gen- eral, it is not the laws which cause abuses but rather their bad admin- istration. Were home rule to be uow established it is believed that the ten- dency would be to not only revert to the old methods, but also to dis- pense with the services of the Americans who are engaged in implant- ing the new educational system and performing most valuable work. The amounts carried by the insular budget under the head of "Pub- lic instruction," for the fiscal year 1898-99, all reduced to dollars, were: General budget of the islaud $54, 559. 27 Provincial deputation, insular 35, 472. 00 Total 90,031.27 Besides there were municipal appropriations for educational pur- poses of 203, 373. 00 Making a total for the whole island for public instruction of.. . 293, 404. 27 For the present fiscal year the appropriations carried by the insular budget for education are 330, 050. 00 And by municipal budgets 83,063.57 Making a total of 413,113.57 The total appropriations for all purposes of government for the last fiscal year were: General budget of the island $2, 674, 396 00 Provincial deputation (insular) 194, 755. 73 Municipal budgets (1897-98) 1, 618, 769. 72 Total appropriations .■ 4, 487, 921. 84 The current year's appropriations for all purposes are : General budget of the island $1, 943, 678. 11 Municipal budgets 1,429,981.26 Total ■. 3,373,659.37 Therefore the ratio borne by the school appropriation to the whole expenditure of the island for 1898-99 is 6.53+ to 100; for 1899-1900 is 12.24+ to 100. Applying this ratio of 12.24+ to 100 for 1899-1900, to the total appro- priation for all insular purposes for the preceding year, the total for schools would have risen to $549,321, a sum equal to 10.28 per cent of the budget for the current year; in other words, out of a revenue and expenditure of $1,487,921.84 counted on by Spain for 1898-99, there would have had to be allotted to schools the sum of $549,321.03 to make her allowances for this most important branch of service equal the proportion of revenue applied to it under the United States military rule. The Eleventh Census Compendium gives for the United States a total of persons of school age, 5 to 17 years, as 15,207,091 out of a population of 02.022,250, or very nearly 30 per cent. The total population for Puerto Rico for the year 1897 was given as 890,911. If the ratio of these ages to all ages in the United States were applied to Puerto Rico, there should be found here over 267,000 children of age suitable for public instruction. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 25 It will be seen by tlie report of the board of education that the num- ber registered last year as attending school in Puerto Rico was: Boys 19,804 Girls 9,368 Total 29,172 While the attendance was: Boys 14,720 Girls 7,153 Total 21,873 Therefore but very slightly more than 8 per cent received instruction, leaving untaught in any way over 245,000. To provide schoolhouses and equipment for all schools needed would probably cost, for very plain accommodations, not less thau $1,500,000; and besides this original outlay, a further annual expenditure would be required of not less thau an equal sum, or at the rate of $5 per capita for, say, 300,000 pupils, a rate much lower than is customary in the United States. This indicates the proportions and magnitude of the task that con- fronts the people of Puerto Rico in their efforts to secure for the island a prominent place among the educated and enlightened communities of the world. In the States of the Union it is a common practice to make a general tax levy for the support of schools, in pursuance to a general policy that has been adopted by the people, speaking through their State legislatures. The State boards of education, therefore, are able to make their plans for years in advance, and know long beforehand what will be the amount of means available for school purposes. In Puerto Rico there has been no such policy pursued. About one- third of the revenues for schools were derived from the general treasury, and the remainder had to be provided by the municipalities. The amount was never more than sufficient to educate a few of the children, and this has had the result that might be expected — a small educated class and a large illiterate one. The educated and well-to-do are those who control the municipal and other government machinery. The poor and ignorant have but to obey, and the gulf that separates the peons from the ruling classes is impassable. In the brief period of military occupation it has not been found practi- cable to develop and apply a general tax law. It results, then, that all branches of the public service must be supported directly from the public treasury through allotment of means that are available. This year no more could be done than to apply to education a sum about three andahalf times larger than Spain allowed. Municipalities are in this way relieved of a part of the burden, as they have been entirely relieved of jail expenses (see chapter on public order, etc.), but the councils of these towns prepare their own budgets, and they have greatly reduced their allowances for education, averaging much more than half reduction, certainly not an encouraging outlook for the illiterate youths that swarm all over the island. I have quoted some general statistics of the United States respecting illiteracy, but considering in detail those that relate to one of our ter- ritorial divisions, little justification can be found for criticism of Puerto Rico, or indeed of her former rulers. On September 22, 1846, General Kearney published a code of laws for Few Mexico, and after four years of military rule the territory of this 2G REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. name was erected into a temporary government by an act of Congress. It has been endowed with Territoral autonomy since tllat date, 1850, but Congress has not yet seen tit to confer upon it full statehood. The first enumeration of the population of New Mexico was made in 1850. The inhabitants are stated to have numbered 01,547. Of course they were all, or nearly all, natives whose tongue was Spanish. Although there were many wild Indians in the Territory, there was no enumeration of them and none of the civilized Indians until 1860, when the number of the latter was reported as 10,000. The Compendium of the Eleventh Census gives the population of New Mexico as 153,593, of whom 8.554 were civilized Indians. The number over i0 years of age who could not speak English is stated as 73,271. The whole number of persons less than 10 years of age is given as 44,521; therefore, those more than 10 years of age numbered 109,072. Since 73,271 of these could not speak English, it follows that but 35,801 could do so. Yet in the year 1890 New Mexico expended $4.66 per capita of pupils enrolled, who numbered 23,620. Data is not at hand as to the number of New Mexicans who could speak English in 1850, but it is safe to assume that very few indeed could do so. The above shows that after fifty-three years under United States laws only 1 person in 4 over 10 years of age could speak the official language of the country. How many of those ignorant of English could read or write Spanish is also unknown, but the number certainly could not be large. It is not a violent assumption to say that 3 out of 5 of the people living in New Mexico can not to day read and write any language. Personal knowledge of New Mexico is the justification for the state- ment that the native New Mexicans and Pueblo Indians are not much more, if at all, advanced in intelligence, wealth, and industry beyond the poor class in Puerto Rico. Along the valley of the Rio Grande to its mouth the same conditions prevail. THE JUDICIARY. The reorganization of the courts and legal procedure caused most concern. In Puerto Rico was found a supreme court of seven members, two audiencias of three members each, and, in addition, twelve courts of first instance and instruction. Their jurisdiction and procedure were complicated, and there were great difficulties and delays attend- ant upon criminal and civil trials. The codes of law and regulations in force were numerous and voluminous, and the whole system was un-American and strange. General Orders, No. 114, herewith, has just been issued, giving a basis for a new judicial system. The courts and their jurisdiction are projected on the usually established system of State courts in the American Union. It was not easy to bring this about, but by dint of constant efforts with full and free discussion, a unanimous recommendation for a departure from the old system and the installation of these new courts was made by the judicial board. But this was easier than to effect an abandonment of the Spanish pro- cedure. At last this was accomplished, and a general order promul- gated prescribing a procedure which, while in many respects not fully American, is a wide departure from that prevailing heretofore. One member of the judicial board remarked in respect to it that now a litigant or criminal would have a decision in four months which for- merly required four years. Under the new order of things there are still crudities, and many REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 27 requirements and rules strange to American lawyers and judges, but one by one these will disappear, and ultimately a much more complete harmony of the Puerto Uican with the American system of procedure will come into being. As respects changes in the laws of the laud — the penal code, the civil code, the law of contracts, etc., and indeed the whole written law of Puerto Rico — the course pursued is one of gradual adaptation. It has been stated that the insular commission has written an entire code for this island, which is to be offered for adoption. With all deference to the distinguished gentlemen who compose that commission, it is suggested that the abitrary installation at this time of any system, no matter how perfect, would be most unfortunate, as tending to defeat the very object sought to be accomplished. While any code of laws drafted by Americans and officially approved would be respected, yet it would not be understood; it would have to be applied by lawyers and judges who do not understand, and who will not be able to understand for some time, the common law of Anglo- Saxon peoples. This was well illustrated by example here. Proceedings under the writ of habeas corpus were authorized, this on the recommendation of the then secretary of justice; but through inability to understand the real purpose of the writ, it has been practically a dead-letter. One case did arise, but an error occurred in its application. This, however, has been explained ; and gradually the use of this instrument for the protec- tion of the rights of those charged with crime will be better understood. The system of laws that prevail here is the outgrowth of quite a thousand years of human experience, and can not be struck down or radically changed in a day, nor yet in a year. In the administration of those of her colonies that were formerly under the sovereignty of other states, England has pursued the wise policy of respecting and preserving the former laws and customs. For example: British Guiana still has a code of laws implanted there largely by the Dutch colonists; so the Province of Quebec and the island of Mauritius have codes largely based on the ancient French- rlom an law; and many more examples might be cited. In our own country California still preserves in its laws some features of the old Spanish- Mexican code in force there at the time of its conquest. It is to be hoped the same practice will follow here, should an autonomical government be finally established for this island. The educated people of Puerto Eico — and there are many who are learned and highly accomplished — and the commercial and industrial proprietors as well as the plain people are living under a highly organ- ized, though complicated, system of laws and customs. They are jealous of their rights, and with the advent of American sovereignty they look for an extension of those rights. It is also true that they may not have a fair conception of the responsibilities that must always accompany an extension of privileges, but they are highly sensitive' and even jealous of encroachments. Great care has been observed to respect existing prejudices, even though such respect may not comport with the extreme views of some resident Americans and some at home who wish to see the island " Americanized," as they call it, in a day. The island is densely populated, there being well on to 1,000,000 people here. It was easy to "Americanize" the sparsely settled regions of the West, acquired by conquest and purchase, for there society had no organization and there was no civilized population to be amalgamated. In a paper herewith, prepared by Major Sharpe, judge-advocate of 28 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. the department, will be found a description of the former judicial organization under Spain, and in another Lnclosure — Circular from Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, of August 15 — and in copies of general orders, also herewith, will be found considerable data respecting the measures put into operation for the adaptation of the former judiciary and its procedure to methods with which the people of the United States are familiar. Omitting details, which will be found in accompanying papers, the present situation may be stated as follows: The insular courts have been reduced in number from 15 to G; the number of prisons and jails from 1 penitentiary and 11 jails to 1 peni- tentiary and 5 jails. Each of the 69 towns still retains a municipal court, but on a modified and improved basis. At each town there is also a "lockup." Those who are arrested and charged with crimes have a prospect of speedy trial, and any criminal who feels that he is wrongly deprived of his liberty may, through the writ of habeas corpus, have a hearing before a judge, who will dispose of the matter according to the, rules of right and justice. The district courts have been in operation but a few weeks, and have as yet many cases on their dockets. It is hoped that within a short time they will be able to dispose of the accumulation of the cases turned over to them. One district court — that at Humacao — is reported as having its docket cleared up to date. This is the first; time that such a thing has happened in the history of the island. When the control of the civil affairs of the island was taken over by the United States on October 18, 1898, there were in the jails a very large number of prisoners, of whom some had been tried and many more were awaiting trial. Among the latter were a number of marauders, who had been arrested during the so-called interregnum, or shortly thereafter. Some of these offenders were charged with violation of United States statutory laws, and others were members of bandit organ- izations. For the trial and punishment of such offenders resort was had to military commissions, and a considerable number were adjudged guilty by such commissions. Upon approval of the proceedings by the commanding general they were imprisoned in the local jails, where they served or are serving their sentences. But as the military commission is an instrumentality for the enforce- ment of the laws of war, the use of that means of administering justice ceased on April 11, 1899, the date of the proclamation of the President announcing the termination of hostilities with Spain. But the trials by commissions could not be had in a great many other cases, where the jurisdiction lay with local courts. So slow had been the procedure that there had been congregated in the jails large numbers of malefactors that were awaiting action by the local courts, and had been so waiting for many months or years. Everything pos- sible was done to expedite these proceedings, When the witnesses had disappeared, or the offenders had been incarcerated for a long time, the accused were released by military order. For the trial of offenders who were charged with the violation of United States law — i. e., such cases as would in the United States be tried by the United States Federal courts — a provisional court was created under authority of the President. It consisted of a law judge and two members (the latter being army officers), with an American lawyer as prosecuting attorney. By this court a large number of cases have been disposed of and punishment has been awarded to the guilty. ^ 5 rv ^ v/v c^W ' A -^ * \ br ^^^ s •» # y> .^^ / ^^^w J~~ ^^ \ ^ - < 5 -j / . t^ ■- / ^ r ^^^ TV-^ Jo ^\ ^o > \\ * w \ u ^v y ^VV_i r^r< r^^K •%:^\ 5 ^x L § i 1 o 7 \ 3 ^r 1 /Y) s JJ ? i \ | P / ^ \ ■*» /xA ^ \ « / s — ~v2^-J ^ 1 -*• t V 3> I S / \ ^ ^J^< % J— 2— A § U ^"> r ' —1 \ 5 Q ( ^t "i V \ I ^ 1 < \ *5 S 3 ^^x ^ / A Ci 'tlil <*1 / ^ ^"^ N ^- — 5> 6 "5 ^ i / ^ 5» y^^^$/y^ S 11 J ir ■ft •5- ) AAWV3--1 I _ |T>_ . . _ $> 1 I ^j^-m f ^\ ? r~~-^!2__ / W"' 1 5 ^ \ ^A^LNS/ I 5 \ — 5 1 u / ^ I 5" jr ^ ^ vja' xoiyis/o \ ■Z3D9\/AVn ■*• REPORT -OF BRIGADIER-GEKERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 29 Its procedure is that of the United States courts, aud there have been a few trials by jury, two in cases of capital crimes. The proceedings of this court are attentively observed by some of the local courts and lawyers as illustrative of the methods followed in the United States in administering justice, and of what maybe expected to prevail here. The local courts are: (1) The supreme court of appeals, consisting of six judges and a prosecuting attorney. It has original jurisdiction only in cases of impeachment of judges of lower courts. (2) Five district courts, consisting each of three judges and a prose- cuting attorney. (3) Sixty-nine municipal courts, one in each town in the island. A map is inclosed showing the five judicial districts. THE CURRENCY. As is well known, the circulating medium of Puerto Rico previous to American occupation was principally the provincial silver, coined at the mints of Madrid and Sevilla, and put in circulation in this island at the close of the year 1895, displacing the Mexican silver that for some years had been in use. The exchange was an arbitrary one, made at the rate of 100 Mexican to 95 Puerto Rieau, a discount of 5 per cent in favor of the latter. The provincial silver peso, which thereupon came into use, is of the same weight and fineness as the Spanish peso. The fractional silver, in denominations of 5, 10, 20, and 40 centavos, is of the same weight and fineness as the Spanish coins of the same denominations, and of the French franc and its multiples. All the provincial pesos appear to have been struck in 1895, while the fractional silver coins are of the years 1895 and 1896. There is no pro- vincial coinage of copper; but Spanish centavos and double centavos were shipped to the island and used instead. In order to identify the coppers for use in Puerto Rico they were usually punched, the customs officials forbidding the exportation of such. It appears that the number of provincial pesos coined was 8,300,000 and the nominal value of fractional silver was 1,060,000 pesos, making a total Spanish coinage of provincial silver of 9,360,000 pesos. But the volume of Mexican silver to be withdrawn was overestimated, as it amounted to only 6,426,393 pesos. It is claimed that the amount rep- resented by the difference, i. e. — 2,933,607 pesos — was never put in circulation, but was returned to Spain during the years 1896 and 1897. The sum of $480,000 in gold was also sent from Spain to Puerto Rico, but of this amount $410,916 was returned to Spain in January and February, 1898, leaving in the island only $69,084 of the original shipment. The amount of Spanish gold now here is very small. Spanish copper coins to the value of 70,000 pesos were also sent to Puerto Rico, so that the total amount of the provincial money that remained in the island was as follows: Pesos. Provincial silver 6, 426. 393 Gold 69,084 Spanish copper centavos , 70, 000 Total 6,565,477 This information is taken from a paper prepared by the civil secre- tary, Mr. Coll y Toste, with title "Statement of amounts spent in the exchange of Mexican money, 1895," which appears in the appendix herewith. 30 REPORT OF BRTGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. It is impossible to ascertain more thai) approximately what is now the volume of the circulating- medium. Some light is thrown upon this by Mr. Carlos Soler, the subdirector of the Banco Espanol de Puerto Rico, whose letter dated August 10, 1898, will be found in the appen- dix, lie estimates the amount of provincial silver placed in circulation at 0,57(5,000 pesos and the copper at 70,000 pesos, giving a total of 6,040,000 pesos. Disregarding the gold noted in Mr. Coll y Toste's statement, it would appear that Mr. ISoler's total exceeds the other by about 140,000 pesos. Kespecting the volume of this Puerto Rican coinage remaining in cir- culation at this time, no better information is at hand than that con- tained in Mr. Soler's letter, cited above. It will be seen that he places the silver at 5,875,000 pesos and the copper at 45,000 pesos, giving a total of 5,020,000 pesos. He also states that the estimated sum of 000,000 pesos has been sent or taken out of the country by the returning Spanish troops and private individuals; but as this silver peso is worth in Puerto Eico about 20 cents more than anywhere else, it is safe to assume that it will all drift back here in time, and therefore it should be taken into account in any study of the currency of this island. As respects the volume of American money now circulating, it is impossible to furnish a satisfactory estimate. Although the army dis- bursements in the island have been several millions, it is believed that most of it has been sent back to the United States. It came usually in bills, a form convenient for cheap conveyance and transmission by post. Merchants and others wishing to remit to New York or Europe are in the habit of buying American currency and sending the same to New York in registered letters, buying there European exchange for such amounts as they may wish to remit to London, Paris, or Madrid. Bank bills are therefore at a premium over American gold, for the latter can only be shipped by express at much greater cost than the postage or registration expenses of parcels by mail. It is presumed to be the policy of the Government, aud the wish of the people of the United States, as it certainly is of the business men of Puerto Rico, to have American money displace the local coinage. The funds seut here for army disbursements should be in silver, nickel, and copper. As before stated, paper money soon disappears, while metallic money would be much more likely to make its way into general circu- lation and remain here. In this way the inhabitants would much more quickly become familiar with United States currency; but the fact should not be lost sight of that the peso is the money of the country and will so remain until it is forcibly withdrawn. In the present prostrated condition which affects all industries, the volume of Puerto Rican money, together with the bills of the Spanish Bank (the latter amounting to about 1,000,000 pesos) is ample for all needs. On August 10 there were stored in three local banks the sums of 2,691,500 pesos in silver and over 800,000 pesos in bills of a local bank. The provincial circulation being ample, it follows that the United States currency, which is strange to the people, is in small demand in commercial transactions. The army disbursements amount, approximately, to' $200,000 per month, but this money inevitably drifts to the banks and does not go into circulation. The estimated amount of American money now in the bank vaults is $253,598.08, as shown by data recently obtained from the cashiers. The only way to force American money into circulation, save arbi- trarily, is to withdraw the pesos, thereby creating such a deficiency as will result in the American money leaving the vaults. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 31 While the insular accounts axe all kept in American currency, and disbursements made therein, many municipalities, and almost all mer- chants, keep their accounts in the provincial denominations. The peso and centavo are still the money of the people, and no great progress has been made in displacing them. Our currency, having the value of gold, is still an article of merchandise. Early in the summer, when the demand for means to move the crops was active, the private rate of exchange of pesos for dollars was to the disadvantage of the latter (considering the official rate of 1.66§ as a standard), the ruling rate being about 1.63 for $1. But now that the exports have greatly fallen off, and next year's production will prob- ably not be half as great as this year's, the bank rate of exchange is reversed, and stands at about 1.68 Puerto Eicau for $1 American. While American money was received in private transactions for less than 1.66§ — the official rate of exchange— a condition of things existed greatly to the disadvantage of the laborers who were paid from insular funds. American money was available for disbursements, and, in the interim, when no other local coins were in general circulation, the mer- chant imposed rates of exchange that were most onerous. Now, how- ever, while the peso is at a disadvantage, there is no difficulty in securing pesos, pesetas, and centavos. Nevertheless, in one respect the result is the same; namely, that American money is kept out of circulation; and this seems apt to continue until Puerto Eican silver is withdrawn. This result is not likely to be soon, or indeed ever, reached without legislation, and the character the latter should take is obvious, namely, the gradual retirement of the peso by some equitable means. The relative value of the peso to the silver dollar — bullion value — is stated by the Secretary of the Treasury to be as 93.5 to 100. The undersigned is not advised as to the present market value of silver, but this is supposed to be such as to make the bullion value of the United States dollar about 43 cents, which would give the peso a similar value of about 40 cents. As before stated, so long as an exchange value for the peso is arbi- trarily fixed at 60, this provincial money will remain in the island, or any that finds its way to foreign countries will certainly drift back, unless it be melted and recoined. It is not seen that any good result would be had from the recoining of these Spanish- Puerto Eican pesos into American-Puerto Eican coin, unless it be the will of Congress to treat this island indefinitely as a possession, and to require that it shall be self-sustaining. If such a special coin were struck and made exchangeable at par for United States money, dollar for peso, the value of the latter would, of course, be the same as the former; but the same result would be more easily reached if provincial money were replaced arbitrarily by that of. the United States. In this case there would be no need of a special coin. The local exchange value of the peso has always been greater than its bullion value, and this fact was evidently recognized when an arbi- trary value of 60 was given it by Executive order. The fluctuations in exchange have been very great in the past, the peso at times approach- ing a value of 70 and at others falling below 60, as referred to gold. Were the substitution of local for national money to be decided on at the bullion value of the former, there would be a loss for somebody of nearly 60 per cent, and if this loss was placed upon the holders of the local money it would result in great economic and industrial disas- 32 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. ter. Its effect would be so grave and so obvious that it is not conceiv- able that such an exchange could be approved by wise financiers. Suppose the amount of local money in Puerto Rico, including what would return here, to b<», say, 6,500,000, then the aggregate of the loss by such substitution would be nearly 4,000,000 pesos. If the substitution be made at the present official rate, the loss (should this island have to bear it) to Puerto Rico would approximate 2,400,000 pesos. Local business irren and native officials of the military government have argued that it would be but just and equitable to establish a new official rate of exchange of 133 to 100, which would make the peso worth 75 cents Americau money, and to effect the substitution on this basis. In such case the difference to be made good by Puerto Rico would be 1,625,000 pesos. They urge that when the island shall have free trade with the United States the industrial development will be so great, and the economic conditions so much improved, that the expense of this change could be borne without hardships. If the trade conditions between this island and the United States remain as at present only industrial paralysis can be expected. But if. on the other baud, the productions of Puerto Rico can be admitted free into the Union there will be brought about a condition justifying the prediction that the island can carry and finally discharge the entire burden of an exchange of the present currency for the American on the basis of the bullion value of the peso. With trade conditions such as are suggested there will be a very great revival of business and an enormous increase in productions. Alter a few years for development on those lines it will not be at all difficult to increase internal taxation by three or four million dollars annually. In that case half a million a year could be applied to reim- bursing the National Treasury for the benefit conferred on Puerto Rico in giving it a currency having parity everywhere with gold. If there is not a revival and increase in production the island must remain as now, or reach a worse condition, and it will be unable to meet the cost of the substitution, even at 25 per cent discount. This all leads to the suggestion of the practicability and wisdom of retiring the Puerto Rican currency and replacing it with Treasury and national-bank notes, gold, silver, nickel, and copper coins of the Union, the cost of the exchange to be borne at first by the United States, and the indebtedness thus incurred to be wiped out gradually by the island in annual installments. In effecting remittances to the United States and to foreign countries the merchants are having recourse to the postal money order, for which the charge and costs is three-tenths of 1 per cent, while bankers' exchange on New York costs cme-half of 1 per cent in large sums and three-fourths of 1 per cent for small amounts. These postal money orders are here bought in pesos at the official rate of exchange and at home are cashed in dollars. The fact of the large remittances gave rise to the suspicion in some minds thatthe Puerto Ricanswere systematically converting into dollars their native silver, worth GO cents under existing orders, whereas its bullion value was only about 41 cents. It was also suggested that, as the postal orders were usually, or fre- quently, paid for in new pesos, the latter must be coming to the island from some source not legitimate. The fact was called to mind that the original coinage was over 9,000,000 provincial money, more than 2,500,000 of which was afterwards returned to Spain. It was intimated that per- REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 33 haps these coins were again coining to Puerto Eico or that new pieces were being struck from the original dies. These beliefs and apprehensions have not been shared. It is scarcely- conceivable that Spain should have stored in her treasury for over three years nearly 3,000,000 of useless silver — this during a period when, it is understood^ Spain was herself a large borrower. Besides, it is stated that this surplus Puerto Eican silver was immediately recoined into Spanish pieces. That Spain should permit the use of the Puerto Eican dies in coining pesos to ship to this island is not believed to be possible. The gain of two-tenths of 1 per cent in exchange that is secured by using the postal service as a means of remittance in payment of balances is a sufficient explanation of the matter. That the coins proffered in payment of the orders on New York are neAv is explained by the fact that up to the present time there have been lying in the banks and merchants' safes two or three millions of Puerto Eican pesos that had never been removed from the original paper envelopes in which they were packed at the mints. It has recently been brought to attention that some copper coins of Spanish mintage were being shipped out of the country. It is found that all centavos so shipped were unpunched or unmarked, and it seems that they are worth in Spain enough more than here to justify their return to the Peninsula. Of course a continuance of this movement would strip the island of copper coin, but as nearly all here in circulation are punched, and therefore unreceivable in Spain, there is little likelihood of any exten- sive shipment. The centavo is a very important coin to the natives, especially to the poor, who have little use for any other money. The United States cent pieces are not yet in common use locally, and it is probable that but a few thousand are in circulation in the island. TRADE STATISTICS, ETC. The value of the three principal exports for the calendar years 1895, 1896, and 1897 were as follows, in j)esos : Tear. Coffee. Tobacco. Sugar and molasses. 1895 9, 492, 212 13, 864, 340 •12, 222, 599 698, 225 422, 912 1, 194, 318 4, 606, 540 1896 4. 246, 104 4,411,518 Total 35, 579, 151 2, 315, 455 13, 264, 162 . or a total for three years of 51,158,768 pesos, and an average of 17,052,922 per annum, which was but slightly above the mean of the three previous years. The exports to Spain during the years of 1895, 1896, and 1897 were as follows, in pesos : Tear. Coffee. Tobacco. Sugar and molasses. 1895 2, 302, 220 3, 869, 632 3, 563, 920 262, 093 237, 012 141, 720 395,123 1896 1, 318, 319 1897 1, 272, 884 Total 9, 735, 772 640, 825 2, 986, 326 or a total in three years of 13,362,923, and an average of 4,454,307 pesos. 12558 3 34 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. The exportation to Cuba during the same triennial period was valued, in pesos, as follows: Year. Coffee. Tobacco. 1895 3,382,719 411,565 1896 3, 674, 288 128, 483 1S97 2, 048, 5C3 , 990, 808 Total .' 9,105,570 ' 1,530,856 or a total of 10,036,426 pesos, and an average of 3,545,475 pesos per annum. Combining the exportation to the Peninsula with that to Cuba, a total is given of 23,999,349 pesos, or a yearly mean of 7,999,783 pesos. Therefore very nearly one-half the aggregate value of those three Puerto Eieau staple products found a market in countries the doors of which have been practically closed to this island since the American occupation. The remainder of the coffee and tobacco found markets in France, Germany, England, and Italy, wliile nearly all the sugar went to the United States. American sovereignty for Puerto Eico has so far been disastrous to its commerce, for it has deprived the island of markets where were sold nearly one-half of its total output. It is true that some slight com- mercial benefit has resulted from the change of natiouality, consider- ing that import duties have been lowered and export duties abolished, but, no matter what be the rate of taxation on imports, the conces- sion is of little value while the power of purchase is taken away. The true measure of the purchasing capacity of all nonmanufacturiug countries is their capacity to produce and send to market their home productions. Jf the present trade conditions are to continue it is not difficult to foretell the future of Puerto Eico. At the present time there is but one new sugar mill being erected, and those who are investing their capital in this enterprise — Americans — are doing so because they believe that sugar will soon be admitted free into the United States. But for this belief the enterprise would not Lave been undertaken. I am not in possession of data giving the number of existing cane mills; I presume the number would reach 300, but the ruins of many such structures can be seen here and there, abandoned because the owner could not afford to improve his machinery — in other words, abandoned or idle — because the business does not pay. The sugar export of tbe island has fallen from a total of 170,000 tons in 1879 to 57,000 tons in 1897. On the basis of the ruling price of sugar that prevailed here during the years 1895-1899, inclusive, about 2 cents per pound, no new mill will be erected; and as the old ones get beyond economical repair they will be abandoned and the cane lands pertaining thereto will be used only to pasture cattle. The average export of sugar for 1897 and 1898 was about 4,000,000 pesos ; that for this year will be about the same, and next year's crop will not exceed this figure, supposing that all the mills grind; but if those that have been leveled with the ground or greatly damaged by the recent hurricane are not repaired and reestablished the crop will hardly exceed 3,000,000 pesos in value. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Puerto Eico imports and exports, 1890 to 1897. [In provincial currency.] 35 Tear. Imports. Exports. Excess im- ports over exports. Excess ex- ports over imports. 1890 18, 230, 385 16, 864, 764 17, 081, 610 17, 320, 454 19, 778, 587 17, 446, 065 18, 995, 793 17, 858, 063 10,710,519 9, 885, 999 16,076,312 16, 745, 393 17, 295, 536 15, 798, 590 19, 000, 663 18, 574, 618 7,519.866 6, 978, 765 1, 005, 298 575, 061 2, 483. 051 1,647,475 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 4,870 716 555 Total 143, 575, 721 124. 087, 630 20, 209, 516 721, 425 From the foregoing it will be seen that the average exports for eight years have been 15,510,953 pesos and the average imports 17,946,965 pesos, or an excess of imports over exports of 2,436,012 pesos; also that during the years 1896 and 1897 the balance was the other way, or in favor of exports by a little more than 720,000 pesos in the two years. AGRICULTURE AND ITS DEVELOPMENT. The superficies of the island of Puerto Eico is stated at 3,668 square miles, which is the equivalent of 2,347,520 acres, but the Spanish sta- tistics give this as 2,090,181 cuerdas, which is equal to 2,100,632 acres. The area under some kind of culture is given in same statistics as 298,825 cuerdas; the area in pasture at 1,127,086 cuerdas, and the area barren or in woods an4 swamp at 664,270 cuerdas. The lands now devoted to some kind of culture are stated in cuerdas as follows: Cane, 61,556; coffee, 122,358; tobacco, 4,227 ; maize, beans, and rice, 93,508; native fruits, 1 7,176. It follows, therefore, that three- fourths of all the land are either in pasture or wholly unimproved. Much of the pasture land has in the past been cultivated in cane, and much more might be on a basis of 3£ cents per pound for sugar. Not one-fourth of the land adapted to coffee is now devoted to that berry. The area applicable to tobacco is very much larger than now utilized. The quality of this product can be very greatly improved. The domestic animals, as given in last statistical reports, 1897, num- ber as follows: Horses, 67,751; mules, 4,467; donkeys, 717; bovine animals, 303,612; sheep, 2,055; goats, 5,779, and swine", 13,441. Their aggregate value is stated at 8,300,736 pesos. The value of the laud, as returned for taxation by its owners, was 48,694,584 pesos; but this is believed to be far below its real value. This appraisal takes no account of buildings, which represent a large additional sum. It is safe to say that the agricultural wealth of the island, including cattle, is considerably above 100,000,000 pesos. The soil and climate favor the cultivation of many tropical products, such as bananas, plantains, etc., not now grown for export. Other West India islands now supply 30,000,000 bunches of bananas annu- ally, and their land is no better adapted to the growing of this fruit than is that of Puerto Eico. Oranges, limes, and pineapples, all of excellent quality, may be pro- duced for export. At present these are grown here only for home con- sumption. Sisal hemp may be produced here as well as in Yucatan 36 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. and the Bahamas. Cacao rivaling that from Venezuela is grown, but not in sufficient quantities to supply local needs, although the area adapted to it is very extensive. The demand for and price of gum caoutchouc is increasing rapidly throughout the tropics, while trees of a size suitable for yielding the gum are being rapidly destroyed by the tapping that the trunk must undergo in order that the gum may be obtained. Experiments for producing this material from twigs and shoots by grinding the small branches, extracting and evaporating the juice, as is done with sugar cane, is said to have resulted successfully in Mexico. Should the full reports of these experiments bear out the advance state- ments, there should be no delay in an experimental planting of the india rubber tree, and if the results justify it a new and very valuable product may be added to those already supplied by Puerto Eico. There are many other productions of the tropics that may be fouud adapted to this climate and soil, and every effort should be made to discover the most suitable so as to diversify production. The entire industrial future of the island depends on agriculture; it has, and can have, no other reliance, and this fact must never be over- looked in considering any measures with a view to the development of its wealth. There is a superabundance of labor here; no other West India island except Barbados is so densely populated. But labor is increasing- much more rapidly than the capacity of the island to employ it, and the natural consequence is low wages. In any country where labor is rewarded by compensation of but about 20 or 30 cents per day, the prospect of speedily reaching a high state of civilization and industry must not be expected. The wage rate throughout nearly all Spanish speaking American territory is not above the figures given. In the British, French, Dutch, and Danish West Indies, the laborer receives only from 16 to 25 cents per day for his services. In Brazil, whence comes over 70 per cent of the world's coffee supply, the cost of labor is but about 10 to 15 cents per day. If higher rates than now are ever paid here it will only be when better prices are obtained for home productions. So great is the bounty of nature here that the inhabitants can live — that is, exist — without any remuneration. Work not being a neces- sity, therefore, the present incentive to labor is so small that it seems to matter little to the average peon whether or not he is employed at all. On the other hand, if wages were to be largely increased, there would come hordes of immigrants from neighboring islands to share the benefit unless this was prevented by the adoption of restrictive measures. SUGAR. Better rates of labor than now prevail can not be expected until there is an advance in the price of the principal products. Were the sugar planter now confronted with the necessity of paying 50 cents in gold per day for field and mill hands — a result which is looked for to follow free trade with the United States — nearly all sugar estates would have to be abandoned. Last year sugar polarizing 96° netted the pro- ducer but just about 2-J cents per pound, American money. This year the net returns are slightly better, but the duty paid on sugar imported into the United Slates is burdened with a tax of 1.(385 cents the pound on polariscope test of 90°. Could this tax be abated the producer would receive this year nearly 4i cents per pound and wages of 50 cents or more could be paid. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAYIS. 37 l Twenty years ago the area under sugar was much greater than now. One can see, all over the island lowlands, the ruins of old mills, proper- ties that have been abandoned to pasturage because the cultivation of cane and the manufacture of sugar with the primitive "Jamaica train" was no longer remunerative, and capital for installation of modern plauts was not available. \This condition, which prevails all over the West Indies, has brought/ about in many of the islands a state of industrial prostration. In 1878 the number of sugar estates that had been abandoned because no longer remunerative amounted to 138, and 505 yet remained under cultivation. About this time the establishment of "central" factories commenced, and in 1880 there were five such establishments where cane was ground for several estates. In October of last year the number of planters had dwindled to 2,497. There were 22 factories where cane was ground for more than one farmer. The maximum value of the sugar produced in Puerto Eico was in 1878, when the reported export (83,000 tons) was valued at 7,487,211 pesos. The maximum volume of the island's sugar export was in 1879, amount- ing to 170,000 tons, upon which there was paid an export tax of 313,000 pesos. No such tax had previously existed. It was continued at the same rate (about one-fifth of a cent per kilo) until 1888, when it was abolished altogether. Sugar production, however, still continued to decline after 1879 until, in 1893, it reached a minimum, the export of that year being only 47,000 tons. It is interesting to note that there were only three years between 1850 and 1880 when the quantity exported fell below this minimum. Since 1893 there has been an increase, the average for the last four years being about 55,000 tons. The output of sugar for 1899 will, it is estimated, approximate 60,000 tons, grown on as many acres. I am without data as to the extent of land in Puerto Eico adapted to cane culture, but it must be one-fourth of the_ whole, or about 500,000 acres.^) To what extent the sugar production^/ may be increased can be estimated when it is remembered that last - year the island of Mauritius, with a total area of 708 square miles, or less than 500,000 acres, exported 180,000 tons of sugar. The population of Mauritius is only about one sixth that of Puerto Eico, its area less than one-fifth, and its topographical features similar. Barbados, with an area of 166 square ciles and a population of about 185,000, in 1897 exported over 58,000 tons of sugar, 36,000 puncheons of molasses, and 14,000 gallons of rum— a total output of cane products considerably exceeding Puerto Eico's. Supposing the wish of the cane grower and sugar exporter for free trade with the United States to be realized, what will be the effect upon those hundreds of thousands of inhabitants whose labor must be utilized to produce this sugar'? Bearing in mind that for all purposes there is required nearly one laborer per acre of cane, it is easy to estimate the number of peones that will be needed. Sugar can be most profitably produced only by means of large central . establishments, the larger and more perfect the plant and the greater the acreage tributary to it the better the profits. To install a "central," capable of producing 5,000 tons annually, an investment of quite $500,000 is required. The tendency is for the great manufacturers to secure con- trol of adjacent cane lands within a radius of several miles, either by purchase or lease. The cane grown on land not thus controlled is ground on a basis of commission or shares. The best cane produces 10 or 12 per cent of sugar; the owners of the " central" allow the farmer, say, half of this amount. The small proprietors are disappearing, for the capitalist so manages his business in Puerto Eico and nearly everywhere 38 REPORT OF BRIGADIER -GENERAL GEO. W. DAYIS. else as to force the small proprietors to sell their holdings. The tendency in the sugar business, as in all other requiring large aggrega- tions of capital, is to combine or consolidate. While the population is steadily increasing, the number of small proprietors is steadily decreas- ing, as shown by statistics adverted to above. In producing coffee and tobacco the necessities or advantages of com- bination are not so urgent, but since sugar can not be produced at a profit without large concentrated investments, it is only through com- bines and trusts that the best commercial success will be attained. Should the development of the cane industry in Puerto Eico approxi- mate that achieved in Mauritius, Barbados, and Hawaii, the cane lands will be ultimately owned or practically controlled by these huge " central" proprietors. There will be a few thousand owners, managers, overseers, clerks, etc., and many hundreds of thousands of peon labor- ers, whose social and, if we may judge by numerous examples in other countries, industrial conditions will be the same as now, and without hope of improvement. Nowhere in the world, save in the United States and Hawaii, is sugar now extensively produced on a basis of a wage rate for field and mill hands exceeding, say, 30 cents per diem, and in many tropical countries the rate is not above 20 cents. Considering the world's enormous acreage suitable to cane culti- vation and the teeming population available, it is probable, indeed almost certain, that, whatever be the price at which sugar may be. sold, the peon will still remain in a state of serfdom, and generation after generation, living in fief to a merchant monopoly, will be able to earn only the wherewithal to indulge in drink, debauchery, and vice. Some of the most instructively warning pages in West Indian history deal with these diverse interests of the population. This is a gloomy picture, but, turn it how we will, no brighter side appears for the swarming hordes of human beings who now exist here, and who will increase and multiply indefinitely. Yet the country will increase in wealth, trade will flourish, roads will be made, public buildings will rise, harbors will be enlarged, vessels in increasing numbers will be freighted with riches, and the wealth of nations will go on augmenting. Such appear to be everywhere the inevitable tendencies of modern industrial and commercial development. Notwithstanding these gloomy reflections, it is hoped that the inhab- itants of this beautiful and rich tropical island may have a better lot in store. If the legislation for Puerto Eico is wise and if an extension of commercial privileges to the sugar grower is conditioned upon an obli- gation on the part of the proprietors to ameliorate the condition of their employees, to provide near-by schools for children, hospitals for the sick, and asylums for the old and infirm, an example may be given that will be unique in the history of government of tropical lands. COFFEE. The exports and unit value of Puerto Eican coffee for the first year of each decade have been as follows : Tear. Pounds. Value per pound. 1850 11; 783, 684 15, 929, 524 17, 416, 762 48, 032, 296 43, 822, 794 51,710,997 Gentavog. 1860 6 1870 6 1880 6 37 1890 12.22 °3 63 1897 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAYIS. 39 The year 1897 is the last for which these statistics have been pub- lished. Lower down in this report will be found such data respecting exports during the American occupation as could be collected. From this it will be seen that the average selling value here of the different grades of coffee since the American occupation has not exceeded 9 cents, gold, per pound. There will also be found some statistics respecting the comparative quantities and values of the three principal Puerto Eican exports. It will not escape your observation that the value of the coffee crop exported is two and two-thirds times as great as that of the sugar, and was nearly seven-tenths of the value of all the exports of the island during the three years, 1895-1897. It will be noticed that more than half of all the coffee sent out of the island went to Cuba and Spain, markets that are now practically lost to this island. 1 Had former prices been maintained this loss of more than half of the markets would have been of no moment, but with the closing of the doors to this staple came the very great fall in price, due probably in a large degree to the phenome- nally heavy export from Brazil and other coffee-producing countries. Nevertheless, had the same trade relations existed between this island and Cuba that formerly existed, Puerto Eico would certainly have enjoyed some advantage from her favorable and convenient situation for supplying the needs of her near neighbor. And this deprivation has seemed the harder to Puerto Eico because both islands were under the American flag. As a result, Cuban needs have been met by importa- tions from Brazil by way of the United States, involving a voyage of more than 4,000 miles and two rehandlings, whereas this island would have sent its coffee direct to Cuba, a voyage of but one-fourth or one- fifth as long, and without rehandling, but it was and is shut out from its old established market with an import tax of 5.5 cents (gold) per pound, or over 9 ceutavos to the pound. Although the Puerto Eican berry is much more highly esteemed by many coffee users than the product of Brazil, it is unknown in the United States, and can not now be sold there at a price which would net the producer more than 4 or 5 cents per pound. In 1897 the exporta- tions of coffee hence to the United States did not reach 110,000 pounds of the total export of 23,505,000 pounds. Of this last amount Spain con- sumed nearly 17,000,000 pounds, a fact that points clearly to the great desirability of establishing such trade relations with Spain as might permit freer commercial intercourse than now. But in any event it is not believed that the output of coffee will be largely increased. It does not seem probable that the high prices of 1898-97 can be maintained. New York, Hamburg, and Havre fix the prices, and since Brazil, Central and South America, Mexico, and the Islands of the Pacific can produce coffee in vast quantities and market the same at 5 cents per pound, this island must expect to adjust its prices accordingly. Ten centavos per pound is about all the producer can expect to receive for this product, unless Puerto Eican coffee should become well known in the United States and so much preferred to other grades as to put it on a level with Mocha and so-called Java. If the export keeps to the average since 1892, bringing annually to Puerto Eico from 10,000,000 to 14,000,000 pesos, the island will be fortunate. On the basis of the present price of coffee the value of a normal crop will not exceed three-fourths of that of 1897, or, say, 8,000,000 ir riiis was written before receipt of advices changing the Cuban duties on Puerto Rican coffee. 40 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. pesos; but by the storm fully two-thirds of the coffee trees are either uprooted and destroyed or else stripped of leaf and berry. There is no likelihood that next winter's picking will save aiore than one-third of a normal crop, which, at the reduced price, will not sell for more than 3,000,000 pesos. Five years must elapse before the coffee trees and their necessary shade can be renewed so that the growers can resume the average production. Unless some new market for tobacco is found that product may be hereafter disregarded as an export for the reason stated in notes on its production. Therefore the showing for next crop of sugar and coffee — all that Puerto Rico has to sell— is sugar, 3,000,000 to 4,000,000 pesos, and coffee, 3,000,000, or a possible total of 7,000,000 pesos, which is about one- third of the annual export. TOBACCO. The product of this island third in importance is tobacco, of which the exports and local value in the first year of each decade have been as follows: Year. Pounds. Value per pound. 1850 2, 973, 308 2, 557, 448 5, 950, 322 12, 188, 517 3, 977. 987 6, 255, 953 Cents. 4 1860 : 4.43 1870 i 18S0 6 81 1890 14.81 1897 19.09 The year 1897 is the last for which statistics have been published. It is noticed as relevant that the records show that the value has remained about the same — i. e., from 19 to 21 cents per pound, since 1892. As respects the quality or grade of tobacco there are several kinds, as in many other countries. The cheapest is known locally as " baliche," which is only marketed in Europe and is worth from 4 to 4 J cents per pound. The portion so graded is not more than one-fourth or one- third of the total crop. Of the remainder, about 1,000,000 pounds, more or less, is manufactured into cigars and cigarettes and is consumed locally. The more valuable grades arc known to the trade as " filler and wrapper," and the aggregate of this grade of a normal crop would reach quite 4,000,000 pounds. In 1897 all this grade of tobacco went to Cuba and brought, on an average, from 15 to 20 cents per pound. But the prohibitive duty on tobacco imported into that island of $5 per pound has sealed the door to further business, and as there is no market for it in Europe, and taxes in the United States are all the way from 35 cents to $1.85, it results that there is no foreign market at all for the better grades. When the Cuban tax went into effect last January the fact was at once known, and last spring not more than one-third of a normal crop was planted; hence there is a comparatively small quantity now in store. This is the surplus of the last two crops, and may reach 1 ,500,000 pounds, but there are few buyers. Unless the United States or Cuban market is open to Puerto Eico, this stock must remain stored until finally worked up here, and future planting must be diminished until supply and local demand adjust themselves. This means the cutting off of a source of revenue that has in the past brought to Puerto Rico an annual income of from 500,000 to 1,250,000 pesos. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 41 Were the United States tax abated outright the production would rapidly increase, and might in two or three years be expected to reach a total of -$5,000,000, for with improved methods of culture and prepa- ration for market it will bring much better prices. PUBLIC PROPERTY. Elsewhere in this report are references to some of the public build- ings in San Juan. Besides those belonging to the extinct provincial deputation there are many others — some civil, and many of a military character. In the report of the evacuation committee records are schedules of land and buildings transferred to the United States, and a repetition is unnecessary, as these records are in the War Department. The city of San Juan is built upon a small island of the same name, about 3 miles long and from one-fourth to one-half mile wide. About one-half or two-thirds of its area was held as military lands by Spain and, as royal property, was transferred to the United States. Much of the area is occupied by works of defense and, it is supposed, will continue so to be ; but a considerable area does not seem to be needed for defensive purposes and could well be sold for city extension, for which it is greatly needed. A part of the wall of defense that surrounded the city was demol- ished two or three years since, and more of these old walls might well be demolished, inasmuch as they add nothing to the strength of the defenses and occupy valuable land. By royal decree, promulgated some two or three years ago, a portion of these military lands was ordered to be sold or given to the city, but the project was never consummated. Within the borders of San Juan are some hundreds of acres of swamp land, a part of which could easily be reclaimed by dredging and filling. The area thus gained would be very valuable for commercial and naval purposes, and the dredging, which would be comparatively inexpensive, would add a very valuable area to the harbor. At Cayey, Aibonito, Ponce, Mayaguez, and Aguadilla are military reservations occupied by barracks that were transferred by Spain to the United States and that are now occupied by troops. The area of these lands does not exceed in the aggregate 150 acres, which is entirely too small to meet the military necessities. By Executive order a very valuable portion of the water front of San Juan, 2,400 feet frontage and extending three-fourths of the way across the island of San Juan, was proclaimed a naval reservation on March 29, 1899. A portion of this area is swamp and reclaimed land, and some 40 acres is high ground, much of it already owned by private par- ties and occupied by their dwellings. To obtain title to this land will involve a large expenditure, and the appropriation of so large a part of the present inadequate water front will be a very severe detriment to the city and an obstacle to its commercial development and growth. In the appendix will be fouud a schedule of the agricultural and wild lands that are the property of the State. This is known to be only a partial list, but it is not now practicable to make a complete one. Some of this land has never been in private ownership, while the title to other areas has been derived from tax sales. The total is about 120,000 cuerdas or acres. The swamp lands, denominated here manglares, are along the coast, and valueless until they shall be reclaimed. In all Spanish countries the title to mineral found beneath the sur- 42 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. face is in the State, even though the soil belongs to an individual. Therefore it is that on this island a mine may be denounced, taken up, and exploited, though it is situated within the farm or pasture of a planter. The law sanctions this procedure, and is understood to be the same in all Latin countries. Under the old regime there was very little attention paid to mining. The placer washings in Puerto Eico were long since worked out and there has been no development of deep workings, but with the arrival of Americans a great impetus was given to this speculative industry, and several mines have been denounced in pursuance of the existing laws, which are all of Spanish origin. My predecessor, acting within the local statutes, conferred several mining titles. An investigation convinced me that a continuance of this practice was inexpedient, though strictly legal, and some time since and to date all similar applications have been denied. At this time there is no operated mine in the island, but there are large iron deposits that are represented to be valuable. No public lands have been sold since the military occupation com- menced, but a title was completed to one small tract whereon the pay- ment of purchase money had been made some months since. The need of a geodetic, geological, and topographical survey of the island is very urgent, and should be undertaken without delay. All the existing maps are very unreliable, but local funds for these objects are not available. A tabulated statement giving information concerning mining claims is in the appendix. FRANCHISES AND PRIVILEGES. The Executive order dated December 22, 1898, forbade the granting of any franchise, grant, or concession for any public work without the authorization of the Secretary of War, and later the opinion of the Attorney-General was communicated to the effect that no franchise for public works could be granted until Congress should, by appropriate legislation, so authorize. Although there have been many applications for these privileges, all have been denied. They relate to various objects, such as the con- struction of railroads and trolley lines, the building of wharves, the utilization of water power, the establishment of electric-light plants, etc. In two instances certain works useful to the people have been author- ized under license revocable at the will of the Secretary of War. One case was the construction of a wooden wharf in the harbor of San Juan by a steamship company. The license contains a clause that permits the insular government to at any time acquire title to the wharf by payment of its value. The valuation, it is provided, shall be made by a board and shall in no case exceed in amount the original cost as ascertained during construction by the United States supervising engineer. The other license permits a private party to erect a sawmill and wood- working plant upon a vacant lot in the city of San Juan. This lot was ceded to the United States by Spain and is in effect a military reservation. There was at the time no such mill in San Juan, and the installation of one will be very beneficial to the United States and to civilians. The granting of three other revocable licenses have been recom- mended, namely: (1) A license for the extension and improvement of a tramway, and REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 43 for changing its motive power to electricity. This tramway was con- structed many years ago under Spanish authority. (2) A license permitting a large sugar factory to lay some 300 feet of track along the margin of a public highway with a view of conveying cane to the mill. American capital to the extent of over a million dol- lars is being invested in this enterprise. (3) A license for the utilization 'of a water power, the temporary privilege to be auctioned. These are the only licenses that have been recommended. Some grants for public or quasi public improvements were confirmed under the local laws during the Spanish regime. About a half dozen railroad projects were thus sanctioned. The most important is a road intended to encircle the island near the coast, and to have a total length of some 338 miles, of which 132 have been constructed. To this road the Government guaranteed 8 per cent interest on a cost previously fixed and determined. The total sum to which the guaranty was intended to apply was nearly 10,000,000 pesos, and of course the inter- est guaranteed would be nearly 800,000 pesos annually; but the com- pany failed to complete the road within the time limit, and its status and rights under the original franchise are now undetermined. The company is operating the portion completed, the damages caused by the August hurricane having been repaired in principal part. There extends from San Juan to a suburban town, 7 miles away, a tramway that has recently been acquired by an American company now operating it. Its franchise has about forty years to run. There is no subsidy allowed, nor is there any guaranty of earnings. Another tramway extends from San Juan Harbor front, at Oatano, to Bayamon, a distance of 4 miles. It receives no guaranty or bonus. There are two other grants for railroads known to be in existence. One road was never built, and the other, some 17 kilometers long," was so seriously damaged by the recent storm that its service has not been reestablished. I believe there are a few more outstanding grants, but they are not of great moment. It is of the utmost importance for the industrial development of the island that someway should be quickly found by means of which public improvements can be undertaken by foreign capital. Capitalists can not now invest under any satisfactory conditions, for there is no author- ity in Puerto Rico that can confer corporate rights and authority upon associated capital applied to the building of roads and to the installa- tion of manufactories. The local laws respecting the development of natural resources and the establishment of industrial manufacturing works are ample and not without merit, but at present these statutes are practically a dead letter so far as new enterprises are concerned. It is recommended that this condition of things be changed at the earliest possible date. PUBLIC WORKS. The only works of public utility that are constructed in Puerto Eico through direct expenditure of the Government and under its immediate control are the fortifications, the barracks, the light-houses, and the military roads. The funds to pay for these undertakings were, all derived from local taxation. So it may be said that whatever exists in the way of forts, buildings, roads, etc., has been paid for by Puerto Eico. 44 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. The fortifications of San Juan are important and must Lave cost several millions; their extent and character, however, are not pertinent to this report. At Ponce and Mayag'uez are some valueless redoubts or small forts. The island coast is very well lighted indeed. There are thirteen lights in good condition, and they serve their purposes well. One new light is just being completed on Vieques Island and another is building on Mona Island. Both will be completed during the current fiscal year, making fifteen in all — enough for all present needs of commerce. The harbors of San Juan and Ponce are fairly well buoyed, but improvements are required, for which the budget contains an allot- ment. A few range beacons are also necessary. The military roads in the island are very valuable, but the need for their extension is most urgent. In no country in the temperate zone is this necessity half so imperative as here. Without them industrial development is impossible. Two- wheeled ox carts, pack horses, and mules comprise almost the only means of transportation. There is not a four-wheeled vehicle used by natives in the island for freighting or drayage purposes. For per- sonal conveyance light icarriages are used. The one great crop o the island, the haulage of which is considera- ble, is sugar and sugar cane. The tonnage of coffee and tobacco is inconsiderable. and good country roads will suffice to fetch them to the seacoast. But in the sugar districts good metalled roads are indispen- sable. A few through lines of a permanent, substantial character are in operation. Connecting San Juan and Ponce is a road of this class, 134 kilometers in length. Others are — Kilometers. From Cayey to Guayama 33 Catafio toward Arecibo 29 Rio Fiedras toward Fajardo, about 33 Mayaguez toward Ponce 14 There are a few other detached pieces, making in all 255 kilometers (159 miles) that are finished, except for some heavy bridging. About 65 kilometers are, or have been, under construction. The total length of all the military roads, completed or projected, is 719 kilometers. What may have been the total expenditure on these highways it is now impossible to ascertain, but it is the opinion of experienced American engineers that they can not be duplicated for less than $15,000 a mile. It is, therefore, easy to see that the completion of the military roads alone (and all of them are indispensably necessary) will cost over $4,000,000; and if to this be added the cost of completing those sections now under construction and the cost of supplying the bridges that are lacking, the whole will reach not less than $5,000,000. But these are only the principal lines of communication; it yet remains to connect all the interior towns with the main roads. The length of these minor roads will be not less than 250 miles and the cost not less than $10,000 per mile. Before this island can be said to have proper and suitable highways an expenditure of $8,000,000 must be made. There will still remain the construction or decided improve- ment of a network of farm roads and trails. Of course it will be a long time before such projects can be realized, no matter how prosperous the country may be. It is impossible for a person unfamiliar with tropical countries (especially with those which, like Puerto Rico, are rough and mountain- ous) to understand why practicable highways need cost such enormous REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 45 sums, but a residence in this island through one rainy season will make the reason quite clear. Not less than a half dozen times during the summer and fall there will be a rainfall of two or more inches in an hour. Early in August of this year a rain of 11 J inches fell at one place in four hours. On every occasion of great precipitation every river, rivulet, and brook is a raging- torrent. No road ditching is adequate to lead off the water, and the surging floods carry down drift and sweep away the bridges. The limestone soil becomes a mass of mud, and even empty carts can not be moved over any kind of roads save those which are thoroughly ballasted. For the various branches of public work the budget this year carries over $500,000. which is more than one fourth of the total of all appro- priations for the island. The public works are under the direction of a very competent officer of the Corps of Engineers of the Army, and the methods of administration and supervision customary in the United States are applied. The number of miles of telegraph wire in use is 669, and the number of miles of line is 493. The number of offices is 25. Six telephones are used in connection with the telegraph. In the hurricane of August 8 fully half the poles went down, but nearly all have been reestablished. The line is operated by the Army Signal Service, and is maintained without cost to the island. Its commercial receipts do not half pay the cost of maintenance and operation. The only harbor upon which there has been any public expenditure is that of San Juan. It is about 4 miles long and 1^ miles wide, but the area of anchorage ground for large sea vessels is not more than one-tenth the total area. Ships drawing 24 feet can enter freely, the entrance being easy. Those drawing 24 feet can lie alongside the bulkhead line to discharge directly without lightering. It is not the practice, however, for com- mercial vessels to unload there. Usually everything is lightered ashore. Under Spain much dredging was done and the deep-water area much enlarged. The soil was deposited on the marsh land or shallow-water front of the city, and much valuable land reclaimed by this process. The project for further harbor improvements was quite an ambitious one, for besides deepening the entrance to 28 feet, it was proposed by removing a point of shoal extending from a marsh to double the area of the inner port. Lying abreast of San Juan in this harbor are two swampy islands — Manglar, or Isle Grande, and Miraflores. Both could readily be reclaimed, and the area of the former would be very valuable for the erection of wharfs, storehouses, etc. Miraflores bounds the inner har- bor on the north, and it would seem that it could be made very valua- ble for naval purposes. An old powder magazine on it is now used as a lazaretto in connection with the quarantine service. The inner or eastern extension of the harbor is, however, too shallow for vessels of more than 12 or 15 feet in depth. It could be very easily dredged and the material removed could be deposited on the swamp islands above named. The reserve set aside for naval purposes by Executive order in March last includes a large number of private lands. Were the naval sta- tion established as proposed, these properties would have to be pur- chased, and their cost would be very considerable. It is suggested that a sum equal to the cost of extinguishing those private rights devoted to public works would suffice to reclaim a much 46 REPORT OK BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. larger area of swamp lands, and at the same time greatly extend this harbor. The commercial growth aud extension of the city and island would be much promoted by this course. To execute the present naval project would very much prejudice such extensions, as it would leave no adequate space for wharfs, docks, or storehouses. The harbor improvements in Puerto Rico were in the charge of a board of harbor works. This was a semipublic semilocal institution, of which there are many examples in European countries. It has the right to reclaim lands and to own and sell property, revenue being- derived from the tonnage tax, from shipping, harbor, and light dues, and from the sale or rental of unclaimed lands. These proceeds were applied to harbor improvements. The harbor at Ponce is little more than an open roadstead. All goods are lightered, there being no improvements save a small wharf built for landing imports, a very small aud inadequate affair. The business of the port, however, is large, and, with general industrial development, should be sufficient to justify such works of improvement as dredging and the construction of wharves and a breakwater. At present a wharf extending far enough out to reach 20 feet of water would require a structure quite 1,500 feet long. There was formerly a board of harbor works at Ponce, but it accom- plished nothing, and is not now iu existence. Mayaguez has had no public improvements worthy of the name save an old wharf built several years ago. This is said to have been con- structed badly and in the wrong place. It is a question whether the structure is worth repairing. The board of harbor works at San Juan was discontinued and the property placed in the charge of the department engineer officer. Recently the duties of harbor works were merged into those of public works in general and placed under charge of the board of public works, the president of which is an officer of the United States Army engineers. The property taken over from the old "Junta de Obras del Puerto" (board of harbor works) is of considerable value, consisting principally of dredges, tugs, and machine shops. MAIL SERVICE. The postal service has been under the direction and control of Mr. William H. Elliott, sent to the island shortly after its military occupa- tion by the Postmaster-General. Before the beginning of the present fiscal year the expense of this service in excess of receipts was made up from the general appropriations of the United States for mail service. Subsequent to that date the deficiency has been a charge to the revenues of the island. In the first quarter of the current economical year this deficit has been $17,234.04. By Executive order the mail service is placed under the supervision and direction of the director-general of posts, who reports direct to the Postmaster-General. The military governor has no authority or con- trol over the postal department, although Mr. Elliott is directed to fully confer with him. Details can not, therefore, be supplied concern- ing the operations of this service. Whatever money is required to make up the deficiency of expenses over receipts is supplied from the revenues of Puerto Rico. The accounts are audited by the auditor of the island, who reports to the military governor. It will be seen from the above and from the auditor's report that the expenses much exceed the income. Its cost for the year was estimated at $144,000 aud the receipts or income from sale of stamps, regis- trations, and money orders were figured at $80,000 per annum. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 47 Except for about three or four weeks after the hurricane the mails have been promptly received and forwarded. During the period referred to all means of transportation were disorganized throughout the island, and it was difficult or impossible to. promptly force* the mail carriers through on schedule time. THE QUARANTINE. By Executive order the quarantine service has been under the direc- tion" and supervision of Dr. Glennan, of the Marine-Hospital Service. He reports direct to the Surgeon-General of that service, but funds to meet expenditures are supplied from the insular treasury. His esti- mates for the year were about $23,000 for the service proper. There has been no epidemic or contagious disease in Puerto Rico since American occupation. The quarantine of vessels has been such as to very slightly inconvenience them or to embarrass trade, and yellow fever, which has prevailed in Cuba, has not effected a lodgment here. The quarantine service has been well administered by Dr. Glennan. THE TREASURY. Maj. James A. Buchanan, Fifteenth Infantry, is the treasurer of the island, filling the position created by Executive order of May 8, 1899. This officer has been in Puerto Rico since the American occupation, and since September, 1898, has been on duty in the insular customs service. For six months before he became treasurer he bad been the chief cus- toms collector for Puerto Rico. This experience was valuable to him in the office of treasurer. All moneys from whatever source collected or received are placed in the custody of the treasurer, and all advances are made by him, besides many disbursements. His office force of two clerks and a messenger boy has sufficed for clerical assistance. The funds received are all deposited with the War Department depos- itories, Do Ford & Co. and the American Colonial Bank, Each of these institutions is under "fidelity bonds for $500,000. The total number of disbursing officers is twenty-nine, and each of them is under bond of fidelity, in sums varying from $500 to $20,000. There have been no defalcations and no important disallowances in the auditing. About half of the disbursing officers are natives, and tbey are receiving valuable instruction which should profit them here- after. The new system of accounting is strange to the natives, and replaced one which seemed to Americans very complicated and laborious. The utilization of places of deposit for money instead of keeping it in safes is an innovation. The amounts in possession of disbursing officers is small, and the accounts of expenditures are demanded promptly. Formerly they had three months in which to account, but now the period allowed is but twenty days. All money accounts are in United States currency, and if provincial money is received it is credited by the depos- itories at the official rate of exchange, of 60 United States for 100 Puerto Rican. AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS. By Executive order of May 8, 1899, an auditing system for all receipts and disbursements of insular accounts was established, and about the same date Mr. J. R. Garrison was appointed auditor. He 48 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. arrived early in June and immediately entered upon his duties. Before the close of the month preparations were made, employees appointe'd or assigned, blank forms prepared, office rooms designated, and all was made ready for the installation qf the system, which went into effect on July 1, the beginning of the fiscal year, which here corresponds to the United States practice. Later blank forms were supplied from Washington, and the work has been carried on in accordance with the regulations of the War Department on this subject, which were promulgated in Washington on May 11, 1899. In order to supplement those regulations and cover minor points, defining more specifically the duties of the minor officers, orders were issued which would effect this result. (See General Orders, ]S~os. 87 and 101, current series, in Appendix.) The system has worked smoothly and well. As minor defects are developed the proper remedy is applied, and the native officials are becoming familiar with the method. Special attention is invited to the report herewith of Mr. J. E. Garri- son, auditor, dated September 30, 1899, to whom special mention is due for his efficient services. This report only covers the period of his incumbency. The receipts and expenditures of the military government for the period of occupation to June 30, 1899, have been audited under the supervision of Maj. C. H. Heyl, inspector-general, Department of Puerto Rico, assisted for a part of the work by Mr. W. T. Kent, expert account- ant, Inpector- General's office. Major Heyl's report is herewith and covers the period stated. The receipts and expenditures of customs have been separately audited by Mr. W. W. Barre, assistant auditor for the island. His report is also herewith. During the early period of military occupation there was no general treasurer. The commanding general gave orders for advancements and disbursements directly to the collectors of customs, and there was necessarily some confusion in accounts which it has been difficult to disentangle, but it is hoped the general statement herewith will be found satisfactory. In auditing these complex money returns it was not possible to hold strictly to the customary United States rules. In the confusion of mili- tary operations some disbursing agents neglected to take formal receipts, but the auditor is satisfied that the expenditures were all for a public purpose, and that all receipts were duly accounted for. In the accounts of the civil branches of the military government the auditing has been still more difficult. The collectors of internal rev- enue did not, under the then existing rules, state their accounts in the same manner as now. It was very difficult to secure the information required, and to secure adequate vouchers for the moneys disbursed. These civil accounts have not yet been entirely audited, and it will require seven weeks more to complete them. In one office particularly, i. e., public works, this has been especially difficult. Early in the cal- endar year the Director of Public Works was ordered to employ from 15,000 to 20,000 men on the roads — the many roads all over the island — the purpose being to afford relief to the poor and to improve the high- ways. The men were taken in great haste, and no record permitting a close audit was kept. In June these road operations were discontinued, for it was evident that the money was not accomplishing the objects sought to be gained. A new system has now been introduced by which it is easy to have method and regularity. The entire sum expended on roads during this period, i. e., before REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 49 work was stopped on those lines, was upward of $300,000, and, while it gave some relief to the laboring class, it did not produce the results to be expected in completed work on improved roads. If more time had been speut in arranging a better accounting system, the relief would have been as great and the product of the expenditure would have been much more useful and valuable. THE BUDGET. The insular presupuestos for 1897-98 and 1898-99 are as follows : Character of budget. Income. Expenditures. 1897-98. Pesos. 3, 939, 500. 00 1, 217, 700. 00 Pesos. 3, 536, 342. 19 1, 217, 700. 00 Total 5, 157, 200. 00 4, 754, 042. 19 1898-99. 4, 782, 500. 00 324, 592. 89 4, 457, 327. 31 324, 592. 89 Total 5, 107, 092. 89 4, 781, 920. 20 These last amounts, converted into dollars at peso =$0.60, United States money, give : Income $3,064,255.73 Expenditures 2,869,152.12 Surplus 195,103.61 The estimates for the fiscal year 1899-1900, under the military gov- ernment, are: Income $1,909,390.14 Expenditures 1, 943, 678. 11 Deficit 34,287.97 The estimate for the current year has recently been revised, in view of the reduction of income that must inevitably result from the reduced purchasing capacity of the island following upon greatly reduced exports. The figures given above are the result of this revision and indicate a probable deficit. Fortunately, however, there was brought over from the last fiscal year an unexpended balance of $450,152.83. It was hoped that it would be practicable to retain this for expenditure on roads, which are so sadly needed. The contingency of a calamity such as recently befell the island was not taken into account in preparing the year's project, and the hurricane emphasized the unwisdom of basing confident expecta- tions upon the use of this surplus for the purpose stated. While the above estimate of income is a conservative one, and ought not to exceed the receipts, yet there may be a greater falling off of customs and internal-revenue receipts than is indicated by the above. Trade conditions are very unsettled, and any decided change in the tax on importations, or any increase in the free list, will of course affect the budget. This project for expenditures has been very carefully studied, and a great many reforms have been introduced in all branches of the government. 12558 4 50 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Under Spanish rule there were 21 officials who received salaries exceeding $4,000 per annum, while now there are only two who receive as much as $4,000. The Spanish Governor-General received 20,000 pesos besides other allowances; the bishop of the diocese received 9,000 pesos, and the commandant of the troops received 8,000 pesos and horse allowances. Under Spanish rule 43 officials received over 3,000 pesos and 35 others between 2,000 and 3,000 pesos, while 108 persons in all received between 1,000 and 3,000 pesos. The number of officials drawing- corresponding salaries under the present regime are 17, 31, and 143, respectively. But notwithstanding the large reductions that have been made, it is not doubted that the number of employees is still excessive. It is not easy to know how best to curtail expenses by modifying laws and customs such as are found here. Constant watchfulness and observation only will show the way. Should it be the lot of the undersigned to pre- pare another annual budget the personnel will be still further reduced and many other economies introduced. Here follow statements of estimated receipts and expenditures in the Puerto Eican budget of 1899-1900: ESTIMATED RECEIPTS. Imposts : Land 1 $100,000.00 City 50,000.00 Industrial 10,000.00 Commercial 90, 000. 00 Mining 8, 000. 00 Property transfer 20, 000. 00 Trade-marks and patents 2, 000. 00 Diplomas 200.00 Licenses to carry arms 2, 000. 00 Stamp tax (proposed) 50, 000. 00 $332, 200. 00 Miscellaneous : Rents, etc., public property, etc 13, 149. 14 Judicial and other fines 5, 000. 00 Profit and loss 1,200.00 Back taxes 100, 000. 00 Donation for normal school building; at Faiardo 20, 000. 00 139, 349. 14 Customs : Actual collections, twelve weeks 357, 841. 00 Estimated, forty weeks , 1,000,000.00 1,357,841.00 Postal service : Sale of stamps, etc 80,000.00 Rent of post-office boxes 1, 000. 00 81, 000. 00 Total 1,910,390.14 Balance from 1898-99 450,452.83 Total available 2,360,842.97 ESTIMATE OF PROPOSED EXPENDITURES. Commanding general's office $32, 700.00 Insular police 165, 838. 00 Director-general of posts 22, 376. 00 Post-offices 88,510.25 Star route, service and rent 34, 001. 32 Cnlebra Island 1,000.00 Marine-Hospital Service 23, 690. 00 Superior board of health 11, 925. 00 Vaccination 2,300.00 Leper hospital 3, 336. 80 Board of charities 3,725.00 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 51 Orphan and insane asylums $49 ; 882. 00 Repairs and improvements to same 13' 238. 00 Aid to civil hospitals g 000. 00 Judicial hoard 12 216! 00 Supreme court 32' 040! 00 Provisional court 20' 700. 00 District courts 97' 4io_ QO Municipal courts 22' 680. 00 Board of prison control 13' 280. 00 Prison expenses 212' 864. 00 Advisory hoard 2' 200. 00 Civil secretary's office 19' 680. 00 State and municipal hureau n' 740. 00 Internal-revenue hureau 14 740, 00 Agricultural hureau g' 440] qq Collection of internal revenue 26 900.00 Collection of customs 91729. 90 Board of puhlic works 33' 470. 00 Repair of huildings "*." 26,' 000." 00 Repair of military roads 150, 000. 00 Repair of country roads 40' 000. 00 Construction of new roads 200' 000! 00 Harhor works 20 7721 94 Light-houses (engineering) 23^ 21L 84 Light-house inspection, huoys, etc 2l'l73.68 The treasurer's office 3' ooo." 00 The auditor's office 3l' 990] 00 Board-of education 27' 30o! 00 Secondary education " " go' OOO.' 00 Common schools (salaries) 209' 88000 School hooks I.".""" 3l'350i00 Library and museum 1 520 00 Pensions , \.~""". 1, 956! 00 Outstanding liahilities , 17 181.98 Total $1,943,678.71 RESUME. Estimated availahle resources. .. $2 360 842.97 Estimated expenditures " 1 943' Q^g] 71 Surplus 417,164.26 Taking up these items of income, a few remarks mav be appropri- ately made. The largest items of internal income are 'the land, city, industrial, and commercial taxes, estimated to amount to $250,000. Under these heads Spain collected 650,000 pesos. The reductions are due to two causes; one is the change in the rate of taxation, and the other is the fact that it is impossible, since the destruction of so much property by the hurricane, to collect the taxes. Agricultural land is now taxed about half as much as formerly. The income from indus- trial and commercial investments and business is taxed much less than before. Formerly the income from royal dues amounted to 148,000 pesos: at present this form of tax is unknown. The petroleum tax came to 61,000 pesos, but this is no longer levied. The other items in the budget under "imposts" sufficiently explain themselves, except the last of $50,000 from a proposed stamp tax. lhis has not yet been instituted, but is contemplated in case the neces- sities of the government should require it. It is proposed to place a tax of 2 cents on each bank check, draft, note, or receipt, and it is estimated this will yield $50,000. The miscellaneous items hardly require an explanation, except the one for "back taxes." It seems to have been the practice in Puerto -Kico for the treasury department to grant extensions of time in the 52 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GEXEKAL GEO. W. DAVIS. collection of back taxes. In other cases there were controversies ' respecting the accuracy or justice of the assessments, and each year there was a considerable amount uncollected. In the year 1898-99 this amount was larger than usual, and the civil secretary expects to secure 8100,000 from this source during the current year. Under the head of "Postal service" is mentioned the certain deficit in income from this service. As before remarked, this service is not under the supervision of the military governor. At the beginning of the year the estimated income from customs was $30,000 per week, or upwards of $1,500,000 for the year. The receipts for" the first ten weeks reached this average, and for twelve succeeding weeks came very near to it; but the collections are falling off, as might be expected, and it is not probable that for the remainder of the year the customs income will exceed $25,000 per week. In May the number of custom-houses was ten, and the expense of collection nearly 8 per cent of the receipts. This ratio has siuce been reduced below 6 per cent, the change being brought about principally by reduction in the number of employees and in other items of expense. The number of custom-houses has been reduced to seven, as it has been found to be practicable to supply all requisite facilities for the small ports by substituting for the collector and his employees one deputy, who acts at the same time as customs guard. When importers wish to land goods at any of these ports, they give timely notice of such intention, whereupon the deputy, under orders from the chief col- lector of the island, receives the goods, employing such special help as he may need, the cost of this extra assistance being repaid by the importers. This plan has just been instituted, and it promises to result in a saving of considerable expense, without at the same time impairing the efficiency of the service. Attention is invited to the report herewith of Maj. Charles L. Davis, Eleventh Infantry, collector of customs for the island. From the papers submitted data will be obtained concerning receipts and expenses at custom-houses, tonnage dues, and export and import trade. It is not yet possible to make this last report complete so as to cover the whole period of military occupation. Some data, still lacking, will be sup- plied at an early date. The custom-house at the port of Arroyo was destroyed in the storm of August and all the records were lost, so it will be impossible to add to existing statistical information respect- ing the amounts collected at that place. I have collated from statistical reports found here some valuable data respecting receipts at the custom-houses under Spanish domina- tion, covering the period from 1890 to 1897: Customs receipts. Year. Export duties. Import duties. Tonnage and storage duos and fines. Total. 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 Total Mean Pesos. 112, 018 107, 607 121,109 179,467 291, 150 180, 286 268, 882 241, 310 1, 507, 829 188,478 Pesos. 2, 465, 161 2, 088, 781 1,766,638 1,939,437 2, 240, 523 2, 846, 767 3, 101. 511 2,481,965 Pesos. 162,157 290, 943 264, 776 246, 926 Pesos. 2, 577, 179 2, 190, 388 1, 887, 747 2,118,904 2, 693, 830 3, 323, 996 3, 635, 109 2, 970, 201 18, 930, 783 964, 802 21, 403, 354 2, 366, 347 241, 200 2, 675, 419 REPORT OF BRIGADIER- GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 53 It will be observed that the total collections for the four years, 1894-1897, inclusive, amounted to 12,623,136 pesos, or a mean for each year of 3,155,784 pesos, which is the equivalent of $1,893,470.40 Ameri- can money. As is well known, the present rates of customs tax are quite different from those prevailing in the past, many articles being on the free list; moreover, there is no export tax, so it is impracticable to establish any comparisons of details and schedules. When the compilation of statistics is completed a better under- standing will be possible as respects the details of trade. The data lacking will soon be forwarded. Eeviewing the items of the budget covering proposed expenditures for the current year, 1 would remark that, while they have been very care- fully studied, it is not impossible that variations will have to be made. In the auditor's office account is kept with the several items of appro- priation as above. In case there should be a deficiency under any one head the same will be met by a transfer from some other, or from the general surplus. The first quarter of the fiscal year has just ended, and the auditor's report shows that expenditures have been kept within the ordinary receipts. Commanding general's office. The allowance under this head covers the clerical force for both mili- tary and civil work. It has been found necessarv to have a much larger force of clerks, interpreters, and translators than would be needed under ordinary conditions obtaining in military departments. In such departments there have ordinarily been allowed a consider- able number of clerks paid from army appropriations, but Puerto Eico has no such allotment. If such assistance had been allowed, the expenditures for the civil force would have been about half what is assigned above. Insular police. Under this head see remarks relative thereto in another place. While the present unsettled state of civil affairs continues it will be necessary to retain this police force. Postal expenses. • See remarks elsewhere relative thereto. The cost of the postal serv- ice under Spain was about 70,000 pesos. It is now somewhat larger, but its control and supervision is retained by the Postmaster-General. Gulebra Island. This is not a part of any municipality, and as its inhabitants— some 600 m number— are very poor, it has been administered directly from the central government. The administration and police matters are under a delegate, who receives $60 per month. There is also a physi- cian to look after health matters. Marine-Hospital Service. See remarks elsewhere under the title of "Quarantine." 54 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Superior board of health. This board is composed of the chief surgeon of the Department, the naval surgeon stationed in San Juan, one other army surgeon and two local physicians. It has general supervision over sanitary matters, vaccination, and the lepers. In the months of January to July 790,000 persons were vaccinated in Puerto Eico, at a cost of a little less than $30,000 to the insular treasury. There were many cases of smallpox when Puerto Eico was occupied, but since this great work of vaccination was completed there have been no cases reported. There are some 50 unfortunate persons in Puerto Eico who are afflicted with the dread disease, leprosy. Arrangements are being perfected for their isolation and proper care. Board of charities. This consists of eight persons; two are natives of the island and the others are army and navy surgeons. This board has supervision over the insane, the orphans, and other charities. There are 125 of the former and some 400 of the latter. Both asylums are located at San Juan. Connected with the orphan asylum is a school. The aggregate of expense under this board is esti- mated at $66,000. This includes $13,000 for very necessary repairs and improvements to the buildings, which were in a very bad sanitary condition. The accommodations are quite inadequate and should be greatly extended. Not more than half the island's insane are in the asylum, because of lack of accommodations. The board of charities has also had charge of the distribution of relief supplies sent for saving the poor from starvation. A special report of the president of this board is forwarded herewith, from which can be learned something of the magnitude of this great undertaking. Major Hoff, chief surgeon of the Department and president of the board of charities, has shown very marked administrative ability in managing the distribution of these supplies. Aid to civil hospitals. There are eight hospitals in which the sick are cared for. The munici- pal resources are so inadequate that I felt it to be expedient to extend some financial help to these institutions; accordingly, $1,000 is allowed to each of the eight civil hospitals. Judicial board. Attention is invited to remarks elsewhere under the head of "Judi- ciary." The board consists of three distinguished native lawyers, the law judge of the United States provisional court, and the judge-advocate of the department. Supreme court— Provisional court — District courts — Municipal courts. These are elsewhere referred to at some length. See also herewith report by Maj. A. C. Sharpe, judge-advocate of the department, whose assistance has been of great value to me. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 55 Board of prison control. This board consists of the chief justice of the supreme court, two other distinguished native lawyers, the judge-advocate of the Depart- ment, and the commanding officer of the Puerto Eican battalion. In Major Sharpe's report above adverted to will be found much useful information respecting the operations of this board. See also remarks elsewhere, under the title "Public order, etc." Advisory hoard. It was found to be very difficult to administer many important matters without the assistance of men who were familiar with local economic and social conditions. An advisory board supplies this deficiency. The acknowledged leader of each political party was asked to name three men to serve gratuitously on such a board. The leaders responded and the six men so named, together with three who were not connected with any political party, are constituted a board of advice and consul- tation. Another moving motive was to put into existence a body that might be regarded as the predecessor of a legislature such as a territorial gov- ernment would require. The proceedings of the board have not been without friction. In con- sideration of one question referred to it, that had in it an element of patronage, there was a disagreement and three of the members resigned, but later the troubles were overcome. The recommendations of the board have been of much value, but it is found to be expedient to ask for no recommendations that involve political considerations. Civil secretary — Municipal and state bureau — Internal-revenue bureau — Agricultural bureau. These public offices, that formerly pertained to the state, treasury, and interior departments, are now under the civil secretary, who reports to the military governor. The reorganization facilitates business. All of the large amount of correspondence that relates to municipal affairs, elections, adjustment of budgets, etc., comes up through the chief of the municipal bureau. The island must, it is supposed, ulti- mately derive its principal revenue from internal taxation, but this can not be until a new scheme of taxation for the whole island can be worked out. This work requires very careful consideration and can not be prop- erly done until the general policy to be pursued with respect to the future status of Puerto Rico is known. It is therefore necessary to maintain a bureau of internal revenue, having a personnel familiar with the local laws and conditions that relate to internal taxes. The treasurer of the island is not yet equipped for handling this department. The whole wealth of the island depends upon agriculture, but very little has yet been done in development of new industries that depend upon agrarian operations. It is hoped that through the reorganized agricultural bureau a beginning in farming experiments may be made. Collection of customs. The cost of these collections is estimated at $91,729, which is equal to 6§ per cent of the amount estimated to be collected, but several reductions of personnel and salaries have been made, and these will 56 REPORT OF rSRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. reduce the ratio. It is also remarked that bad the receipts from cus- toms dues held up to the amount estimated before the recent revision and reduction, the cost of collections would have remained the same. It is hoped and expected that at the end of the year it will be shown that the cost of collecting the revenue will not exceed 5^ per cent of the amount received. In the three mouths just passed the total collections amounted to $378,851, and the total of advances to customs ofhcers for payment of expenses is $25,797, which gives a ratio of receipts and expenditures of 100:6.8, but some unexpended balances remain in the hands of these collectors. There is also included under the head of expense a consid- erable amount for repair of damages to custom-houses and property by the storm. Were these deducted the expense would not exceed 5i per cent. Board of public works — Repair of buildings — Repair of military roads — Repair of country roads — Construction of new roads — Harbor works — Light-houses. Respecting these important items reference is made to remarks else- where under the head of "Public Works." The board is composed of Captain Judson, of the Corps of Army Engineers; one American civil engineer, and one native engineer. The inspector of the light-house service, following the practice in the United States, is an officer of the Navy. The treasury — The auditor. Reference is made to remarks under similar titles to be found else- where in this report. Board of education — Secondary education — Common schools — School boolcs — Library and museum. These subjects have been fully discussed elsewhere, and the remarks thereunder are respectfully referred to. There were practically no school books in the island suitable for use. A large expenditure for their procurement was necessary. Pensions. Spain allowed under this head 348,000 pesos, carried by the island budget, and 1,560 pesos by the provincial deputation, making a total equivalent to $209,736. The only allowances for pensions now recognized are $600 to the widow of a distinguished patriot and public man, and the same amount to another man of the same character who, now about 70 years of age, has a large family of dependent children. He has rendered some forty years of public service as a school teacher aud in other important capacities. The remaining amount of $750 is allowed the three youths who last year were sent abroad to pursue studies as teachers and who are still so absent; but they have been notified that the allowance will be discontinued. Outstanding liabilities. These are stated by the civil secretary at $17,181, and represent audited accounts. There are other claims against the insular treasury that have not yet been liquidated, among them one of the French REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 57 Eailway for a large sum as subvention on its lines. As the concession to this road is claimed to have been forfeited, the claim is not recog- nized. Another claim, that of the Josephite Brethren (Padres Escola- pios Pios), was some time since forwarded to the War Department. No doubt many other claims will be presented in time. Here follows an abstract of the budget of receipts and expenditures of Puerto Eico for the fiscal years 1897-98 and 1898-99, both for the island proper and for the provincial deputation : EECEIPTS. Budget of the island: 1. Laud and other taxes 2. Customs 3. Taxes on monopolies 4. State property 5. Contingent receipts Budget of provincial deputation: Total of receipts 1897-98. Total for both budgets. EXPENDITURES. Budget of the island : 3 . General liabilities 2.- Justice 3. War 4. Finance 5. Navy 6 . State 7. Interior Budget of provincial deputation : 1. Deputation provincial _- 2. State 3. Interior Pest 576, 3, 132, 184, 9, 36, 200. 00 900. 00 200. 00 300. 00 900. 00 1898-99. 1,217,700.00 5, 157, 200. 00 423 ,252 260 222 501. 60 818.80 377. 76 SO0. 00 668. 20 878, 175. 83 221, 210 261. 48 254. 00 184. 52 Pesos. 901, 200. 00 , 377, 900. 00 312, 200. 00 9, 300. 00 181,900.00 324, 592. 89 5, 117, 092. 89 498, 501. 60 4.54, 773. 80 1, 252, 377. 76 225, 825. CO 222, 668. 20 592, 653. 83 1,210,527.12 227, 772. 89 ""98,820.66 Total for both budgets ! 4,754,042.19 4,781,920.20 MORTGAGES. The mortgage indebtedness of Puerto Eico from 1880 to 1898, inclusive, is shown in the tabulated statement herewith. The tabulation was com- piled by Mr. Coll y Toste, the civil secretary, from the records of property transfers. Of course it has not been possible to verify these records since the American occupation. Elsewhere are allusions to this important subject and attention is invited thereto. The current indebtedness of merchants and others, covered by commercial paper, will also amount to a large sum. The total indebtedness may reach, if not exceed, $50,000,000. The island gov- ernment, however, has no debt— a very fortunate circumstance; nor do the municipalities owe any large sums, the aggregate of all their loans not reaching $1,000,000. On January 19, 1899, General Henry issued orders that, with refer- ence to agricultural property and machinery, the laws relating to the foreclosure of mortgages and all legal and judicial proceedings there- under, should be suspended for one year from the date named, provided the interest on such debts be paid when due at a rate not exceeding 12 per cent per annum. The order authorizing suspension of foreclosure did not apply to the collection of insular or municipal taxes. This order has been productive of both benefits and injuries. It has saved many a poor proprietor from the loss of his home by foreclosure, but it has displeased those who held the securities, and has resulted in the withholding of loans to others, who, wishing to borrow, were denied the privilege by those able to lend, because the latter feared that at the 58 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. expiration of the year the provisions of the order would be extended, and they would be again denied the right of forced collection of indebt- edness by foreclosure. Some appeals asking for reissue of the order in question so as to make it apply for another year, and others from the mortgagees, protesting against further extension have been pre- sented. The rates of interest agreed upon in these secured loans were in many cases far above the rates that agricultural lauds ever pay in the United States. Rates exceeding 12 per cent are common here, and many loans are secured by mortgage where the interest promised is IS and 20 per cent. Of course the agricultural industry in Puerto Rico cau not long be burdened with such a tax. In the period following the evacuation, and before the promulgation of this order by General Henry, a large number of mortgages were foreclosed, and had there been no interference with legal process for foreclosure a very considerable part of the land of Puerto Rico would in a brief time have changed hands, the economical and industrial condi- tions being such that it was in the power of creditors to have forced foreclosures. In Cuba the Spanish governor-general suspended foreclosures in 1896, and there was another suspension by General Blanco in 1897, while, in 1898, General Brooke again extended the suspension for another period. It would appear that General Henry followed this precedent. This is a very important matter which deserves thorough considera- tion. Taking into account the present depressed condition of indus- tries and business, it seems probable that many of the existing proprie- tors will soon be sold out. This was the subject of a special report to the Department under date of September 5, 1899, and attention to it is respectfully invited. The cane growers are in a better economic condition than any other agrarian proprietors. Those having modern machinery have, at the present prices of sugar, a margin of profit reaching in exceptional cases 1 cent per pound of sugar x^roduced, and these men are able to arrange not only to meet their old engagements, but also to obtain new loans. The coffee growers, however, are in very poor shape, for, with the already low prices and the losses by storms, they have no way of meet- ing overdue payments, to say nothing of securing additional credits. POLITICS. Elsewhere in this report will be found allusions to the political par- ties which have existed in the recent past and to those that still exist. The two political parties having active organizations and representa- tion in all the municipalities are designated, respectively, Liberal and Republican; but very recently the Liberals have dissolved and reor- ganized under the name of the Federal Party. Its programme, or what we should call its platform, dated October 1, 1899, will be found in the appendix. While known by the name of Liberals they had no written platform. Those associated under the name of the Republican Party anuounced their platform in March last. This will also be found in the appendix. There are some other active groups having political aims, but no formal organizations. Some call themselves the Labor Party, and there is said to be an offshoot of this with socialistic tendencies. The hope of all politicians in this island is for an autonomic govern- ment. Individuals of both parties differ as to the time when home rule REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 59 should be instituted, but all have that ultimate object constantly in mind. There has been no general election in Puerto Kico since March, 1898, and the issue then at stake was not one that permitted a judgment as to the relative partisan strength of those now calling themselves Federals and Republicans. The names of the parties were then different, and the question at issue was one that is not now pending. Five parties were represented, and the one then called Autonomist-Liberal prevailed. Each of the two parties now struggling for mastery claims the majority of voters. The people know that municipal elections are soon to be held, and there will be a very active campaign for political mastery of localities. The successful party will hope and expect to elect delegates to and control a Territorial legislature, which all appear to expect will soon be in existence. As respects the principles of these two parties, no characteristic dif- ferences are stated. Each desires to control the insular government, and considers the first elections as stepping stones to that end. There is much unseemly partisan strife in some towns. A tendency to permit political differences to control in personal relations appears to exist. Individuals of the opposite party are often rated as criminals or blackguards or as in some way disreputable. Puerto Eieaus have had elections, so-called, for many years, but there was no real freedom of action. The government always elected its candidates and the people understood that this would be so. They might turn out generally or stay at home; the result was the same. There was formerly no sufficient motive for zeal and activity, but now there is a reward in sight. Close observers who are old residents, but nonpartisan, declare that whichever party prevails we may expect a continuance of methods similar to those of the past, and a corrupt government administered solely in the interest and for the aggrandize- ment of the party in power. Under the title of "Municipalities" there are stated some of the condi- tions that exist. In order that the town councils may be elected by the people instead of being appointed, as done heretofore and at present, orders have been given for electiqns, and these will very soon take place. ' While the franchise will be a restricted one, permitting only taxpay- ers and those who can read and write — say, 5 per cent of the popula- tion — to vote, those elected will probably be of the same class as those formerly in power, coucerning whom there have been the most bitter complaints of maladministration and misuse of power. It remains to be seen if the chosen representatives of the people will show a better record than their predecessors, who held office by appointment. It is scarcely possible that it should be worse. These party leaders have read of civil rights, are somewhat familiar with representative institutions existing in the Uuited States and else- where, and in their essays and political utterances picture to the Puerto Eicans as soon to be theirs all the joys and privileges that the best- governed countries possess. Their promises are certainly alluring. The old Puerto Eican government was the rule of a class, and the common or plain people had no other relation to the government than as subjects. They had been thoroughly taught obedience, and accepted the situation without more than a murmur, and repression always ended the murmuring. A political leader is always received with acclamations of praise by his friends and with maledictions by his opponents. The plain people have been led and governed and controlled so long that they expect nothing else; and the leaders will see that they are^not disappointed. 60 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Appeals to send military officers to take charge of municipal gov- ernments are constant, because, it is alleged, those of minority repre- sentation in the town councils are oppressed, buffeted, and insulted. So summary a course is objectionable, and only in three places have the civil authorities been replaced by the military. At this writing- appeals are daily received from one of the principal towns in the island detailing the civil commotion and state of unrest that prevail, supple- mented with a request that a military man be sent to displace the towu council and assume entire charge. From the same town reports come of threats of personal violence toward public men. A military detach- ment in that locality has orders to see that the public peace is preserved, but to interfere in no way with civil administration. An election will soon be held there and the experiment tried of local self-government by chosen representatives. It is of record that a few nights since a bottle filled with ordure was thrown into and broken in the sitting room of the family of the alcalde. A night or two later the compliment was returned by a similar salute in the home circle of a rival political leader. So suspicious are these native politicians that no military officer can be for one month stationed in any town, but no matter how careful he may be in abstaining from any participation with political men and measures, he is sure to be accused by one party or the other of a lean- ing to its opponent. If such officer should chance to be seen speaking to a politician or showing any civility to one, some rival is certain to assert that the officer has gone over to the enemy, and it is asked that he be at once relieved. It is, of course, impossible to comply with such requests. All military officers are enjoined to abstain abso- lutely from anything, whether word or deed, that could in any way impair their usefulness for impartial and unbiased action. MUNICIPALITIES. This word, as applied in Puerto Eico with respect to government, has no equivalent in the United States. In one respect it resembles the city governments in the States — i. e., it is an administration by a mayor and towu council, as in our own cities; but here the powers of a cor- poration are not conferred by legislative enactment, as with us, nor are the jurisdiction and control limited to the area covered by streets and buildings, but includes farms, pastures, forests, waste lands, and swamps. In the United States what is called a town or township is here called a municipality; but, unlike our rural towns, it is governed and administered in the same manner as our cities, and its officials have duties and responsibilities very much like those of our own city officers. This system of administering local government is understood to have been general throughout all parts of the colonies of Spain that were inhabited by Europeans or their descendants. Article 53 of the auton- omic scheme of government for Puerto Rico, proclaimed by royal decree of November 25, 18!)7, made municipal government compulsory for every group of inhabitants numbering more than 1,000. The practice was, and is, to subdivide the country into what we would call town- ships, and to supply these divisions with local governments similar to those that are accorded to our cities; so here were found in control the municipal councils formed on the old lines. Each municipality has a mayor, or alcalde, from two to five assistant alcaldes, and from ten to thirty aldermen, also a secretary. These com- REPORT OP BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS, 61 nose what is called the ayuntamieuto, which in English is properly named the town council. Other officials are: A municipal judge, a prosecutor, a secretary, a municipal physician, police, taxgatherers, and school board. The municipal district is divided into wards, called here barrios. At the head of each of these is a comissario, or agent, appointed by the town council, and reporting directly to the municipal alcalde. The town council had power to frame laws, not inconsistent with the general statutes, respecting education, highways, health, and public order to levy and collect taxes, and to borrow and expend money. The members of the council are civilly responsible for any damage caused by their acts. . Associated with the council is a municipal board, appointed by the town councils, having numbers equal to the whole number composing the municipal council, but their functions related exclusively to financial measures. Only taxpayers were eligible to sit on either board. From the year 1873 the councilmen were required by law to be appointed by popular election, the suffrage being more or less restricted. The appointment of mayors, according to the laws which had been in force for some time, was in the power of the governor general, to whom three names from which to make a selection were sent by the council, but if the names of the parties sent were not to his liking, the governor could instead appoint any other councilman, or even an individual out of the council. This case, which the law recognized as an excep- tional procedure, became the general rule. By this means the Govern- ment secured direct and immediate intervention, not only in the municipal administration, but also in the election of representatives for the Cortes, a very essential point in Spanish practical politics. The practical working of this system had been most unsatisfactory to the Puerto Eicans during Spanish rule, and is condemned by all who have had opportunity for observation. With the exit of Spanish power and the advent of the United States military rule, it became necessary to find some means through which the councils could be kept going with- out the intervention of elections, which were impracticable. The island is racked and torn by political animosities. Under the title of "The former regime" the parties are named which have striven and are striving for mastery. Municipal elections were impossible for several reasons. In the first place, the whole framework of society was disorganized, in consequence of the war and the change of sovereignty. The civil disorders pro- duced a sort of reign of terror, and disturbers of the peace intimidated almost everyone. As offshoots or outgrowths of the times and of the disturbed conditions two political parties came into being, each striving for mastery of the island when it should be given Territorial existence. It is asserted that each resorted to measures of intimidation and threat that did not leave the well disposed in a state of mind to permit of a free ballot and a fair count. When vacancies occurred in the towns occupied by the invading army the military commanders filled vacancies of alcaldes and town councilmen, for there was no other practical way of preserving town government, even in name. After General Brooke assumed command of the department on October 18, he continued the practice, and General Henry pursued the same course, but attempted to regulate the balance of political power by requiring vacancies to be filled in such a way that the councils would be half and half, Liberal and Eepublican. His orders to this 62 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. effect have been continued, but much friction has ensued, for when a majority Of one controlled the action of the council on any question it was easy for one man to so manipulate as practically to control the action of the ayuntamiento. The Advisory Board convened by department order, consisting of five able and representative men who do not belong to either political party, and whose opinions were asked respecting certain features of the existing government, remarked as follows respecting municipal affairs: Elections have been held in Puerto Rico for the last thirty years with different kinds of suffrage and with divers electoral systems. Unfortunately all the svstems have resulted m a farce. On the one hand, the Government always tried to corrupt the suffrage in order to obtain its political ends; on the other hand, the gross igno- rance of the large electoral body has always been a fruitful field for the germination and growth of all kinds of abuses. The abuses that exist in municipalities are notorious. In many of them in this island misgovernment and chaotic conditions are the rule. In a few society seems to have resolved itself into its original elements of individuals acting without concert. In such places civil order is secured through the presence therein of military detachments or through the aid of the insular police. The aggregate of all the municipal budgets for the year 1897-98 amounted to 2,697,949 pesos, while the total for the current fiscal year has been brought down to 1,429,981 pesos. This last figure is believed to be much too high; but without the cooperation of honest and public- spirited men it is impossible to know where to make reductions. Just before the hurricane an election was ordered to be held for munici- pal officers in one of the towns, but the confusion caused by the hurri- cane prevented the consummation of this measure. Arrangements have been made to complete this election and to hold others throughout the island in pursuance of an order recently issued, in which are contained full directions for conducting the different steps. By the end of the year it is hoped that all municipalities will have in office town oificers of their own choice, so that it will be possible to have a fair test of the capacity of these people to conduct their local affairs in an orderly, honest, and economical manner. The rules governing these elections will result in the supremacy of the dominant party in each town, giving that party a good working majority; but the minority will also have at least a one-third representation. As before stated, the number of municipalities is now sixty-nine— that is to say, the whole area of the island is made up of political divi- sions which, while municipalities in so much as concerns the nature or character of government, are such territorial subdivisions as in our own country would be called townships. County and parish subdivisions are unknown, and there never has been any machinery for conducting the administrative affairs of such subdivisions. By recent orders five district courts were created. These districts, or legal jurisdictional areas, might appropriately be styled counties, as they have an area and population not greater than those commonly included in such subdivisions in the States of the Union. But it does not seem practicable to change from the present sys- tem—this for the reason that the existing municipal government is well known and understood, while the Anglo-Saxon county organization is new to the people. To cut loose suddenly from the familiar gov- erning system that now exists would be very difficult. The basis of municipal government in all Latin countries appears to have been the Roman municipium. This latter, once independent, was secured by conquest, reduced and incorporated into the Roman commonwealth KEPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 63 under the name given, and admitted to a more or less ample participa- tion in the rights of citizenship, retaining, after the annexation, their own distinct organization and political divisions, and their own mag- istrates, legislatures, and judicatories; but being, nevertheless, subject to the general control of the sovereign body in Rome, Whatever their orio-in, we now have in Puerto Rico sixty-nine of these political divisions, each entirely independent of all the others and subordinate only to the central government. While this arrangement brings the central gov- ernment into direct touch with the towns, it also results m a much greater mass of official correspondence and intercourse than would be necessary in a State of 1,000,000 inhabitants subdivided and governed as in the American Union. _ With us, county supervisors, or county commissioners, with boards oi assessors, have jurisdiction or authority over the whole county of ten or twenty towns or civil districts, and the governing and administrative body consists only of a few trustees or " selectmen," and justices of the peace, often without salary. This gives the utmost simplicity to the governmental organization in our towns and saves expense, while here the machinery required for a municipality (town) is as complicated as m our incorporated cities. The Puerto Ricans, however, are accustomed to this organization, and have no knowledge of any other. Gradually the transformation, if finally found to be desirable, can be made, but a radical measure disjointing and disarranging the existing municipal system would be deplored. By orders of the military governors, some improvements have already been effected. Municipal courts have been organized, the number of officials being reduced more than half, and several superfluous offices have been abolished. All this has been done in response to public sentiment here formally expressed. Still there has been no change as respects the form of government; the modification relates only to the present administration. The laws of the country are not bad; on the contrary, many of them are excellent. It is only the bad administra- tion of those laws that I have endeavored to reform. The number of municipalities is excessive, and many of them are unable to sustain the burden of separate existence. Appeals for finan- cial help are constantly coining in, accompanied by the statements that the taxes can not be collected; that officials, school-teachers, and the police are unpaid, and that the sick are without medicines and attendance. . . In response to these appeals, the petitioners are enjoined that the only measure of relief suggested is the amalgamation of the weak with the stronger towns. In one case this merging of two towns was accom- plished after public voting. The objections to amalgamation are various and some of them have weight. It is asserted to be the rule that the taxes collected through- out a municipal district are almost exclusively expended in maintain- ing the officials, police, etc., who live in the central pueblo, or village, and that should one small place be merged into a large one, the former would have no corresponding benefit and would escape the taxgatherer no better than before. Another ground of objection is the woefully bad means of communi- cation between the municipal centers. Hardly any of the roads between any of the towns are worthy of the name, and it is often absolutely - impossible for travelers to get from one town to another save on foot or on horseback. There are other reasons assigned for refusal on the part of these 64 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. feeble municipalities to agree to being merged into others. The above set forth are the most cogent. On the other hand, the reasons why the consolidations ought to be effected are many aud scarcely need to be stated. A committee of oue of the political parties recommended a consolidation whereby the number of municipalities should be reduced to twenty-six. This board remarked : It is very important that a plan should be thought out to reduce the present excess- ive number of municipalities. The present number had its origin in Spanish times when only employees and those persons paying taxes of $25 and above had the right to vote for representatives to the national parliament. The government stimulated the formation of small municipalities, so as to be able to count on the votes of alcaldes, secretaries, doctors, priests, and other employees. These small villages are very badly governed, and can not support the excessive charges which the present law of municipalities burdens upon them. But they are afraid to annex themselves to the larger towns, which would absorb their income without giving them the nec- essary service required by every locality in order to live comfortably and decently. This committee has thought of two methods which it thinks necessary in order to diminish the present number of municipalities. One is to promote the formation of municipal districts composed of two or more small towns. Each town would preserve its name aud individuality, and would be governed by an alcalde and three or four minor employees. The municipal district would be governed by an assembly com- posed of delegates from each of the towns therein comprised. This assembly would vote the budget for the whole district, of which two-thirds of the part collected from each town would be assigned to that town's local expenses, such as town doc- tor, medicines, slaughterhouse, meat market, schools, health, police, etc. In this way the small towns would not have to fear that, on dispensing with their own councils and annexing themselves to the larger towns, they would lack the service they to-day enjoy, for, on the contrary, they should have better service and more benefits thau they now have. The other method is to stimulate small towns in the neighborhood of the larger ones to annex themselves, assuring them that they will not be absorbed, and that their local existence would be bettered. Equal guaranties should be granted to the rural wards (barrios) constituting cen- ters of population — for example, Jayuya in Utuado and Catauo in Bayamon. These wards desire to be segregated from their municipalities, alleging that they pay heavy municipal taxes, and that the municipality to which they form part give their local needs no attention, leaving them unprovided with doctor, dispensary, meat market, police, street lighting, and other services, aud usiug the greater part of their share of taxation to the improvement of the large or head town of the municipal district. The plan is impracticable save by the military mandate, and that is objectionable in a democracy, a form of government which it is thought to develop here, if the moving thought in the United States is correctly grasped. The only practicable plan is to limit and restrict the number of municipal officials, fix and define their sources of revenue, supervise expenditures, check excesses, reduce salaries, improve roads and other means of communication, and convince the people that a combination of two or three weak towns would secure for all pueblos, near or remote, a better economic and social state than they could secure by separate existence. But this must all be taught by experience and example. So great have been and are the social disorders and economic mis- management that these towns which have abundant wealth and should* be able to give ample securities for loans can not secure advaftces from credit institutions for the most obviously necessary improvements and repairs. But three towns in the island have any but the most rudimentary arrangements for water supply, and only one has a sewer system — a very poor one at that. There are very few that have adequate municipal buildings; and schoolhouses owned by the towns are generally lack- ing. Hence the majority of the municipalities are bankrupt, or so nearly so that as borrowers they have no standing. There are a few exceptions. Fajardo has just negotiated a loan of $20,000 to be REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 65 applied to the erection of a normal trade school — this sum to be raised to $40,000 by an advance of $120,000 which has been authorized from the insular revenues — all to be expended under the general super- vision of the board of public works. Arecibo has the promise of a loan of $40,000 for the completion of a system of water supply, and general sanction will be given to the application to make this loan, without, however, guaranteeing the payment. Ponce, a town of 45,000 inhabi- tants, is also endeavoring to make a loan, but the money is proposed to be used to pay a floating debt. San Juau was long since bonded for $600,000 to pay for water installation which at the time of American occupation was unfinished . My predecessor advanced to this city $28,000 from insular revenues, which sufficed to permit the turning on of the water. He had the intention to advance a further sum of $32,000 for other city improvements: but as the capital is in a better financial con- dition than any other town, and abundantly able to provide by taxa- tion for all its needs, further advance from insular revenues has been refused. The bonds of San Juan, just referred to, carry 7 per cent interest and provision for amortization, and were bought by an Ameri- can banking house and offered to investors; but the firm Las succeeded in placing but an insignificant number, notwithstanding long and general advertisement. Elsewhere reference is had to municipal elections shortly to be held. To what extent the installation of duly elected town councils will add to the confidence of investors remains to be demonstrated, but it is feared that the immediate effect will not be of great moment. The investors will probably prefer to await developments and to take noth- ing for granted, They will also note whether the laws of contracts and mortgages are such that protection to invested capital will be assured, and whether the local courts see to it that these laws are faithfully executed. Until municipal government and administration is reformed and ele- vated to a very much higher plane than now, I see no hope of greatly improved social, domestic, or economic conditions. The aggregate of all loans from the insular treasury asked for by the municipalities amounts to many millions. All have, of course, been denied. The applicants for loans are referred to bankers and money lenders, but the latter scarcely even consider the requests except In the cases mentioned above. It is but just to say that at the time the advance referred to was made to San Juan the city was without water, and that the money granted sufficed for completion of certain works and utilization of the water sys- tem, which was a very great advantage to the civil and military inter- ests. The advance is regarded as a loan from insular revenues to be repaid in the form of water used by the military and civil departments. The credit of these municipalities can be established by and through the same means as those employed elsewhere by corporations that reach a condition of insolvency. I also invite attention to the reports herewith of Col. I. D. De Kussy, Eleventh Infantry; Lieut. Ool. O. O. C. Carr, Fifth Cavalry; Maj. Albert L. Meyer, Eleventh Infantry; Maj. Francis D. Mansfield, Eleventh Infantry; Maj. W. A. Glassford, signal officer of the department; Capt. H. S. Bishop, Fifth Cavalry; Capt. C. H. Watts, Fifth Cavalry; Capt. W. S. Schuyler, Fifth Cavalry; Capt. Eben Swift, Fifth Cavalry; Capt. F. W. Foster, Fifth Cavalry; Capt, Harry L. Lee, Eleventh Infantry; First Lieut. Seaborn G. Chiles, Eleventh Infantry; First Lieut. Aionzo Gray^ Fifth Cavalry. 12558 5 66 REPORT OF BRIGADJER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. FINANCIAL STATISTICS. In tlie appendix there will also be found some interesting statistics respecting the financial operations of the military government. Tbe accounts of customs receipts and expenditures have been care- fully audited by the inspector-general of the department and by Mr. Barre, an auditor sent here from the United States. In the early jferiod of occupation the orders for expenditures were given direct to the collectors of customs, and it has not been possible to verify the several applications of funds as e.osely as has been done since the installation of the present auditing system; but there does not appear to be any doubt that all such funds were properly applied, considering the stress of circumstances. It has not been easy to state the receipts and expenditures of the internal revenues as much in detail and in conformity with our methods as might be wished. The local method of keeping accounts was intri- cate and difficult of comprehension by our officers. The papers here- with give as full details as could be secured, and a critical audit of these accounts now being made may result in some minor changes. In this connection special attention is invited to the reports and exhibits prepared by Major Heyl, the able inspector-general of the department, whose assistance has been of very great value to me. The receipts and expenditures under the military government may be thus classified: RECEIVED. From customs collections $1, 238, 535. 93 From internal taxation 1, 089, 021. 94 $2, 327, 557. 87 DISBURSED. Account customs collections 727, 096. 40 Account internal revenues 1, 033, 424. 45 1,760,520.85 Balance on hand June 30, 1899 567,037.02 This balance is made up of the following: Account of customs „ 511, 439. 53 Account of internal revenue 55, 597. 49 567, 037. 02 Of the balance stated above there was on June 30 — Balance in hands of military offi cers 30, 508. 66 Balance in hands of customs collectors 30, 478. 04 Balance in hands of treasurer of Puerto Rico (deposited withDe Ford & Co.) 450,452.83 Total on account of customs 511, 439. 53 On account of internal revenue 36, 036. 01 In debentures, account internal revenue 19, 561. 48 567, 037. 02 The figures respecting internal revenue are taken from the statement of the civil secretary and are subject to correction through critical audit. Attention is invited to the magnitude of the figures for internal-reve- nue receipts for the period from October 18 to June 30, over 11,250,000. During the current fiscal year the collections from this source will be very small as compared to the last year's receipts. The reason for this has already been explained. Under present conditions, and until a new tax scheme is worked out, the receipts from all internal taxes will not amount to more than $500,000. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 67 From October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899 (eight and twelve thirtieth months), the expenditures of internal revenue amounted to $1,033,424, which is at the rate of $123,026 per mouth, or $1,470,312 per annum. The expenditures of customs receipts were $727,096, which is at the rate of $80,558 per month, or $1,038,096 per anuum. The total average monthly expenditure from the two was, therefore, $209,584, which would give a yearly total of $2,515,008. In the present year's budget the esti- mated average monthly expenditure is $101,943, which would indicate a yearly saving, as compared with the above, of $571,692. The expendi- tures for the first three mouths of the current year have been much less than the estimated average monthly rate for the year. THE HURRICANE OF AUGUST 8. On the morning of the 7th of August, 1899, the United States Weather Bureau, through its branch establishment here, announced the approach of a cyclonic disturbance, and the danger signal was ordered to be hoisted at substations of the Bureau at Ponce and Mayaguez. At the same time I directed that the danger be reported to all commanding officers of posts throughout the island. There had been no serious or destructive storm in Puerto Eico since 1867, and the inhabitants had ceased to feel great concern on account of tropical tempests. Except at seaports, little heed was given to the caution, and in some cases the telegraph operators failed to receive or to promptly deliver the warning messages. The vortex of the cyclone appears to have traversed the island through- out its whole length, from about Humacao to Mayaguez, and its path was a scene of very great devastation. The wind must have attained nearly its greatest observed velocity, but there is no authentic record. The anemometer on the Weather Bureau building at San Juan was blown away after having registered a velocity of from 70 to 80 miles an hour. But this port was not in the track of the greatest disturbance. The gale struck the island at Humacao about midnight of August 7, and furiously blew all the rest of that night and well into the next day, while at Mayaguez the violence was not great until 9 o'clock on the morning of the 8th. But as the latter town was under the lee of high mountains, it suffered much less than it would have done had it been higher or not thus protected. Most of the habitations in the track of the center of the cyclone were entirely smashed and the debris strewn all over the country. The full reports of the loss of life bring the number of deaths up to 2,700. The wind worked dreadful havoc with nearly everything useful to man. Besides the mortality, which was appalling, the material damage was almost beyond belief. But the greatest loss of life resulted, not from the wind, but from the terrible downfall of rain that immediately followed. The precipitation in a few hours of 11£ inches was reported at one place, and the volume of rain must have averaged quite 6 inches throughout the island, for the fall was not less severe in districts away from the vortex than in its actual track. Added to the horror of the situation there came with the gale on the southern coast a tidal wave which submerged large areas with sea water and swept away what the wind and the rain had spared, in some places completing the destruction. Every river bed or bottom of a land depression was a roaring torrent. The wind uprooted myriads of trees, and the rain, entering and perme- ating the soil, loosened it, and on steep declivities resulted in avalanches 68 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. of earth, mud, and water, covering wide areas and piling- up the debris in the ravines and gorges. The principal industry in the elevated portions of the island is coffee growing. There hue coflee fincas were dreadfully damaged. The trees were at the beginning of the time for the maturing of the fruit. Coffee is only successfully cultivated in the shade of larger tiees or plants, which are planted and cultivated for their protection to the shrubs that produce the berries. The large trees of course went down, smashing those they were designed to protect, and a gale tore oil the green berries or uprooted the bushes. The material loss to the coffee growers can as yet only be estimated, but the most conservative figures received place this year's crop at one-third of the normal. The exported portion of the crop for 1897 sold for about 13,000,000 pesos. The promise for this year had encouraged the belief that the value of the crop would not be smaller. If these figures are accurate, and there is every reason to believe them so to be, the loss in this one crop for the current year will reach nearly 9,000,000 pesos. The losses of other property, especially sugar mills, cane, dwellings, roads, and bridges, will bring the total to an immense sum. Regard being had to the fact that five years must elapse before the coffee trees and their shade can be replanted and reach a normal bearing conditiou,the total loss can not be safely placed below 25,000,000 pesos for Puerto Eico on account of this hurricane. The shipping in port suffered little, as the warnings sufficed to per- mit of protective measures being taken. Special attention is invited to the able report herewith of Major Hoff, chief surgeon of the department, who was placed at the head of a board of natives and Americans to concert and concentrate relief measures. The work that was assigned to this board, and especially to its principal executive officer, has been of very great magnitude and most onerous. That many thousands of human lives have been saved through the bounty of the United States Government and people can not be doubted. The greatest difficulty is encountered in discriminating between those who are really needy and those who pretend to be so. While it is pos- sible that every ration has not fed a really needy person, it is also cer- tain that very little food has failed to reach those who were much pinched by hunger. Those who deserved assistance and have failed to receive it are very few indeed. It has been found to be practicable to cut down the aggregate of food issued from about 1,000 tons per week to less than 500 tons. Constant and progressive reductions are being made in the issues as the people reach better conditions and reproduction of native fruits is accomplished. The difficulties which have been encountered in distributing the food are of very great proportions. While all the available means of trans- port by land and water belonging to the quartermaster's department were utilized, resort was had to the local facilities for conveyance, and ox carts and pack animals were secured. Every ] iost commander became a relief inspector. Depots were estab- lished at all points of central supply. The depots were filled from the San Juan base. In every municipality was a subdepot under an officer or a noncommissioned officer, and food was distributed through auxiliary relief committees composed of the best citizens. Two months have now passed since the bursting of the heavens and the wrecking of this fair island, resulting in a shocking tragedy. Every- REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 69 thing is again green and smiling on the face of nature, but back in the interior are yet unknown thousands upon thousands of families who have as yet no resource for to-morrow save that bounty of the great American nation which has poured out its wealth to feed the hungering and help poor humanity to exist. FUTURE CIVIL GOVERNMENT. Iii discussing this most important subject all aspects of it should be considered, and I approach it with misgivings and much hesitation, preferring to be excused from attempting any presentation of this ques- tion, but the orders from the Secretary of War require it. With better facilities and more time for reflection and study it is quite possible that conclusions would be reached varying greatly from those now submitted. I therefore ask that this qualification and my confessed inability to master this profound question be noted. The annals of my country furnished no closely analogous precedents that could aid me, and my preoccupations have been such as to leave little time for a critical study of political economy. In some of the great universities a professorship of civics has been established, where instruction is given in subjects such as ethics, civil policy, law in its applications involving the interests of society, the laws of the wealth of nations, and the history of civic development and move- ment. Preparation by a course of study of these subjects under the instruction afforded by our great educational institutions was, unfortu- nately, not possible. The problems confronting the United States, respecting its newly acquired islands and their future government, can only be solved by an application of those wise rules and principles that are the product of human experience. To find modern examples of the application of those rules to tropical states, colonies, dependencies, or possessions we must turn to the experience of other nations. It will not be profitable to study historical precedents unless there be points of resemblance to Puerto Eico in natural conditions, population, and history. Some of the States which have been formed from what we are accustomed to call " Spanish-America," and some of the islands dis- covered, settled, and populated under Spanish, English, and French domination, have many points of resemblance to Puerto Eico, although it is probable there is none of these save Chile, at date of revolt from Spanish rule, which had so large a proportion of its inhabitants of the Caucasian race as Puerto Eico now has. The only American tropical regions where the conditions are at all analogous are Venezuela, Colombia, Guiana, Central America, and the Greater and Lesser Antilles. But the Spanish States of South and Cen- tral America were very sparsely settled and all of them had a large Indian population, while Puerto Eico is densely populated and has no Indian blood. In Haiti the negro very largely predominated, and the same was true of Barbados, Martinique, Guadaloupe, and Jamaica, and indeed nearly all the others save Cuba. The countries which most nearly resembled Puerto Eico as respects the nationality of the inhabit- ants, climate, soil, and government at the time they were lost by Spain are that portion of Santo Domingo now known as the Dominican Eepub- lic and the island of Trinidad. The foimer became an independent State and the latter was ceded to the English Crown — one a few years before and the other about the beginning of the present century. Both 70 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. had Spanish laws and institutions. In each there were a considerable number of negro slaves. In neither were there Indians. The Roman Catholic religion was established in both, and other denominations were not allowed. The natural prodnetions of both islands were similar, sugar being the most important, as it was until recently in Puerto Rico. In 1797 Trinidad was captured by the English and entered upon a new career under local Spanish laws, which were preserved and prop- erly administered by Great Britain. Not so, however, with the island of Santo Domingo, which at the beginning of the century achieved its independence under Toussaint L'Ouverture. France endeavored to recover her part of the island, but was unsuc- cessful. In 1844 the eastern or Spanish part became independent, but later Spain tried to recover it, failed, and since then the Republic of Dominica has been unmolested in its career save by civil wars and some strife with Haiti and Spain, but for more than thirty years the inhabit- ants of Santo Domingo have been demonstrating their incapacity for self government. There have been a half dozen civil wars and over- turnings, the last but a few days ago. Statistics show that the negro blood is not very much more in evi- dence in Dominica than in Puerto Rico, and the persons of white blood are of the same race and have been controlled by the same codes and institutions that have prevailed here. Had Dominica been a depend- ency of some strong and well-administered government, it is probable that much of this civil strife would have been prevented. But had it had home rule, such as is accorded to Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the Territories of the United States, there would still have been struggles for preponderance of one party or faction over the other, which could only have been prevented from becoming sanguinary by the mili- tary intervention of the supreme government. It does not seem to me possible that the Dominicans would have furnished an example of autonomic government well administered. They seem to know of but one use to make of political privileges, and that is to erect and maintain a despotism or a government of a class for the benefit of its adherents. This so-called republic has an area more than five times as great as Puerto Pico, a soil of exceptionable richness, adapted to all tropical productions, a salubrious climate, a population containing many highly educated and intelligent men of Spanish origin, and yet we see what misuse has been made of their opportunities, which were of the fairest in the world. Under a good government, well administered, this little State could as well support a population of 5,000,000 as Puerto Rico can 1,000,000, but so great has been the turbulence, and even chaos, that immigration and industrial development have been prevented, and Dominica has been cited all over the world as a typical example of the incapacity of Spanish-Americans to govern themselves. The contrast to Dominica furnished by Trinidad is so noteworthy that a further mention may be justified respecting the latter. The inhabitants of Trinidad when the island was conquered by General Abercromby in 1797 were largely of Spanish birth and parentage, although there were many French who had emigrated thither from Santo Domingo following the outbreak in 1793. There were also many thousand negro slaves. Its area is about 1,750 square miles (the largest of the British West India Islands, except Jamaica), or a little less than one third the size of Puerto Rico. At the date of the conquest it was inhabited somewhat less densely than Puerto Rico, which then had about 36 inhabitants to the square mile. REPORT OP BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 71 The population of Trinidad has increased to upward of 300,000, giv- ing- it 170 per square mile. Its revenues exceed $3,000,000, its exports exceed by one-third the same from Puerto Rico, its government is one of order and stability, and crime does not go unpunished. The number of children attending school is more than three times as large, in propor- tion to population, as here. They have a royal college and several schools for higher education. All religious denominations are free, good roads abound, industries are diversified and are being constantly extended. If left uncontrolled and free, Trinidad would probably have supplied another example of a chaotic government. It had the most favorable elements for such a result — Spanish, French, negro slaves, "maroons" from the neighboring Spanish and French possessions. Besides, its waters were infested with privateers, who were no better than pirates. Home rule was fortunately not accorded to this island, but instead it was governed at first by military officers directly. It is now a Crown colony, having an executive council of five official and three native appointed members, the governor presiding. It has also a legislative council of 21 members, 10 of whom are appointed by the governor and 11 are elected. The governor presides over this council. Only those who possess a stated property or income qualification, or who are mem- bers of the liberal professions, can vote at elections for councilmen. There is not anywhere in the world a tropical island having a happier and more contented population, nor one where life, liberty, and the pur- suit of happiness of the humble native, the freed slaves, and the East Indian "cooley," as well as the rich and powerful, are more firmly secured in the enjoyment of all their natural and acquired rights. While the wage rate of the laborer is small, gauged by United States standards, taxation is so adjusted and revenues are so expended that the poorer laboring classes have many advantages lacking in many other islands, Puerto Rico not excepted. The conditions in Jamaica and mauy other British islands not differ- ing materially from Trinidad in regard to orderly government are not closely analogous to Puerto Rico iu other respects. The inhabitants of many of these islands are principally negroes. In Jamaica, out of a population of about 700,000, only 2^ per cent are white. In Barbados about 9 per cent are white. Trinidad is the largest of all the Lesser Antilles, and, as above stated, was chosen for comparison with Puerto Rico and Santo Domingo because most of the natural and social con- ditions are, or were, more nearly the same as in Puerto Rico. In regard to taxation, all the British islands are similarly administered. Each is self-sustaining and has its own export, import, and internal taxes, the same as though it were an independent government. In some of these places, where sugar was the principal reliance, the industrial and economic conditions are unsatisfactory. The United Kingdom — adhering to free trade — can supply herself with the bounty-fed sugar of continental Europe at a cheaper price than from her own colonies. As there is practically no market save the United States for sugar grown in the West Indies, that industry has greatly declined save in islands where exceptionally favorable conditions exist, and therefore business conditions are very unfavorable and unsatisfactory. The government of Barbados differs somewhat from the usual Grown colony type. The governor and colonial secretary are appointed by the Crown. The executive council consists of the governor, the com- mander of the troops, the attorney-general, and the president of the legislative council, and this last consists of 9 individuals, 4 of whom are nominated by the governor from the house of assembly. 72 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. This house consists of 24 members, all elected. There is an execu- tive committee connected with the assembly, a sort of committee of "ways and means." It introduces all money votes, prepares all esti- mates, and initiates all government measures. It consists of the gov- ernor, the commander of the troops, the colonial secretary, the attorney- general, the president of the executive council, and five members of the assembly appointed by the governor. The number of qualified electors was 2,208 in 1897, out of a popula- tion of about 100,000. The assembly, under the direction of the legislative committee, levies taxation, votes supplies, and enacts general laws. Business proceeds by bills read three times and by resolutions. Private members can move an address to the governor in legislative committee, requesting that certain acts may be done involving expenditure, or requesting that certain bills or resolutions may be presented to the assembly which involve expenditure. They may also introduce bills demanding the granting of powers to local bodies to raise loans. They are 11 parishes or townships, each having a council of from 9 to 11 members. One member of its council is nominated by the gov- ernor and from 8 to 10 are elected members. These councils or vestries have power to levy taxes which are subject to confirmation by the gov- ernor in council. They have charge of expenditures for the poor and the church and of taxes within the parishes. It is almost universally admitted that Great Britain has been more successful as a colonizing power than any other, and it has seemed to be profitable to study her examples of successful colonial management of peoples of almost all races. In only one marked instance has that policy been recognized as a failure. It grew out of the effort to make Euglish colonies a direct source of protit to the Crown. Since the American Bevolution this policy has been abandoned and all Euglish possessions, save a few military stations, are now maintained and gov- erned on a basis of self-support. English possessions as respects the character of their government may be arranged into three classes: First. Those that, like Canada, have a Governor-General appointed by the Crown, but have a responsible parliament. Second. Those that, like Barbados, have a governor and an executive council to determine the general policy, but also have an elected repre- sentative legislature which ratifies and confirms the policy of the gov- ernor and his council and enacts into laws or amends the measures proposed by him and some that are initiated in the assembly. Third. Those that, like Mauritius and Jamaica, have a governor and an executive council by whom the governmental policy is fixed aud determined without reference to an elective assembly. In this case the people have practically no voice in their own governmental affairs. Were England now holding toward Puerto Kico the position aud rela- tions borne by the United States, there is little doubt, judging from her past, that she would for the present govern Puerto Pico as strictly as she governs her Crown colonies. Nothing would be taken for granted respecting claims of capacity for establishing and maintaining home rule. The people would have to demonstrate by active practical experi- ence their abilities for conducting a representative government — i. e., for autonomy such as Canada enjoys — before it would be accorded. It also seems certain that Spain would never have accorded autonomical government to Cuba and Puerto Eico but for the external pressure that was applied in 1895-96 and 1897. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 73 New Mexico was held under military rule from its cession until 1850, and the Territory of Arizona dates from 1863. California had no Territorial existence, but until it became a State, in 1850, the mili- tary was recognized as the governing power. The government of Washington was military in its character until 1818, Idaho until 1863, Colorado until 1861, Dakota until 1881, Louisiana until 1812, Florida until 1822, and Wyoming until 1868. The sovereignty of Hawaii was transferred to the United States on August 12, 1898, but as Congress has taken no action respecting its future status, the island remains a dependency governed by its former laws. It has parted with its sov- ereignty as an independent nation, but is as yet in all other respects independent, having a duly organized government possessing the execu- tive, judicial, and legislative branches. Import duties upon goods brought from the United States and from foreign countries are still col- lected, and the United States gathers import taxes upon products of Hawaii that are not free under treaty stipulations. It is my understanding that all the islands recently acquired by cession from Spain are held as possessions of the United States, our sovereignty over them being complete and the government administered by the military. In the Philippine Islands a state of war still exists, and but a small part of the area is within military control. In Puerto Eico there is not only no resistance to the military rule of the President as exercised through the Army, but the people welcomed the coming of the Ameri- can troops with joy and enthusiasm. After the formal transfer of sovereignty by Spain, the first order issued by the commanding general directed that the island be administered and governed in accordance with local laws in all cases where they were not opposed to the military rule or to the Constitution of the United States. The island never had a civil governor, nor a legislature worthy of the name. The command- ing general therefore became the acting governor, and was endowed with legislative powers. The courts were continued in their functions and municipal government was not interferred with, save that vacancies existing in the town councils were tilled by appointments made by the general commanding. The people of this island have been long and thoroughly taught an unfortunate object lesson, They have seen the island governed and exploited by a class in the interest and for the benefit of a few. The Spanish governing element has disappeared, but their example remains. There is no lack of natives of learning and ability ready to take the place of their former masters, step into their vacant shoes, and take up the government laid down. And, having power, would they not use it as their predecessors did? So long have the people been accustomed to this kind of control and absolute subordination that the most of them would accept it as a matter of course. There is no lack on the part of these people of pretension to all the virtues, and as beautiful theories of government as were ever pro- pounded by the wisest statesman are put forth continuously. The cause of the brotherhood and the rights of man has as ardent expound- ers in Puerto Eico as could have been found in France in 1793 or in Philadelphia in 1776. There are here a few really public spirited men who appear to have ideas of government other than self-seeking, but the number is very small. Were the mass of the inhabitants educated and possessed of some conception of the duties of citizenship and experience in civil government their immediate endowment with rights and privileges equal to those enjoyed by our own citizens would be 74 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. gladly recommended. But in view of the profound illiteracy of 85 per cent of the people, of their total unfitness to exercise the elective fran- chise, of the corruption and maladministration that now characterize the affairs of many municipalities, and of the misuse that would almost certainly be made of political power by those who would inevitably secure it, I can not find warrant or justification for a recommendation to now vest Puerto Rico with the faculties and power of self govern- ment — an investiture that I think should be withheld until there shall have been a plain demonstration of their competence to exercise it. AVhen they govern muuicipalties well they may have larger duties devolved upon them. There are very learned and able men in both parties, and their pro- fession of principles and political platforms would receive warm com- mendation by the most ardent patriot. But I have no knowledge of any country where Latin Americans, released from arbitrary control, have established well-ordered representative institutions within a gen- eration succeeding their liberation, and there are to-day many unfortu- nate illustrations of their incapacity to do so in countries which have been independent for sixty or seventy years. History tells us that usually in Spanish-American republics there is a revolution or civil war at intervals of a few years, except when despotic use of power has pre- vented it. In vain have I diligently sought for a reason justifying a confidence that Puerto Rico would be able to make a better record. There is one fortunate circumstance, and it certainly warrants some hope that the latent animosities and tendency to do as others of their race have done would be restrained in this island. Puerto Rico, unlike Dominica, Haiti, and Venezuela, and many other republics, never was, is not, and probably never will be, independent. It is now a possession of the United States and must so continue until Congress decides otherwise. Whatever government may be given to the island, it will be subject to the general control of Congress, and, having no local army or navy, it would be without the means and power to carry its local issues to the ultimate of armed repression and subjection of opponents. In other words, riot or insurrections would be suppressed. This is the balance wheel that would prevent the catastrophe which has overtaken so many other Spanish-American States newly vested with sovereign power. But so long as the tendency to abuse of power exists — and there seems to be no doubt of its existence — the local government would probably be administered purely and solely for the benefit of those who, securing political control, would be able through customary and familiar methods to retain and misuse it. It is with great regret that this statement is made, for the thought of continuance of an arbitrary government by the military is repugnant to the letter and spirit of our laws and institutions and to the aspirations and instincts of our people. The knowledge which I possess of the inhabitants of this island, com- bined with that derived from a study of historical precedents, where failure has always followed an attempt to vest similar populations with the functions of independent or responsible government, forces me to the conviction that such investiture of Puerto Rico would be a disaster to 'them and to the best interests of their fair island. The conditions here are quite unlike any that existed in the sparsely settled western territories which were acquired by purchase from France, by cession from Mexico, and uuder convention with Great Britain. They are unique in our history. We have no American precedent to REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 75 which we can refer as an aid to decide the form of civil government that should be set up. Hawaii has remained more than a year without Congressional con- sideration of its status. It is not only not a State; it is not even in a legal sense a Territory. There seems to be no reason why it could not remain indefinitely as now. Its local municipal government is recog- nized by Congress and its continuance sanctioned. But the continuance of any government enforced by the orders of a general of the Army is obnoxious to Americans, and should be replaced as soon as possible by one in which the people themselves should have a voice, and as complete control as they are capable of exercising. The people of Puerto Eico should not wish for more power than they were capable of justly and wisely exercising. It is assumed that a long continuance of the military government is impracticable. It is unnecessary to say that this island is not now capable of carrying on such a government as Hawaii is able to main- tain. The suggestion is dismissed for its abandonment by the United States to entire self-control and independence, for the Puerto Eicans do not deserve it. The island was forcibly seized, and the people had no voice in determining their own destiny. They do not wish for national independence, but instead seek final incorporation with the American Union, which it would seem they have a right ultimately to expect. This hope may be finally realized if the grave duty devolving upon us is well done and events take their natural course. I am satisfied the island is not ready for full Territorial autonomy. Only a few desire it, and I fear that the great mass of the people feel no interest in the question of government at all, beyond the notion they had and have that with American sovereignty would come free trade and high prices for labor and produce, bringing general prosperity. They have been disappointed and loudly complain, but it seems to an observer that only stolid indifference is shown by the lower classes as to their political future. The business class is strongly opposed to Ter- ritorial government, for they see in store only maladministration and misgovernment, and taxes misapplied, if full control is now given to the natives. Probably one-eighth of all the inhabitants are foreign. Among them there must be well on to 100,000 souls, natives of the peninsula, the Canaries, the Balearic Islands, and Corsica, nearly all of whom may wish to preserve their foreign nationality. A very large part of the mercantile and proprietor class are Spanish, and the feeling manifested toward them by the native Puerto Eicans causes the foreigners to fear that oppression and injustice would be their lot if the former should have full power. Unless foreigners here renounce their foreign nation- ality, and probably very few of them will do so at present, they can not take part in the civil government; but they are entitled to the pro- tection which is guaranteed to them by treaty, and which is always accorded under the unwritten rules of international comity. Being called upon to submit a recommendation for a governmental measure adapted to this island, I have the honor to propose the follow- ing scheme for a temporary government, to be established on [ date] : 76 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. PROJECT OF GOVERNMENT. The island of Puerto Rico to be styled a Dependency and placed under the executive control of the President, through the Secretary of State of the United States. I. This contemplates an organization to consist of a governor, an executive council, a judiciary, and later on a legislative assembly. II. The chief executive of the dependency to be the governor, reporting direct to the Secretary of State of the United States. III. The administrative duties to be assigned to a secretary, an attorney-general, a treasurer, an auditor, a commissioner of public works, lands and agriculture, a commissioner of posts and telegraphs, and a commissioner of education. IV. The executive council to consist of the governor, the seven above-named chiefs of administrative offices, and four other members chosen by the governor from the legislative assembly. V. The legislative assembly to consist of thirty-five assemblymen — i. e., one from each municipality or group of municipalities, according to population, all chosen as hereinafter provided. VI. A town council for each municipality. VII. A comisario or commissioner for each barrio or ward. VIII. The judiciary to consist of a supreme court, a United States Federal court, five district courts, and municipal courts. IX. The supreme court to consist of a chief justice, two associate justices, a prosecuting attorney, a secretary, and a marshal. X. The United States Federal court to consist of two judges, a prose- cuting attorney, a clerk of the court, and a marshal. XI. The district courts, five in number, each to consist of two judges, a prosecuting attorney, a secretary, and a sheriff. XII. The municipal courts, one for each municipality, each to consist of a judge and a clerk. The governor and official members of the executive council, the offi- cers of the supreme court and those of the Federal court, all to be appointed by the President of the United States, with confirmation by the Senate. The political division of the island to be five districts or counties, corresponding to the existing judicial districts, each composed of municipal districts aud represented in the legislative assembly by seven assemblymen. There will be seven or more municipalities in each district; if more than seven the smaller ones would be so grouped and combined as respects population that representation in the assembly would be as nearly equal as practicable. The organic law should provide for the ultimate consolidation of municipalities into, say, 35, with population as nearly equal as may be. Each municipality to have full autonomy and its government adminis- tered by an alcalde and town council elected by popular suffrage the same as the members of the legislative assembly. DUTIES OF THE GOVERNOR. He would attend and preside at all meetings of the council. In case of his absence on account of illness or for other grave cause, the secretary to act as governor; and should the latter also be absent or disabled, the attorney-general to so act. The governor to pass upon and dispose of REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 77 all routine matters and correspondence, without reference thereof to the council, and also in all matters too urgent to admit of their advice being given within the time in which it would be necessary for him to act in respect thereto, but in all such urgent cases, the governor, as soon as possible, to communicate to the council the measures he may have adopted, with the reasons therefor. The council to meet at least once each week, the day and hour being fixed by the governor. The ex-officio members present to take preced- ence in the order above stated, and the members appointed by the governor to take rank next below the ex officio members, in the order in which their names appear in the order of appointment. The ex-officio members to hold office until their successors should be appointed, or during the pleasure of the President of the United States, and the appointed members to hold office during the time of the existence of the legislative assembly. The"eouncil not to be authorized to proceed to the dispatch of any business, unless it be duly summoned by authority of the governor, and at least six of the members, exclusive of the governor or presid- ing officer, are present throughout the whole sitting. A clerk for the council, appointed by the governor, to be required to keep a true and exact journal, or minutes, of all the proceedings, and for this purpose to be allowed the necessary clerical assistance; and at each meeting the proceedings of the meeting last held to be read over and approved or amended as the case might require, before proceeding to the dispatch of other business. Twice a year a full transcript of all the said minutes for the preced- ing half year to be transmitted to the Secretary of State in Washing- ton. All orders in council to be published in the Official Gazette. Except in the cases above mentioned, the governor to be required, iu the execution of his powers and authority, to consult with the execu- tive council, unless he believes that the public service would sustain material prejudice by his so doing. But, if any member should in writing suggest the submission of any matter upon which the governor may have acted, or may have reserved action, independently of the council, it would be competent for that member to require that there be recorded upon the minutes the written application together with the answer of the governor to the same. In case the governor should take such independent action upon any matter, it would be his duty to imme- diately report the grounds and reasons for his action to the Secretary of State in Washington; and to have entered in the minutes of the council a full statement of the grounds or reasons set forth by the member or members for requesting reference to the council of the sub- ject of the request. The governor, upon resolution of the legislative assembly, in his discretion and with the advice of the executive council, to have the power to remit and order the repayment of any duties raised, levied, col- lected, and paid into the Treasury. Subject to the review of the executive council, the governor, in his discretion and in cases of emergency, to have the power to authorize the expenditure, out of funds voted in the estimates, of a sum not to exceed $100 at one time. The appointment to office of all persons, whose pay or emoluments are voted by the assembly and do not exceed $1,200 per annum, to be made by the governor with the concurrence of the executive council: Provided, That the secretary and the employees of the legislative assem- bly be appointed by the speaker of the assembly. 78 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. In cases of riot or disturbance of the peace, and in cases of imminent danger to the peace of the community, the governor, upon the recom- mendation of two-thirds of all of the members of the executive coun- cil, to have the power to call upon the commanding officer of the United States forces stationed in Puerto Pico for the assistance of the troops to quell the riot or disorder, and such commanding officer to be required to promptly respond to the call made by furnishing the troops called out, the facts to be immediately reported to the Secretary of State in Washington. DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. The sphere of control of the council to include: The transaction of public financial business. The consideration of ways and means. Advising with the governor on any measure that he may deem expe- dient to bring before the legislative assembly. The conduct of public works. The control and management of public institutions. The initiation in the legislative assembly of money votes by bill, res- olution, or otherwise. To prepare estimates in detail of the probable expenditures and rev- enues of Puerto Rico for each fiscal j r ear. To prepare and submit supplementary estimates. To consider all bills or resolutions passed by the legislative assembly, and to recommend to the governor his approval or veto of the same. To execute all conveyances, leases, contracts, or documents, and to sue and be sued in the name of the Secretary. To lease for such time and on such conditions as shall be fixed by the legislative assembly, such portion of the public property and lands, not including public lauds in the control of the War Department, as may be applied to a useful purpose in the interest of the public. But all leases of such property and lands for any term more than five years, including all extensions of the same, to require the approval of the legislative assembly by formal resolution. To publish three times in the Official Gazette all laws, resolutions, and appropriations passed and made by the legislative assembly, such publication to be a sufficient announcement of the enactment of said laws, resolutions, and appropriations. DUTIES OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY. The members of the legislative assembly to be elected for two years by popular suffrage, the elective franchise to be restricted as herein- after provided. The elections for assemblymen to take place on the first Tuesday in April of each second year. The first election for assemblymen to be held under the direction and control of the military governor of Puerto Rico, it to be his duty to see that orderly elections be held in all municipalities for the purpose of choosing members of the legislative assembly. Subsequent elections to be held under the direction of the governor in executive council. The following qualifications to be required of a resident of Puerto Rico in order to vote in elections for assemblymen : (1) To be a male, over 21 years of age, an actual resident of the municipality for at least six months and of the island for at least two years preceding the election. (2) To be able to read and write, or else to be a taxj)ayer of record in his own municipality. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 79 (3) Foreigners to fulfill foregoing qualifications, and in addition to have renounced under oath their foreign allegiance and declared their intention to become citizens of the United States (Puerto Rico?). The assembly to meet annually on the third Tuesday in April of each year, the sessions to be numbered consecutively. The assembly to be the sole judge of the qualification of its members; to elect its own pre- siding officer, who would be styled and designated "The speaker" and be addressed as "Mr. Speaker." The speaker to appoint a secretary and the necessary employees. The assemblymen to be entitled to pay at the rate of $5 per day for forty days' continuous session in each year (not including Sundays, national holidays, and Puerto Rican feast days). If the session should be extended beyond forty days, except as above noted, no pay or emol- ument to be allowed for such additional time. In case of absence from meetings of the assembly without satisfac- tory excuse, the assemblyman to forfeit his. pay for the time of such absence. No mileage or personal expenses to be allowed assemblymen. A majority of the whole number of assemblymen to constitute a quorum for business. In the event that the speaker should be absent for any cause, the assembly to choose a speaker pro tempore. The speaker of the assembly and the clerk to sign all bills and reso- lutions, and a committee of the assembly appointed by the speaker to deliver all such bills to the governor in executive council. All bills or resolutions to be either approved or vetoed within ten days of their receipt by the governor in council. Should he approve the measure submitted, he would immediately so notify the house of assembly in session. Should he veto the bill, he would return it with his objections. In such case a two-thirds vote of all the members of the assembly could pass the bill over the governor's veto, and in that event it would become a law notwithstanding his objections. The initiation by individual members of the assembly of all money appropriations — either annual, supplementary, or special — by bill, reso- lution, or otherwise to be forbidden, for such initiation would rest exclu- sively with the governor in executive council, but the house of assembly would have and exercise its undoubted and exclusive right to withhold, reduce, or grant such aids and supplies, and to direct, limit, and appoint the ends, purposes, conditions, limitations, and qualifications of such grants, aids, and supplies, but it would not»be competent for the house of assembly to increase any of the items or the aggregate of any estimates submitted by the governor in executive council. The right of individual members of the house of assembly to intro- duce any bill, resolution, or any other measure of legislation is not to be prevented, impeded, or restricted, provided such bill, resolution, or measure of legislation does not create any charge upon the revenues of the island or in terms provide for the expenditure of public money. All laws would be styled "ordinances," and the enacting words to be "Enacted by the governor of Puerto Rico, with the advice and consent of the legislative assembly thereof." Legislative business to proceed by bills, read three times, and by resolutions. Individual assemblymen to move an address to the gov- ernor in executive council requesting that certain acts be done. They would also introduce bills providing for the granting of powers to municipal bodies to raise loans. The legislative power to extend to all rightful subjects of legislation, not inconsistent with the Constitution of the United States locally 80 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. applicable: no private charters, franchises, privileges, or immunities to be granted without the authority of the Congress of the United States. The assembly to be able, by special acts, to permit persons to associate themselves together as corporate bodies for general manufacturing, agriculture, and other industrial pursuits, aud for conducting the business of insurance, savings banks, banks of discount and deposit, but not of issue, loan, trust, and guaranty associations, cemeteries, railways, wagon roads, vessels, irrigation ditches, colleges, churches, seminaries, libraries, aud divorces. Xo loan to be raised that would make the total indebtedness of the dependency more than 7 per cent of the value of the taxable property. Xo loan to be authorized that would exceed in any one year 1 per cent of the taxable property. It would be within the power aud authority of the President of the United States to disallow, repeal, alter, or annul any order of the gov- ernor in council, and any law or ordinance passed by the assembly; such disallowance, repeal, alteration, or amendment to take effect from the time when the same shall be promulgated in Puerto Rico. The duties of the heads of administrative offices would comprise, for- The secretary. — To see that all proceedings of the executive council be properly kept, and all executive orders, as well as all laws and reso- lutions passed by the assembly, be duly promulgated. To furnish the Secretary of State of the United States, the President of the Senate of the United States, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the United States one copy each of all such laws aud orders. To furnish the Secretary of State of the United States a copy of the minutes of proceedings of the executive council. To act as governor in case of the death, disability, or absence of the executive. To have charge of all correspondence with municipal town councils and of all consular correspondence. To furnish to the governor an annual report upon the general condi- tion of the dependency: and to perform many other duties, not neces- sary to specify, that would also devolve upon him. The attorney-general. — To perform the ordinary duties of that office as is customary in the States of the Union; also to have general authority and supervision over all prisons and penitentiaries, and over notaries and escheat of lands. In case of the death or disability of both the governor and the secre- tary, to act as governor. The treasurer. — To have supervision of all matters respecting taxes and the collection of the same, licenses, corporations, copartnerships, trade statistics, newspapers, conveyances, patents, trade-marks and labels, bonds of fidelity, etc. The auditor. — To have control of all matters respecting the auditing of accounts and the expenditures of public funds. The commissoner of public worTcs, etc. — To have supervision of all public works, pounds, weights aud measures, buildings and building regulations, explosives, eminent domain, markets, parks, cemeteries, pilots, harbor police, quarantine establishments, light-houses, buoys, harbor lines and police, the leasing of lands and buildings, mines, agri- cultural experiment stations, etc. The commissioner of postal service and telegraphs. — To have charge of these services throughout the island. The commissioner of education. — To have supervision over all matters concerning public instruction in Puerto Rico. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 81 The appointment and employment of all persons whose salary or compensation is less than 81,200 per annum would be in the discretion of the heads of departments in which those persons should be employed, but the rates of compensation of all officers and employes appointed by the President would be fixed by him, while the rates of compensation of all other officers and employees would be fixed and determined by the assembly: provided, always, that the salary of no such officer or employe would exceed that recommended by the executive council. There would be a quarantine officer, presumably appointed by the President and working under the general supervision of the Marine- Hospital Service. The expectation is that the number of municipalities would be reduced to thirty-five, corresponding to the number of assemblymen ; but should that result be not attained, then the combined vote of two or more ot the smaller municipalities would be necessary to choose an assem- blyman. Of course the above is but an outline of the proposed government. To supply the requisite verbiage and to put the whole into chapters and sections would require much time and further study. I have attempted to give only the framework. The degree of autonomy or home rule that this project contemplates is very much broader than that accorded now to the English Crown colonies, and approaches to that accorded to Canada, Australia, Xew Zealand, and the Cape Settlements. It provides for as large a measure of self-government as the Puerto Eicans are capable of using wisely. When it is demonstrated by a few years of experience — if it should be — that these powers can be wisely extended, it will be easy to broaden them, and such extension will be very much easier than later to curtail and restrict them. While this proposed scheme bears some resemblance to that under which some English colonies are now administered, there are many points in which it differs. The bill "To j)rovide a territorial govern- ment for Hawaii, 7 ' printed in Senate Document Xo. 16, Fifty-fifth Con- gress, third session, supplied some features which have been incorpo- rated, but as a whole it does not bear a very close resemblance to any existing system of government. This proposition contemplates a civil government pure and simple, the military remaining here returning to the duties they perform in the States and Territories of the Union and only intervening in local affairs when, under dire necessity, called out by the Executive, as has often been done in the States of the Union. The question of salaries is left to be worked out when and if the gen- eral project should be deemed worthy of further consideration by the Department or by Congress, but, excepting the governor, no official should receive more than 84,000 per annum. Begarding general legislation by Congress, it is recommended that the trade between the United States and the island be left as free as possible, and that the customs revenues collected here be left to the island temporarily as an income for local expenditure. As soon as a new local internal-revenue tax law can be framed and put into opera- tion, the custom-house collections would inure to the General Treasury, but for a few years it will be very difficult to balance the budget with- out this aid. The proposition is to make the island self-supporting, and to main- tain all services here, including posts and quarantine, as a charge against local revenues; to extend the existing wagon roads and rail- 12558 6 82 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. roads; to build hospitals, schools, and asylums; to deepen the harbors; to extend or create dock facilities; and to foster and promote the gen- eral welfare by utilizing for this purpose all available resources as well as the proceeds of wisely-placed loans. In the foregoing project of civil government I have suggested the three coordinate branches — executive, legislative, and judicial — pro- posing ultimately to include in the legislature a lower house or assem- bly, but I do not wish to be understood as proposing tbe immediate creation of this body, and this for reasons stated in the preceding- pages. For the present the governor and executive council should control legislation. When experience shall have shown that the people comprehend the gravity of the duties and obligations of self-government will be soon enough to establish the lower house. I have previously referred to the special merits and able assistance in the discharge of civil duties rendered by Maj. John Van R. Hoff, chief surgeon of the Department, and Maj. Charles H. Heyl, inspector- general. It is but due to iVtaj. A. C. Sharpe, acting judge-advocate of the Department, that I should place upon record my sense of official and personal recognition of the services of this very able officer. His knowledge of civil and criminal law has been of the utmost importance. Capt. George T. Laughorne, Twenty-seventh U. S. Volunteer Infan- try, has been with me as an aid during the time of my command here. He has rendered very valuable services and this official recognition of them is his due. Lieut. Col. William P. Hall, the adjutant-general of the Department, has acted as chief of staff, and intelligence and ability have character- ized his services. In closing, attention is invited to a quotation from the report to the President of the Hawaiian commissioners, dated December 2, 1898, printed on pages 17 and 18 of Senate Document No. 16, Fifty-fifth Con- gress, third session. It is as follows: Much has been said to the effect that the policy or scheme of government for the Hawaiian Islands will he taken and accepted as an index or precedent to be followed in the plan of government of Puerto Rico and the Philippines. * *• ■* # *■ * * It can not be said that the Puerto Ricans or the Filippinos are at all familar with our system of government, or with any other based on the principles of liberty. The underlying theory of our government is the right of self-government, and a people must be fitted for self-government before they can be trusted with the respon- sibilities and duties of free government. These remarks are made to negative the idea that, because the people of Hawaii can, in the judgment of the commission, be consistently given self-government to an extent almost equaling tbat given the people of the United States, it can be safely inferred that other insular possessions that the United States have, or may acquire by treaty with Spain, can be granted equal freedom in government. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Geo. W. Davis, Brigadier- General, U. 8. V., Commanding. The Adjutant-General of the Army, Washington, D. C, circular. Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R., August 15, 1899. It is due to the people of Puerto Rico that the commanding general, who also exer-» cises the functions of military governor, should make public announcement of the general features of the policy he is pursuing and intends to pursue touching the affairs of government in this island. The present military governor has devoted the three months of his residence here to a study of those more important and engrossing problems of government and administration that came before him. He has spared no pains or effort that would facilitate his task, one that presents many difficulties. While an arbitrary government over any territory included within the United States is not contemplated by the American Constitution and laws, under those laws it is impossible to supply any other form of governmental control than the military over territory conquered by the arms of the Union until Congress shall by suitable enactment determine and fix a form of civil government for such conquered territory. Under the American Constitution the whole theory of government is based on the principle that the people themselves are to make and enforce their own laws. ' It has been the practice of the military governor to endeavor by every paacticable means to learn the views and wishes of the people themselves respecting those measures that have been suggested, or that he has proposed to institute, looking to the adapta- tion of the system of laws and administration of this island to the one which, judg- ing from the past, Congress may be expected to enact for Puerto Rico. It is the unanimous recommendation of the ten members of two advisory boards- on governmental reforms— composed exclusively of distinguished citizens of Puerto Rico— that as regards the present organization of the civil branch of the military government, the system existing ought to be radically changed in some respects. The military governor has also taken counsel with many other public men, who are well known as distinguished for intelligence and patriotism, and during his resi- dence in the island he has very patiently and earnestly studied the subject of admin- istrative reforms. His hope, which corresponds to that of all the people, looks to an organization that may, as nearly as possible, correspond to the one which in due course of time— a time which all hope is close at hand— may be instituted in Puerto Rico by Congressional enactment. The changes that have already been made, and those now intended, should supply . for the island, until otherwise provided by Congress, a form of government resem- bling, as respects the superior branches, the territorial form heretofore applied in th United States to those portions of the national domain in a transition stage or one preparatory to full statehood and membership in the National Union. The territorial government, should such be organized by Congress, might be expected to consist of a governor, a legislature, a judiciary, a secretary of state, an attorney-general, a treasurer, an auditor, a bureau of public works, a bureau of agri- culture, a board of prisons, a board of health, a board of charities, and a few minor branches. The judiciary may be expected to consist of a supreme court, district or circuit courts, and primary or probate courts, there being a circuit court for each judicial district. The political divisions in the island would, following United States practice, be counties or provinces, and towns or municipalities. The government proper would consist of three coequal though interdependent branches, viz, the executive, the legislative, and the judicial. All administrative officers and heads of boards and bureaus would report direct to the governor. As Congress has as yet taken no measures or action respecting Puerto Rico, the supreme government is, under the Constitution, vested in the President of the United 83 84 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. States, as commander in chief of the Army and Navy. He has designated a general officer to represent him and to perforin the functions of civil governor. As the Spanish system of administration, which has long prevailed in Puerto Rico, is unknown to United States law, and as some of the statutes found in force in Puerto Rico are in conflict with the provisions of the American Constitution, it has heen found to lie necessary to modify or repeal some of those statutes, and this has heen done by order of the military commander of the island, as representing the President of the United States; hut the changes have never heen made without the fullest con- sideration, and always on the advice of leading Puerto Ricans, irrespective of party. Every step taken by the commanding general in changing the existing order of things has for its ultimate, and indeed its primary, object, the adaptation of the laws and administration to suit the change that must soon come and which all desire; that is, complete territorial autonomy. Several important orders have been issued of great import, and among those relating to superior administration and the judiciary are: (1) The announcement by General Brooke, on October 18, 1898, that the laws of the land not in conflict with the Constitution of the United States would be enforced. (2) The abolition of the court of appeals by General Brooke. (3) Continuation of the council of secretaries as constituted October 18, 1898 — order by General Brooke. (4) Abolishing the provincial deputation by General Brooke. (5) Dissolution of the council of secretaries by General Henry. (6) Appointment of heads of department in the civil government by General Henry. And the following by General Davis: (7) Instituting writ of habeas corpus. (8) Creating a board of prison control. (9) Appointing a United States provisional court and authorizing trial by jury. (10) Appointing a superior board of health. (11) Discontinuing the secretary of justice and delegating some of his duties to a judicial advisory board and to the courts; also establishing the independent judiciary. (12) Reorganizing the judiciary on recommendation of the judicial board. The effect of the orders issued and of the changes resulting therefrom tends directly to harmonizing the existing system and that to come with territorial autonomy, should such be enacted by Congress. Then the military governor would give place to a civil governor, the solicitor-general to an attorney-general; the judicial board would disap- pear, and the courts would be supreme in their respective spheres. The provisional United States court would be replaced by a court created by Federal legislation. The governor would have a legislature — senate and house of representatives — to regulate his actions, to make laws for the people, and to control expenditures. The treasurer, auditor, and various bureau chiefs all reporting directly to the governor, and indirectly to the legislature, would continue. But another change is necessary to carry forward the transformation and adapt it to the system which all thinking men expect and desire. There are now provided a department of the treasury, a department of the interior, and a department of state, each with its respective head. The functions of the secre- tary of the treasury relating to the disbursement of funds have been committed to a treasurer and an auditor. The most important function now remaining to the secre- tary of the treasury is the oversight of the collection of internal revenue. Ultimately this branch of public service will also devolve upon the treasurer; but that officer is not yet ready to assume the duty of assessment and collection of internal taxes. An internal-revenue bureau must therefore be maintained for the present under supervi- sion of native and military officials. Complete autonomy for municipalities is very greatly to be desired and is intended to be instituted as rapidly as possible, the government of the towns to be as independ- ent as they are in the United States. But at present a bad economic state exists in many municipalities. Some are heavily in debt and have no visible means of liqui- dating their obligations; large sums of money in the form of uncollected taxes are owed in nearly all the municipalities; to meet current expenses some of them propose extraordinary taxes that are not now authorized by law; in many municipalities there are mayors and councilmen who have not been elected by the people, and complaints against town administration are numerous. All the towns need assistance to extricate them from their difficulties, and for this help their appeals are very numerous. They need public improvements in shape of schoolhouses, hospitals, almshouses, water supply, sewers, and a great many other accessories to efficient town administration. For these reasons it is necessary to main- tain a municipal bureau in the insular government so as to keep it in close touch with the times and the people. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 85 A beginning has been made at one place in supplying local self-government to the inhabitants. This is to be repeated in other towns and elections held in all of them as rapidly as possible; but this requires attention and supervision from the central government. There are two prominent political parties, each striving for mastery, and partisan feeling runs at high tide. A defeated party at an election is sometimes carried away by prejudice. Those who are unsuccessful sometimes assert that their party is unfavor- ably discriminated against or is unjustly treated. Honest and intelligent supervision of these elections is necessary; and this can only be supplied through public-spirited and honest Puerto Ricans assisting the military government. An official exercising functions such as usually devolve upon a secretary of state will be necessary for reasons stated. The bureau of education, which regulates the affairs of a branch of the public service of the utmost importance to the people, and especially to the rising generation, has been separated already from the department of the interior and reports direct to the mili- tary governor as it should later report to the civil governor and to the legislature. The bureau of public works is a technical branch of the service, and in all our States reports direct to the governor. Of the same character is the bureau of agriculture. It results from the foregoing that the necessity ceases for retaining the separate departments that have been presided over by able officers, collectively called "The cabinet;" and it follows that the departmental organization should cease to exist, and announcement to that effect is now made. A very considerable proportion of the population calls for the institution of changes that may confer self-government and full autonomy. It is believed that the course being pursued will lead directly to that end by the most expeditious means possible. When the municipalities or towns shall have demonstrated their capacity and ability to govern themselves as do all orderly and law-abiding communities, the first and most important advance toward insular autonomy will have been taken. In the absence of Congressional legislation it is the wish and intention of the military gov- ernor to rapidly furnish an opportunity, through carefully and honestly regulated elections, for the municipalities to govern themselves, and for all towns to have abso- lute freedom from superior restraint as soon as their governments are carried _on in accordance with principles of law, equity, and absolute justice. The files in the office of the commanding general are now full of complaints alleg- ing dishonest, corrupt, and unlawful municipal administration in many towns. Investigations made by impartial officers have unfortunately justified the complaints in many cases. The law-abiding people of Puerto Rico can not expect or wish that the military government should cease and the towns be left in the chaos in which some of them were and, it is feared, still continue. A general plan for municipal elections has been resolved upon by means of which educated men and business interests of the island may have expression. This has been explained to the accredited leader of each of the political parties, and both of these gentlemen have assured me of their hearty approval and support of the pro- posal to hold municipal elections in the manner indicated. If all their adherents will act according to the dictates of justice and equity, it is intended there will soon be installed in all the towns municipal governments really representing the will of the people. It is probably beyond the power of man to devise and to carry into execution an election law that is absolutely free from defects, and that in its application may be shown to be perfect; but the adage should always be remembered, that "To err is human, to forgive divine. ' ' Each of the parties clamors for municipal elections and autonomic government of towns. The military governor has no doubt that each of these parties, in the strife for the political mastery, will govern all its actions by a high sense of duty and will resort to no methods or acts that will in the slightest degree tend to discredit themselves, their respective parties, and their beautiful island. When all the municipalities shall have happily reached a firm basis, when justice and right shall reign supreme, and local affairs are honestly administered, the problem of the future government of Puerto Rico will have been solved; for the next step, an insular legislature, should be an easy one, and the civil functions of the military commander should cease. The military governor can not accomplish the objects for which he comes here without the cordial support of the people. Were he able to do this without their help, it would be a miracle. His best and most earnest efforts will be directed to the difficult task of making ready this island for a territorial regime when Congress shall be ready to enact it. 86 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. The industrial and economic condition of the people is now in a very sad state, but not only is it far from hopeless — it is instead full of promise. It is the earnest hope of the undersigned, and it is also his expectation, that the tariff and trade laws now prevailing will soon be materially changed so that an impetus may be given to industrial development and remunerative labor found for the unemployed. If all classes of the inhabitants, native and foreign, will work together for the com- mon good, Puerto Rico should soon be the gem of the Antilles — the best governed, happiest, the most prosperous island in the West Indies. Geo. W. Davis, Brigadier- General, Commanding. INDEX OF GENERAL ORDERS OF HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF PUERTO RICO, 1898. Number. Board of health, composition of 37 Bread and fresh meat rules to cheapen cost of 39 Civil courts, slow process of 27 Court of appeals (tribunal) abolished 4 Collectors of customs 11 Commission created for the purpose of ascertaining the assets and liabilities of diputacion provincial 17 College of lawyers (bar association) 20 Criminal courts of Puerto Rico 1 District commanders charged with maintaining peace, etc 1 Diputacion provincial discontinued 17 Fishing in waters of Puerto Rico 21 Grants or concessions 35 Importation of merchandise 11 Laws in Puerto Rico to continue 8 Liquors and tobacco, taxation of 39 Municipal tax on free beef 29 Provincial and municipal laws 1 Royal decree abolished . 4 Rules and regulations to remain in force 11 Royal dues on conveyance 16 Royal subdelegation of pharmacy abolished 18 Stamped papers and stamps 4 Supreme court of justice 19 Taxes to continue in force 12 INDEX OF GENERAL ORDERS OF HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF PUERTO RICO, 1899. Number. Accounting, method of 87 Adjuntas, election at 112 Aguadilla, civil authority suspended at 20, 27 Appointments of heads of departments 15 alcaldes, councilmen, and notaries 16 municipal police 110 AdA'isory board 121 Animals, stray, damage done by 128 prevention of cruelty to 122 Allegiance to the Crown of Spain 132 Bachelor, degree of 108 Board of health superior 91, 102, 151 education 93, 113 prison control 77, 100 charities 116, 117, 120 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 87 Number. Bonds for civil employees disbursing funds Ill Burials - - 13 Bureaus, rules for 97 state and municipal affairs 116 internal revenue 116 agriculture 116 Certificates of surgeon dentists and practitioners in minor surgery 28 Cleaning streets and towns - 48 Children on streets at night 46 Collectors of internal revenues - 5 Council of secretaries 17 Citizens and troops not harmonizing 19 Currency 30 Chaplains of jails 72 Commission for examination of teachers 84 Councilmen, taxpayers only 145 report of absentees 145 number of, in municipalities 143 Criminal and civil procedure ' 118 Custom-houses, closing of 136 Cattle, pregnant, slaughter of 142 Courts, municipal, to maintain civil register 144 Councils conducted according to parliamentary rules. . . 146 Day's work eight hours 54, 61 Delegations traveling at public expense 43 Departments, constitution of 12 " rules for conduct of business of 97 discontinued 116 Dental surgery '," 28 Disbursing officers, solicitor-general's office 104 Depots, relief supply 119, 120, 135 Dueling 129 Damage done by stray animals 128 Election at Adjuntas 112 rules for conducting 145 Employees, salaries and wages of 156 Foreclosure, law of 18 Funds for public schools 113 Food for destitute, sale of, by inspectors 124 Fajardo, port of 1 136 Folio, term of 150 Food, purity and wholesomeness of 151 Gambling 46 Guanica, port of 136 Habeas corpus 71 Holiday, February 22 24 Hormiguearas, annexation of 1 Hurricane, conditions resulting from 115 Insane asylum 91 Immoral condition of San Juan 46 Internal revenues 5 Inspector of penitentiary 62 of orphan asylum 91 Insular cabinet. 12 police 55 courts 104 Isla Grande or Mangier 49 Jail, municipal, at San Juan 32 Judicial board 98 Junta del Obras del Puerto de San Juan 21 Judicial system of Puerto Rico reoganized 114 districts 118 Judiciary of the island 118 Land, taxation of 6 for naval purposes 49 88 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Number. Law of foreclosure 18 and order 19 practice of, in Puerto Pico 134 Lawyers. Spanish 69, 134 light-houses 4 Liquor sold to children 30 Mortgages 18 Meats, freedom in sale of 101 Medical officers on vaccination duty 7 Medicio forense 72 Military commission and judges of instruction 67 Moca, officials deposed from office 20, 27 Municipal councils 110 Mortgage bonds or cedulas 123 Mirafiores, Island of 137 Naval station 10 reservation 49 Newspapers, La Metralla, of Ponce 26 Gazette, of San Juan 11 Orders issued to be ol >eyed 23 No. 95, current series, temporarily suspended 105 No. 87, paragraph 4, amended 106 Phvsician, court 72 Police force 13 municipal 110 People from abroad - 29 Prisoners in jail 33 Prison control, board of 77 Provisional court 88, 103, 109, 148 Primary court of district of the cathedral discontinued 95 Protection to animals 122 Planting of potatoes, corn, etc 126 Procurador, profession of 134 Quarantine station, island of Mirafiores 137 Rations to destitute 43 Relief of General Henry, order announcing 50 Reward for apprehension of robbers 22, 130 Reports of chief of penitentiary and jail wardens 68 Revenues, insular 87 Roads, building of 43 Royal dues 147 Register, civil 144 Records of courts open to inspection 150 Reservation, naval 49 Shackles not to be used 33 Smallpox 7 Subdelegation of medicine and surgery 28, 153 State, department of 116 Supreme court of justice, reorganization of 118 Spanish subjects, natives of the peninsula 132 Solicitor (procurador) discontinued 134 Taxes on lands 6 on products purchased by commissary department 43 on salaries of working people : 54 due by landholders to insular treasury, collection of, suspended 125, 138 Teachers, examination of 84 Telegraph lines, regulation for use of 64 Time, intercolonial 41 Treasurer, to issue receipts in duplicate 106 Treasury, department of, discontinued . . 116 Vaccination 1, 7, 80 Vaccine virus 7 Viequez, port of 136 Work, idle able-bodied men refusing 124 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 89 INDEX OF CIRCULARS OF HEADQUARTERS ' DEPARTMENT OF PUERTO RICO, 1899. _ Number. Alcaldes respecting vaccination 3 Cholera and yellow fever alcaldes to report on 23 De Ford & Co - 8 Drafts or checks drawing on government, cashing of 8 Employment of Puerto Ricans in preference to foreigners 1 Habeas corpus 17 Hurricane 32 Machinery imported for sugar-making free of duty 27 Vaccination 3 Vessels, protection to 35 Wages, rate of 28 GENERAL ORDERS,. 1898 AND 1899. [Nos. 1-21 issued by General Brooke.] General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 1. J San Juan, October 18, 1898. I. In compliance with the orders of the President, the undersigned hereby assumes command of the Department of Puerto Rico. II. For the convenience of military and civil administration the Department of Puerto Rico is divided into two geographical districts, as follows: III. The District of Ponce, the limits of which include the jurisdictions of Agua- dilla, Mayagiiez, Ponce, and Guayama. Brig. Gen. Guy V. Henry, United States Volunteers, is assigned to its command, with headquarters at Ponce. IV. The District of San Juan, the limits of which include the jurisdictions of Arecibo, Bayamon, Humacao, and adjacant islands. Brig. Gen. F. D. Grant, United States Volunteers, is assigned to its command, with headquarters at San Juan. V. District commanders are responsible for the supply, health, efficiency, and dis- cipline of their commands as provided by Army Regulations and orders, and are authorized to make or direct such inspections as are necessary to promote those ends. VI. Under no circumstances will the criminal courts of Puerto Rico, or its adjacent islands, exercise jurisdiction over any crime or offense committed by any officer or soldier belonging to the Army of the United States, or any retainer of the Army, or person serving with it; nor over any crime or offense committed on either of the same by inhabitant or temporary resident of the territory. In such cases jurisdiction is vested in courts-martial or military commissions. VII. District commanders are also charged with maintaining peace and good order among the inhabitants within the lines of their districts, but need not confine them- selves to these lines in the pursuit and arrest of offenders if occasion demands. The protection of life and preservation of property will receive their special attention, and they will exact from subordinate commanders zealous activity in the performance of every duty connected with civil, as well as military, administration. VIII. The cession of Puerto Rico, with its adjacent islands, to the United States has severed the political relation of the inhabitants thereof with the Kingdom of Spain, and until Congress acts the President of the United States, as Commander in Chief, has placed the newly acquired territory under military government, which is absolute and supreme; but wherever the inhabitants yield obedience to the civil rep- resentatives of law and order it is not intended that the military shall intervene. Wherever obedience to law and order is not thus rendered the military will sustain the civil authority with armed force to secure the prompt arrest and punishment of malefactors. IX. The provincial and municipal laws, in so far as they affect the settlement of the private rights of persons and property and provide for the punishment of crime, will be enforced, unless they are incompatible with the changed conditions of Puerto Rico, in which event they may be suspended by the department commander. They will be administered substantially as they were before the cession to the United 90 EEPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. State?. For this purpose the judges and all other officials connected with the admin- istration of justice who accept allegiance to the United States will administer the laws of the land as between man and man; but in cases of the nonacceptance of such alle- giance or malfeasance in office, or for other cause, the department commander will exercise his right of removal and the appointment of other officials. To aid in exe- cuting the provincial and municipal laws the present local constabulary and police will be preserved as far as practicable and necessary, provided their allegiance to the United States is assured. X. The freedom of the people to pursue their customary avocations will not be abridged. Private property belonging to individuals or corporations, and all public property and buildings belonging to the United States and the provincial govern- ment or municipalities, and all school buildings, churches, and houses devoted to religious worship must be protected. John R. Brooke, ~)[ February 12, 1899. It having been demonstrated to the department commander for some weeks that matters are generally mismanaged at Aguadilla— that the comicilmen quarrel with one another, that they refuse to act in the interests of the people, and that money is corruptly used, Capt. F. W. Mansfield, Eleventh Infantry, commanding at Aguadilla, will notify the alcalde and the councilmen that they are deposed from office and that the civil authority is entirely suspended in the town. The above order will also apply to Moca, Captain Mansfield, Eleventh Infantry, will assume command of the town exercising the necessary civil functions, and use his troops as required by the circumstances * He will then call a meeting of the representative men of the town, and as soon as they agree upon reputable men to govern the town in the interests of the whole, he will induct them into office and report to these headquarters that thev are desirable mPTi J men From the report of the commission, composed of one radical and one liberal, which was sent from here, it is concluded that the liberals are more to blame than are the r bt M° 1S n ° ° b ^ ection t0 a radical council if good men of that party are The jail is also reported as dirty and overcrowded. Captain Mansfield will release therefrom ail those who are serving light sentences, and order the jailor to clean the pr Twu • a t ter as ne S lected his dut y, he will be replaced by a capable man. it the judges have failed to do their duty, report them to these headquarters for removal. * 102 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. In carrying out these orders it is assumed that Captain Mansfield will use good judgment and discretion. If any opposition is displayed, either through failure to carry out his orders or through disrespect on the part of anyone, he will cause the offender to be placed in jail, and report the case to these headquarters. Captain Mansfield is also authorized to call upon several of the reputable men of the town to investigate the accounts of the city officials for report to these head- quarters. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 21. j San Juan, February 15, 1899. 1. "La Junta del Obras del Puerto de San Juan de Puerto Rico" not being com- patible with American methods, its duties properly pertaining to the Navy and Engineer Corps of the Army, is hereby dissolved. 2. Commander A. S. Snow, U. S. N., is appointed inspector of the works, formerly under the Junta. 3. Maj. E. A. Root, chief engineer, U. S. V., is placed as engineer in charge of these works. 4. The inspector and engineer officer will reorganize the personnel of these works, retaining in service only those employees necessary, discharging the others and mak- ing such other changes as are necessary to make the harbor works conform to the American system. The tonnage dues heretofore collected by the collector of customs for harbor improvement being done away with and the finances of the municipality being in such condition as to render the payment by it of the annual appropriation impossible, there is appropriated from the revenues of the island $6,000 per month for the improvement of harbor facilities of San Juan, and additional appropriations will be made to execute approved plans when necessary. The secretary and treasurer of the Junta will turn over to Maj. E. A. Root all records and funds pertaining to that body, and hereafter all disbursements will be made by the engineer on vouchers approved by the inspector. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 22. j San Juan, February 17, 1899. One hundred dollars reward will be given to any person for the apprehension and delivery to the military authorities and conviction of any one guilty of arson, mur- der, robbery, or violent assault for the purpose of murder or robbery on the part of anyone forming a combination known as the banditti or organization for violating the law. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 23. J San Juan, February 20, 1899. Alcaldes and councilmen are reminded that orders are issued to be obeyed. In a recent case the alcalde and council resigned because they supposed they had received an order not agreeable to them. No order had been given, but if it had been, and not carried out, the course of the council would have been contumacious and in defi- ance of authority, and other action would have followed instead of resignations being accepted. It can not be too strongly impressed upon municipal councils that the interests of the municipalities depend upon their honesty, zeal, and attention to duty. Without this, the people they represent suffer and the progress of the island is held back. No more important body of men exists than the various councils, and the people should insist upon being properly represented by their best men and no others, and it should be considered an honor to hold such positions of responsibility. They must learn one lesson, however: that is, before they govern others or can give proper example to people, they must govern themselves, and obey promptly all legal orders, submitting for appeal any unjust ones, which will always be remedied. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 103 General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 24. J San Juan, February 21, 1899. To-morrow, February 22, being the anniversary of the birth of George Washington, the first President, of the United States of America, will be observed as a holiday. All public offices will be closed during the day. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Pico, No. 26. I San Juan, February 24, 1899. I. The La Metralla, of Ponce, is hereby suspended from publication, and its editor will be brought to trial for publishing an article derogatory to a public official. Charges supported by proper evidence will always be considered when properly sub- mitted, but publication of same will result in suppression of offending paper and the trial of its editor. II. The conduct of the case now being tried at Ponce is unsatisfactory from reports received, and Mr. Jose Maria Figueras, of the supreme court, will proceed to Ponce to investigate and report upon the condition of affairs, giving upon his return such information as may do justice to all concerned and bring to punishment those who have violated the law or neglected their duty. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 27. J San Juan, February 27, 1899. On February 12, owing to reported disagreement of councilmen and irregular con- duct of affairs, the civil authorities at Aguadilla and Moca were suspended and the military placed in charge. This warning of proposed action was made in previous orders in the following words: "If they (the concilmen) fail to preserve law and order or show an indifference and neglect of duty, towns in which said neglects occur will be put under a military officer and necessary troops and the functions of the alcade, council, and courts sus- pended and the town governed by military law. ' ' The above action was forced upon the department commander, who has always prevented the interference of the military with civil affairs so far as possible in order to give the latter an opportunity to govern themselves, using only the military to preserve law and order when called upon or found to be necessary. This statement of facts is made because it is falsely claimed by some who should know better that a condition of "military despotism exists on this island." This government is a military one, but conducted so as to give every latitude to the civil authorities as long as they show themselves capable of good behavior and self-goverment. The towns of Aguadilla and Moca have elected their councilmen, but Aguadilla has failed to elect an alcalde, the military officer still acting as such by request of the people. Beginning March 1, the military authority will be withdrawn from these towns and the civil reestablished, and all reports or complaints will be made to the re- spective cabinet officers at San Juan. If councils fail to elect alcaldes the secretary of state will take such action as may be required. The military will interfere with nothing, and the withdrawal of same from Agua-. dilla will follow if necessary to give the people of these towns a full trial in self- government. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 28. J San Juan, February 28, 1899. I. The subdelegation of medicine and surgery is authorized, in accordance with orders of the Spanish Government elated May 29, 1866, to grant certificates of practi- tioners in minor surgery, provided the requirements in said order shall have been fulfilled. 104 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. II. All certificates of surgeon dentists issued by the said subdelegation, understood as entitling the holders thereof to perforin the duties of doctors in dental surgery, not being authorized by said Spanish orders, are hereby declared null and void. III. The holders of these certificates shall return them within ten days to the sub- delegation of medicine and surgery, where they will be exchanged for certificates of practitioners in minor surgery. IV. Those who at the end of the time indicated shall not have exchanged their certificates, and continue practicing the profession in spite of the orders given, shall be called up by the mayors of the respective places, who will compel them to deliver the certificates, and besides levy a fine of $50 on every certificate holder. Y. The practitioners of dental surgery shall be allowed to practice only under the supervision of a doctor in dental surgery. By command of Major-General Henry: "\V. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 29. j San Juan, March 7, 1899. 1. All people from abroad residing in or carrying on any industry or business in this island have precisely the same privileges and are subject to the same restrictions and taxations as the native residents and business men, except where otherwise specially provided in the laws of the island as at present established. They are there- fore required to obey the laws of the island and of the municipality where they may happen to reside or carry on any industry or business. 2. In accordance with the above all such persons must pay the tax that the ayun- tamientos may levy upon their industry or business, and refusal to obey the lawful commands of such legally constituted bodies, or evasion to meet said just demands, will result in precisely the same stringent measures being used against them as would properly be used by these ayuntamientos in the case of the resident native people. 3. The ayuntamientos are hereby warned not to consider the above paragraphs as authorizing any improper procedure or discrimination; strict justice and impartiality should be applied in all cases, and any violation of authority on their part should be promptly reported and action should be taken against them through the necessary legal channels. By command of Major-General Henry: . W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, "I Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 30. J San Juan, March 8, 1899. I. Pursuant to the third paragraph of the order of the President of the United States, dated January 20, 1899, relating to the current money of Puerto Rico, viz, " It is further ordered and directed that out of the Puerto Rican coins so received a convenient supply shall be retained and carried for exchange for United States money at the rates hereinbefore enumerated, namely, $0.60 United States money for one Puerto Rican silver peso," there shall be kept in the custom-houses at San Juan, Ponce, and Mayaguez, Puerto Rican money for exchange for American money at the authorized rate of exchange, that is, 1.66f pesos, Puerto Rican money for $1 American money. In making this exchange preference will be given to those who desire exchange for legitimate purposes, and in no case will it be exchanged for persons wdio are themselves engaged in exchanging money for profit. So long as this exchange of money shall be continued, no person engaged in busi- ness in Puerto Rico shall refuse to accept American money when tendered at the rate prescribed by the President of the United States. On and after July 1, 1899, and until further orders, all public dues, insular and municipal taxes, fines and costs will be assessed in United States money. Where changes in dues, salaries, etc., are not provided for, the amount of dues, salaries, etc., will be determined in accordance with the prescribed rate of exchange. It is urgently recommended that all tradesmen throughout the island express the price of their goods in American money, with alternate price in Puerto Rican money, with due regard to the authorized rate of exchange. II. It having been brought to the attention of the department commander that liquor is sold to children, to the detriment of their health and morals, the sale or giving of liquor of any kind by any person to any child under 14 years of age is REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 105 strictly prohibited, under penalty, if convicted of violation of this order, to imprison- ment for sixty days, and a fine of $60 for each offense. The civil authorities, police, and others are enjoined to see to the proper execution of this order, and to do everything possible to rescue the young from reported con- ditions, which, if continued, are certain to ruin them morally and physically, and to impair their future usefulness. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 32. J San Juan, March 10, 1899. The municipal jail at San Juan, P. R., is designated as the place of confinement for all military convicts upon this island who are sentenced to over six months' imprison- ment, and who are not sentenced to confinement in the penitentiary. All such con- victs will be sent by the commanding officer, under proper guard, to this place of confinement, where they will be delivered to the custodian of the jail, together with a copy of the order promulgating their sentence, and also a list of such property and clothing as may be in their possession. So much of their sentence as refers to hard labor will be executed under the direction of the health officer, to whom they will be delivered, under suitable guard, at such times as he may desire. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 33. j San Juan, March 13, 1899. I. Hereafter prisoners in jail will not be shackled or placed in stocks for punish- ment. Punishment for misbehavior or violation of prison rules will be solitary con- finement with a bread and water diet, to be continued until the offender promises to reform. Those now in prison who have six months or less to serve and who have behaved well during their imprisonment will be restored to liberty. The names of those released under this order will be sent to these headquarters. In the future a credit of five days in each month will be allowed to each prisoner for good behavior, such credit to be applied in reducing the length of sentence. Mis- behavior will remove the credit thus earned and a new start will be necessary. II. At the inspection of the department commander of the prisoners at the peni- tentiary yesterday that institution was found to be in excellent order, very cleanly, and not an ill smell, its condition reflecting great credit upon the chief keeper, Mr. Maximino Luzunaris. If all jails were in the same condition it would be well for the island. The object of all prisons is for the protection of peaceable people living outside as well as for the reform of criminals by detention. When this reform has been effected there is no further necessity of punishment of the man. Any excess beyond this tends to degrade him. Those in charge of prisons should do everything possible consistent Avith duty to elevate the moral tone of their prisoners, and to this end they are at liberty to call upon members of the religious orders to hold services with these prisoners on Sun- day, and thus aid in elevating their moral characters. Such services, if properly conducted, particularly those of song, will save many a despairing man who in his surroundings has lost all hope. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 35. J San Juan, March 20, 1899. I. It has come to the knowledge of the department commander that in some dis- tricts on the island many people are suffering and some have died for want of food, caused by poor crops, resulting from lack of rain or other unavoidable conditions. The department commander therefore directs that until further orders post com- manders consult with the alcaldes so that by a judicious issue of portions of the ration as set forth in paragraph 7, General Orders No. 5, Adjutant-General's Office, current series, to those in want, the distress may be alleviated. Attention is also invited to 106 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-OENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. paragraph 8, General Orders No. 110, Adjutant-General's Office, series 1898. The natives have suffered patiently, but care must be exercised in this issue to reach the needy who have been unable to secure work, and not to encourage people in shirk- ing work or in depending on Americans. II. Referring to the idle talk, the threats of violence in certain neighborhoods, the reported assemblages for evolutionary purposes and the numerous newspaper arti- cles appearing in the press of the United States, showing a restless state of affaire here, all these conditions intimidating the work of capitalists desiring to invest here are now bearing their fruit to the injury of the well-being and progress of the island. People of education and all having the good of the island at heart should instruct the ignorant, whose characters are unknown in the States, concerning the harm they are doing by their childish threats and utterances, exhorting them to silence of speech and suppression of such correspondence. - It is not believed that any thought of determined opposition to law and order exists in Puerto Rico, but should such be the truth it would be crushed at once and would prove to be the suicide of the island. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 41. J San Juan, March 28, 1899. The time to be used by all the government departments in Puerto Rico will be that of the sixtieth meridian, designated as intercolonial time. This time is sent daily to all the telegraph offices, and will be obtained therefrom. ' The signal officer of the department is charged with the carrying out of this regulation. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General . General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 43. J San Juan, April 6, 1899. I. In accordance with orders from the War Department, native products of Puerto Rico purchased by the Commissary Department for the use of the United States Army will be exempt from the consumption tax. II. The War Department having forbidden the issue of rations to Puerto Ricans, commanding officers of posts are authorized, to prevent suffering among the people in their respective localities, to purchase necessary articles of food at a rate not to exceed 10 centavos a day for each needy person and to send bill for same to this office for payment from the moneys of the island, as directed by the authorities at Washington. Great discretion must be used in carrying out these instructions, and aid should only be extended to those who are unable to work or to obtain the same. III. The recent visit of the department commander to Caguas, Cayey, Aibonito,Coamo, Coamo Springs, Santa Isabel, Guayama, and Arroyo showed a satisfactory condition of affairs, and that the people are strongly in sympathy with American methods and progress. At Coamo Springs a most patient and commendable work is progressing in procuring vaccine for the benefit of the people of this island. At some of the towns complaint was made as to the cost of bread, 8 centavos a loaf, the same as last sum- mer, although the price of flour is much less now. The price should not be over 6 centavos a pound. In the city of San Juan the price of bread is down to 4 centavos. It is the duty of the alcaldes to reduce as far as possible the cost of all the necessaries of life and to increase the tax on other articles. The prison at Guayama was not clean. The prison at Caguas was clean, but an old building. The quarters of the insular police and appearance of men at Santa Isabel, Guayama, and Caguas were very good, and particularly so at the latter place. While the meals were good and the beds clean at the hotels visited, the location and dirty condition of the water-closets, placed in or near the kitchens, as is proba- bly the case also in many private dwellings on the island, were most disreputable. Until this insanitary condition is remedied great discredit will be brought upon the island, as Americans view such conditions with disgust, and their recollection of otherwise agreeable surroundings will be marred by this unnatural and disgusting practice. IV. The habit of delegations coming to San Juan at the expense of the people or municipalities must be discontinued. All applications should be addressed to the EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 107 proper secretary. If a reply is not received nor any action taken within a reason- able time, a direct application should be made to the governor-general, stating what is desired, the fact of inaction, and date of appeal. Valuable tame is taken up in talking about matters that can only be attended to in writing and by reference to the P1 Th?workof r building roads, taking charge of schools and jails, so as to reduce the taxes of the people, will be taken up as rapidly as possible. In the meantime all budgets will be reduced to the lowest possible limit, honest economy practiced in all directions, and patience exercised during this period of transition. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders 1 Headquarters Department op Puerto Eico, No. 46. ' J S an J uan > April 15, 1899. The attention of the department commander has been invited by Puerto Bicans to the immoral conditions existing in this city, which were ignored by the Spanish Government, and if continued will surely impede the progress of the island. Childrenshould not be alloAved on the streets at night after certain hours. While gambling has not been interfered with, it should, if allowed, be regulated so that it will not become a nuisance. Police rules of well-ordered localities should govern in this matter. .. * . Every effort should be made by all good citizens and by the police to protect the young from evil and to bring to punishment those who defy the laws of decency, morality, and manhood, rules of action so strongly implanted in the human heart that, when violated, the conscience of the most depraved appeals to the higher nature. What applies to San Juan may also apply to other places. Alcaldes are directed to use every possible effort to improve the moral conditions in their towns. "Eighteousness exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Eico, j^ _ 4g_ J San Juan, April 18, 1899. The cost of cleaning or policing the towns belongs to the municipal budget, and if necessary an extra tax will be levied upon the people. Whenever troops occupy a town where the water system is defective, every possible assistance will be given by the island moneys. Money was used at San Juan for this purpose, owing to a threat- ened water famine and the pressure for an increased water supply. An American will use a bucket of water to a glassful by others. They have been accustomed to an abundance of water for all purposes. Some money was also allowed for sanitary work at the capital, the city being in a bad condition in this respect, If sickness or an epidemic started at the capital it would injure the whole island. It will readily be seen that if moneys were devoted to other towns, or each obtained a share, none would be left for schools, jails, and building of roads. The latter is most important for commercial purposes, to keep the people employed, and to obtain money for food. It must therefore be impressed upon the people that they must clean their own towns and to keep them in that condition, not only to reflect credit upon the island, but to also prevent disease or epidemics, which are almost always the result of lack of cleanliness. The latter is one of the great evils here, and has always been. The lack of sanitary regulations or the nonenforcement of the same must be remedied. Boards of health will report all alcaldes who fail to do their duty in this most important part of hygienic reform, and when they fail, removal will follow. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Eico, No. 49. J San Juan, April 19, 1899. The following proclamation of the President of the United States is published for the information and guidance of all concerned: 108 ^ REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. (Reservation for naval purposes — Puerto Rico.) By the President of the United States. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas it is deemed necessary in the public interests that certain lands lying to the eastward of the city of San Juan, in Puerto Rico, be immediately reserved for naval purposes; Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, by virtue of the authority in me vested, do hereby declare, proclaim, and make known that the following-described lands be, and the same are hereby, reserved for naval purposes until such time as the Congress of the United States shall otherwise direct, to wit: First. The public land, natural, reclaimed, partly reclaimed, or which may be reclaimed, lying south of the Caguas road, shown on the United States hydro- graphic map No. 1754, of July, 1898, and for 250 feet north of said Caguas road, to be bounded on the west by a true north and south line passing through the eastern corner of the railway station shown on said map, on the south by the shore of the harbor, and to extend east 2,400 feet, more or less, to include 80 acres. Second. The entire island lying to the southward of the above-described land, and described on the United States hydrographic map No. 1745, of July, 1899, as Isla Grande, or Manglar. The military governor of the island of Puerto Rico will make this transfer through the representative of the Navy, the commandant of the United States naval station, San Juan, Puerto Rico, who will present this proclamation. . [seal.] William McKinley. March 29, 1899. By the President: John Hay, Secretary of State. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 50. j San Juan, April 22, 1899. The department commander and military governor announces to his command and to the people of this island that upon his own application he will soon be relieved from duty here. In seeking this relief, which he did with reluctance, as he is deeply interested in his work, he felt that during the heated term he would be unable to continue his arduous duties and that his successor had better be appointed now than later. Landing in July last at Guanica and visiting Yauco, Utuado, Adjuntas, Ponce, and San Juan, he received abundant proofs of the loyalty and intelligence of the Puerto Ricans and their desire to be true Americans and to adopt the methods that have resulted in making the United States a great nation. The promises made to the military governor at the meeting of delegates last Decem- ber have been fully realized and he is thankful to all for their good will and hearty cooperation. He appreciates the honest and zealous work done by his secretaries and the aid given him in instituting reforms and amending laws. The Puerto Ricans must be patient and adopt as rapidly as possible all suggested changes, which are for the better and lead to success and to the improvement of the island. Allowances must be made for the difference in customs, in language, and the asso- ciations of years, all of which are hard to eliminate in a short time, but which must be changed before any great advance can be made. The methods to be pursued, he trusts and believes, will be based upon humanity and justice and with a due regard to the golden rule of doing unto others as we would like to have done to us. Following these lines considerately, success and har- mony will follow. Honest and zealous performance of duty by all officials and the prompt carrying out of all laws and reforms based upon just and moral codes should be the foundation stone of all action. He thanks the various officers and soldiers for their cooperation and willing sub- ordination to the civil authorities, in order that the latter might have an opportunity to learn and practice what will be required of them upon the removal of the military forces. REPORT OF BRIOADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 109 He believes that a continued advance upon lines of operation already indicated, starting from an honest base, will meet with success and prosperity and ultimately result in victory and the happiness of the people. This will be the wish and thought of the retiring military governor, who will always cherish a most pleasant life mem- ory of his associations with the Puerto Ricans. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 54. J San Juan, May 2, 1899. The following orders are issued for the information and guidance of all concerned: I. Eight hours in twenty-four shall be considered a day's work throughout the island. II. There shall be no tax on salaries of men or women employed or working in any capacity whatsoever. III. Only taxpayers shall be members of the municipal councils and no councilman shall be exempted from paying any portion of his share of legally and duly appor- tioned taxes. IV. At the end of each calendar month municipal councils shall make a report of absentees from their sessions to the secretary of state; and any councilman absent from three consecutive sessions without just cause shall be dropped under instructions from the secretary of state and his place duly filled. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutan-1 General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 55. J San Juan, May 2, 1899. Before leaving the island the department commander wishes to thank the insular police for the work they have done. He has already announced in orders his approval of their appearance at the various towns he has visited. The men composing this force should remember that they are to preserve law and order, and set an example to others. They should not go beyond their duty. Any interference with civil authorities should be avoided, as has been required by the military. The insular police have succeeded in quieting the bandits and arresting violators of the law and securing of criminals. This could not be done by the United States troops, owing to their unfamiliarity with the people, the country, and the language. He thanks Mr. Frank Techter for the good judgment and impartiality shown by him in the selection of the material that has given such good results. He hopes this force will continue its good work and reflect credit upon the retiring military governor, and bring to themselves the praise of all good citizens. The insular police should not hesitate to report neglects on the part of higher officials, but they should leave these cases to the proper authorities for settlement. What little trouble there has been in the past has arisen from a too great desire to perform duties belonging to other departments, an error likely to occur, but which must be guarded against. The military governor is much pleased with the words of commendation received from all parties, and again thanks the insular police and their chief for the good services they have already rendered. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. [Nos. 61-151, issued by General Davis.] General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 61. I San Juan, May 13, 1899. The provisions of paragraph 1, General Orders, No. 54, Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, announcing that eight hours in twenty-four shall constitute a day's work throughout the island, must not be understood as forbidding agreement between employers and employees for more or less than eight hours in one day. The order in question does not touch upon the matter of rate of compensation for those who 110 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. are employed either by the United States, the insular or municipal governments, or by private individuals and corporations. It is competent for the parties in interest to arrange and agree upon a rate of employment by the hour, but under the order in question it is illegal to require that any employee in public or private service shall work more than eight hours in one day unless the conditions of the agreement war- rant such extension of the working hours. This regulation applies only to engage- ments for service where definite compensation is agreed upon for such service. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 62. J San Juan, May 15, 1899. Capt. L. P. Davison, Fifth United States Infantry, in addition to his other duties, is appointed inspector of the penitentiary in this city, known as the "Presidio," and Avill receive and disburse all insular funds derived from customs revenue appropri- ated for the use of this penitentiary, rendering proper accounts and vouchers for the same to these headquarters through the secretary of justice. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 64. J San Juan, May 19, 1899. The following regulations are published in elucidation of General Orders, No. 63, current series, these headquarters. In any respect in which this order may be in conflict with these regulations the latter will govern. (1) Telegrams will be concise; all useless wo^ds omitted, and so written that punctuation marks are not required to insure correct understanding. The last name of the person addressed and of the sender of a message, or the titles of their offices, will generally be sufficient. (2) The military telegraph can be used only in the transmission of important mes- sages of urgency relating to public business, which if sent by mail would probably result in detriment to public interests. (3) Messages from the following classes of officials relating to urgent public busi- ness will be passed without charge for tolls: (a) Officers of the United States Government connected with the military, naval, postal, marine-hospital, weather, and customs services; also members of commissions appointed by the President who may be in Puerto Rico. (b) The secretaries of the civil government, viz, state, justice, treasury, and interior, or officers acting in any of said capacities. Replies to such officers, if conforming to the provisions of paragraph 2, will also be free. (c) The members of the supreme court and the fiscal and replies thereto. Id) Judges of instruction and first instance. \e) Alcades in communicating with secretaries of the civil government and the governor-general. (/) Officers of the insular police. (g) The heads of the civil departments of public works and education, including replies from their subordinates. (4) Should messages sent be which, in the judgment of the chief signal officer, con- tain matter not entitled to free transmission, he will submit copies of such messages to these headquarters. (5) Should important military information of an urgent character come to the knowledge of any telegraph operator he will transmit the same to the chief signal officer. (6) At the end of each month the chief signal officer will prepare, for the informa- tion of the commanding general, a statement showing what would have been the earnings of the telegraph on business done for each of the classes.of officers designated in subparagraphs b c, d, e, /, and g of paragraph 3. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Ill General Orders 1 Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No- 67, ' } San Juan, May 24, 1899. I. The judges of instruction and courts of justice in the island will hereafter try- such criminal cases now pending and incomplete before military commissions which may be referred to them from these headquarters through the secretary of justice. II. In such cases judges of instruction and courts of justice shall bear in mind what has been prescribed by the department of justice in the matter of detentions. III. Judges of instruction shall report to the department of justice such cases as they may have taken charge of by virtue of the present order, with specification of the offense and name of the indicted party in each case. IV. Where no proceedings have been instituted against a prisoner placed at the disposal of the aforesaid military commissions the proper judge of instruction shall try the case on the strength of the antecedents or record thereof furnished him and report the facts of each case to the secretary of justice. Bv command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-Genral General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 68. J Sari Juan, May 24, 1899. I. Hereafter the chief of the penitentiary and wardens of jails in the island shall render weekly reports to the secretary of justice of the number of prisoners con- fined in their respective establishments on Saturday at 12 o'clock noon. II. Said weekly reports shall be placed in the first outgoing mail after the above-" mentioned hour, and the secretary of justice shall render to these headquarters a consolidated report of all weekly reports so received. III. The chief of the penitentiary and wardens of jails shall release all prisoners at 12 o'clock noon on the day on which their sentences expire unless they receive an order in writing from competent authority to hold them in prison for Other cause. In case such an order is received a copy of it shall be attached to the next weekly report, the prisoner being reported among those released at the expiration of their term and entered among those who have subsequently been admitted. IV. Printed forms for reports shall be furnished by the secretary of justice to officials for whose use they are intended. _ By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 69. J San Juan, May 24, 1899. Authority having been granted by the War Department to Spanish lawyers here resident to practice their profession in this island, the limitation of one year imposed by paragraph 1 of judicial order of April 18, published in No. 95 of the Official Gazette, is hereby rescinded, and their right to practice law is guaranteed without limitation as to time. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 71. J San Juan, May 31, 1899. Upon the recommendation of the secretary of justice, the following is promulgated: I. Any justice of the supreme court of Puerto Rico, or of any audiencia, or any judge of instruction, shall issue the writ of habeas corpus on the petition of any per- son who is restrained of his liberty within their respective judicial districts. But when such writ so issuing from such court is served upon any person who holds a prisoner subject to United States authority, the body of the prisoner will not be pro- duced, but respectful return will be made setting forth that the prisoner is held under color of the authority of the United States, and that therefore the court issuing the writ is without jurisdiction, and praying that the writ be therefore dismissed. II. Upon ascertainment by such judge or court issuing the writ that such return is true in fact, the writ shall be dismissed. III. The secretary of justice will see that this order is duly observed. Instructions, approved by the commanding general, and printed blank forms will be supplied on application to the secretary of justice. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W.P. Hall, Adjutant- General. 112 KEPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 72. / San Juan, June 2, 1S99. I. On and after July 1, 1899, the office of court physician (medico forense) shall cease to exist. II. The duties heretofore pertaining to the office of the court physician shall be per- formed by the municipal physician (medico titular) of the district in which the case or subject for medical examination arises. III. On and after June 10, 1899, the office of chaplain in jails of this island shall cease to exist. Religious services may be conducted in the penitentiary or in any jail by a priest or minister of any religious society or denomination upon "application to the warden twenty-four hours in advance of' the proposed services. Sick prisoners will be permitted to receive personal visits from ministers or priests upon application to the warden. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 77. / San Juan, June 12, 1899. I. On and after June 15, 1899, the jails of this island will be under the manage- ment of a board of prison control. II. This board will be composed of five members, as follows: Hon. Jose Severo Quiilones, president of the supreme court. Maj. A. C. Sharpe, inspector-general, U. S. V., acting judge-advocate. Maj. L. P. Davison, U. S. V., commanding Puerto Rican Battalion. Hon. Rafael Romeu y Aguayo, fiscal of the supreme court. Hon. Manuel F. Rossy, lawyer. III. Three members will constitute a quorum. The first member named herein will preside. In his absence the board will choose a temporary chairman. IV. The board will meet at San Juan on the first Monday in each month and at such other times as it may desire. V. The board will also act as a board of pardons, to whom all applications for pardon, remission, or mitigation of punishment of prisoners will be submitted and its recommendations transmitted to the commanding general for his action. VI. The board will meet as soon as practicable to prepare and submit to the com- manding general regulations covering the administration of prisons, the supply of food, clothing, and medical attendance of prisoners, as well as for the maintenance, repair, and construction of jail buildings. VII. The inspector of jails will act as secretary and interpreter for the board. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 80. J San Juan, June 17, 1899. It having come to the knowledge of this office that certain alcalde shave failed to comply with that provisions of Circular No. 3, from these headquarters, which directs them "to use all their authority to secure prompt compliance on the part of the people with the order requiring all the inhabitants to present themselves for vacci- nation when notified," and whereas by reason of this neglect on the part of the alcaldes some persons have resisted vaccination and others have regarded it with indifference; therefore it is ordered that — First. Upon receipt of notification from the director of vaccination of the time that the vaccinators would begin work in any particular municipal district, or part thereof, the alcade of that district will immediately order the people to assemble at the appointed time and places for vaccination. Second. Within ten days, counting from the day after the publication of the order, all the inhabitants of the municipality so notified must comply with the law requir- ing them to be vaccinated, or present a certificate from proper authority that they have been successfully vaccinated within a year, or must present satisfactory evidence of their inability to comply with the order. Third. Those who at the end of the specified time are not vaccinated or who do not possess the required certificate, or are not excused by proper authority on account of sickness or other disability, shall be arrested and fined by the alcalde (for the benefit of the municipal treasury) the sum of $10 United States currency, and if REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 113 they then refuse vaccination, will he fined 85 United States currency for each day thereafter until vaccinated. Fourth. Those who fail to pay the fine within forty-eight hours, counting from the time they are notified to do so, shall instead suffer ten days' imprisonment and there- after five days for each additional offense. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico. No, 84. / San Juan, June 23, 1899. I. For the examination of documents presented by teachers who compete in the concourse announced in the Official Gazette for the provision of vacant schools, a commission will be nominated by the Secretary of the Interior upon recommenda- tion of the bureau of education to consist of one member of the board of education of San Juan, one public school professor, one lady teacher of the public school, one of the inspectors of the bureau of education, and one father of a family. II. This commission will meet the day following the last day of the concourse to examine the documents and to nominate, in conformity with the provisions of the law, the teacher who possesses best rights to each school for which application is made. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutants General. General Orders, "I Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 87. j San Juan, Jane 16, 1899. The system and methods of accounting for insular revenues and disbursements from insular funds under the United States military government of Puerto Rico, as pro- vided for in the Executive order of the President of United States, of May 8, 1899, and the rules and instructions to carry the same into effect, promulgated by the Assistant Secretary of War, May 11, 1899, will be enforced and observed in the island of Puerto Rico and its dependencies from and after July 1, 1899. I. METHOD OF ACCOUNTING FOR INSULAR REVENUES. 1. All revenues collected and received under the United States military government of Puerto Rico, excepting those collected for the support of municipalities, are required to be paid hi full to the treasurer of Puerto Rico, at San Juan, without any deduction. 2. Officers and agents who collect and receive insular revenues will not, therefore, be authorized or permitted to use and apply the same or any part thereof to the pay- ment of the salaries and expenses of their respective officers, or for other purposes, and to charge such disbursements in their revenue accounts. Advances of .money to pay needful and proper expenditures will be made to officers and agents authorized to disburse insular revenues upon requisition and warrants, as hereinafter provided, and in paying such warrants the treasurer may draw on the revenues in the hands of any officer, as hereinafter provided in paragraph 18. 3. The monthly revenue accounts rendered by the officers or agents who collect and receive insular revenues must embrace the full amounts collected and received dur- ing the month for which such accounts are respectively rendered, which amounts will be paid in full to the treasurer of Puerto Rico, as hereinafter provided; and any draft of the treasurer drawn in favor of any officer payable from revenues in his hands, as hereinafter provided in paragraph 18, when so paid, indorsed, and returned to the treasurer, will be treated as a remittance in cash. 4. The treasurer will issue receipts in duplicate for moneys paid to him, which receipts must be countersigned by the auditor of Puerto Rico, in order to make them valid vouchers. After such receipts have been countersigned by the auditor, the originals will be retained in his office and the duplicates will be delivered or trans- mitted by him to the officers or agents by whom the payments were made. Such duplicate receipts will constitute the official vouchers upon which the officers or agents making the payments will receive credit in the settlement of their monthly revenue accounts by the auditor, and mast be transmitted with such accounts when rendered. 12558 8 114 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 5. The collectors of customs and collectors of internal revenues stationed in San Juan and Ponce will each day deposit the revenues collected by them, respectively, with De Ford & Co. (the depositary for insular funds in those cities) to the credit of the treasurer of Puerto Rico and taking duplicate receipts therefor, one of which shall in each case lie transmitted by the person making the deposit to the treasurer of Puerto Rico, with a written statement showing on account of what fund or class of revenues the deposit was made; and upon receiving the same the treasurer will issue his receipts in duplicate to such depositor in the manner already indicated. The receipts issued by the depositary for insular funds at San Juan and Ponce must show that the deposits are made to the credit of the treasurer of Puerto Rico, and give the names and official titles of the officers making such deposits. 6. The collectors of customs and collectors of internal revenues at ports or places other than San Juan and Ponce will transmit the funds collected by them, respec- tively, to the treasurer of Puerto Rico by an agent or officer of the military government duly authorized to receive and receipt for the same, who will visit the places where such collectors are stationed at least once in each month, and oftener if deemed necessary, for the purpose of receiving the funds. 7. The collectors of customs and collectors of internal revenues will deliver the packages containing the funds to be transmitted to the treasurer, with a written statement therein giving the amounts and kinds of money inclosed and on account of what funds or class of revenues the money is to be credited. Such packages will be sealed with wax and addressed to the treasurer of Puerto Rico at San Juan, and the amount and kind of money inclosed in each package must be indorsed thereon. 8. The packages when received by the treasurer will be opened in the presence of witnesses, the money counted, and duplicate receipts issued by the treasurer in favor of the officers making the payments for the respective amounts contained in the packages. II. RENDITION OF REVENUE ACCOUNTS. 9. All officers or agents who collect or receive revenues of any kind or class under the United States military government of Puerto Rico, excepting those collected for the support of municipalities, are required to render their accounts of the same monthly to the auditor of Puerto Rico at San Juan. 10. The rules and instructions aforenamed, promulgated by the War Department, require that such revenue accounts shall be ' ' accompanied with proper itemized and certified statements and returns of revenue collected, shoAving when, by whom,- and on what account paid." 11. Collectors of customs for each of the ports of Puerto Rico and its dependencies, to which collectors are assigned, will render monthly accounts of all customs revenues and duties collected directly to the auditor of Puerto Rico at San Juan. 12. Acting postmasters will render monthly accounts of all postal revenues collected and fees received from money-order business directly to the auditor of Puerto Rico at San Juan. Accounts for postal receipts and accounts for fees from money-order business must be rendered separately. Money-order statements must be rendered weekly to the auditor. 13. Collectors of internal revenues for each of the nine districts provided for in the regulations approved by the governor-general of Puerto Rico, January 28, 1899, will render monthly accounts of all internal revenues and miscellaneous receipts, of what- ever kind collected and received, to the auditor of Puerto Rico through the secretary of finance at San Juan. 14. Accounts for internal revenues collected, namely, rural tax, urban tax, tax on industries, tax on commerce, taxes in arrears, and other outstanding debts will con- stitute one class of revenue accounts; while accounts for miscellaneous receipts collected, namely, licenses to carry arms, government fines, judicial fines, sales of unclaimed property, "canons" (rents of buildings and lands belonging to the island of Puerto Rico) , rents of insular property, annuities for property formerly monarchical, state promissory notes, imposts on mineral claims, and rents of salt mines will con- stitute the other class of revenue accounts. 15. Collect( >rs of internal revenue are required to render separate revenue accounts monthly of all money collected and received under each of the two classes or heads of accounts; that is, one monthly account of internal-revenue receipts (internal re ve- nues) and another monthly account of miscellaneous receipts. KEPOET OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 115 III. DISBURSEMENTS AND THE RENDITION OF DISBURSING ACCOUNTS. («) Requisitions. 16. All officers and agents authorized to disburse insular revenues will make monthly requisitions for such amounts as shall be required to defray the necessary expenditures for one month to be paid by them, respectively. Such requisitions should be made at least ten days before the expiration of the month for which the funds are needed, should be transmitted to the auditor of Puerto Rico in the manner hereinafter provided, and in every case be accompanied with an itemized estimate setting forth in detail the character and class of expenditures for Avhich the advance of funds is asked. Printed forms for requisitions and estimates will be furnished by the auditor. _ 17. Every requisition will be referred by the auditor, with the required informa- tion from the books in his office, to the governor-general, and after his approval of same an accountable warrant drawn upon the treasurer will be issued by the auditor and countersigned by the governor-general, payable from the proper fund. The amount of such accountable warrant will be charged on the auditor's books to the officer or agent receiving the advance of funds, and he will be held accountable therefor until his monthly account for the same with the necessary vouchers shall have been received and allowed by the auditor. 18. In the payment of such accountable warrants the treasurer will issue a draft in favor of the officer or disbursing agent to whom the warrant is made payable, such draft being drawn on the depositary for insular funds, either at San Juan or Ponce, or upon the officer himself; in which latter case the treasurer's draft so drawn will be the authority to the officer to pay the same out of revenues in his hands, and when so paid and properly indorsed such draft will be returned to the treasurer in lieu of cash when the officer makes remittances of funds to close his revenue account at the end of the month. In order that the treasurer may be advised whether the revenues in the hands of an officer are sufficient to pay the amount to be advanced on his requisition, each officer who collects revenues and also makes disbursements, in forwarding his monthly requisition to the auditor, will state the amount of reve- nues in his hands at the time of making such requisition. 19. Collectors of customs will forward their requisitions for the amounts necessary to pay the salaries and expenses of their respective offices for one month, with properly itemized estimates, directly to the auditor of Puerto Rico at San Juan. 20. No requisitions will be made by acting postmasters. The director-general of posts, at San Juan, will make monthly requisitions for such amounts as shall be required to pay the expenses of the postal service of Puerto Rico and its dependen- cies, including the salaries and expenses of all post-offices, for one month, and forward the same with an itemized estimate of the amounts required, directlv to the auditor of Puerto Rico at San Juan. 21. Collectors of internal revenue for the several districts will make requisitions for the amounts necessary to pay the salaries and compensations in their respective offices, for necessary office supplies, and for all other compensations and expenses pay- able by them within their respective districts, and transmit with the same itemized estimates giving in detail each class and character of expenditure. The requisitions of collectors of internal revenue will be addressed to the auditor of Puerto Rico and forwarded to him through the secretary of finance at San Juan. 22. Officers making disbursements in special departments, such as the bureau of public works, board of health, insular police, bureau of education, bureau of agri- culture, quarantine office, marine hospital, harbor works, provisional court, and light-houses, will forward their monthly requisitions, with properly itemized estimates of the amounts required for one month, directly to the auditor of Puerto Rico at San Juan. (b) Rendition of accounts of disbursements. 23. The officers or agents disbursing insular revenues will render monthly accounts of their disbursements to the auditor. In such accounts the officers or agents will charge themselves with the respective amounts received upon requisitions, giving the numbers, dates, and amounts of the drafts received from the treasurer, and the warrants on which such drafts are drawn; and they will take credit for the respective amounts disbursed, which must in all cases be supported by proper vouchers. Each account of disbursement must be accompanied with an abstract of the vouchers paid, entered therein according to the numbers of the vouchers. The vouchers should be numbered consecutively, according to the dates of payment. 116 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 24. Monthly accounts of disbursements made by collectors of customs, acting as disbursing agents, will be forwarded with proper vouchers, directly to the auditor of Puerto Rico at San Juan. 25. The director-general of post* will render his monthly accounts of disburse- ments and expenses of the postal service, including the salaries and expenses of post-offices of Puerto Rico and its dependencies, with proper vouchers therefor, directly to the auditor. 26. Collectors of internal revenue for the nine districts of Puerto Rico and its dependencies, will render their monthly accounts of disbursements, with proper vouchers, to the auditor of Puerto Rico, transmitting the same through the secretary of finance. 27. Officers disbursing for special departments, such as the bureau of public works, board of health, insular police, bureau of education, bureau of agriculture, quaran- tine office, marine hospital, harbor works, provisional court, and light-houses, will render their monthly accounts of disbursements directly to the auditor of Puerto Rico at San Juan. 28. The treasurer will render his monthly account of general receipts and expend- itures directly to the auditor. 29. The treasurer, as disbursing agent, will pay the salaries and contingent expenses of the office of the auditor of Puerto Rico, and such salaries and contingent expenses in the office of the governor-general and in the treasurer's office and board of prison control, as are paid from insular funds. For this purpose, moneys will lie advanced to the treasurer, as disbursing agent, upon monthly requisitions (with proper esti- mates) and accountable warrants. He will render his accounts monthly for such disbursements to the auditor. IV. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS. 30. Accounts must be rendered and stated with the United States military govern- ment of Puerto Rico and in the money of account of the United States. 31. Accounts and vouchers must be written in ink or typewritten, or with indel- ible pencil. 32. Accounts and vouchers should be rendered in the English language, or where the original account and vouchers are made out in the Spanish language, if possible, a correct translation into the English language must be forwarded therewith. Orig- inal vouchers will be required in all cases; copies of vouchers can not be accepted as sufficient. Where the officer, for his own protection, desires to retain an original voucher, he should take the receipts or vouchers in duplicate, forwarding the original with his account and retaining the duplicate. 33. "Where the signature to a receipted voucher is not written by the hand of the party purporting to sign same, but is made by his cross mark (X) , such signature must be properly witnessed. 34. All vouchers for supplies purchased should have indorsed thereon the usual certificate, stating that the prices are correct and the goods have been delivered, and vouchers for services rendered should be certified, showing that the periods of time charged for are correct, and that the services have been rendered. 35. It is made the duty of the auditor of Puerto Rico in every case where the monthly account of any officer or agent collecting or disbursing insular revenues has not been received in the auditor's office within twenty (20) days after the expi- ration of the month to which such account pertains, to report the name of such officer or agent and his delinquency to the governor-general for proper action. Accounts must, therefore, be rendered promptly so as to reach the auditor's office within the prescribed time. CUSTOMS REVENUE ACCOUNTS. 36. To facilitate the labor of auditing customs revenue accounts, the collectors, in rendering the same, are required to attach together in proper order all entries and papers relating to the duties collected on account of each vessel; namely: Original manifests, original declarations with invoices and bills of lading attached, returns of tonnage dues, and returns of alien passenger tax, and to file therewith a list of the amounts collected properly footed. The returns of tonnage dues must show whether charged on the registered tonnage of the vessel or on the gross weight of the cargo unloaded. When the tonnage is charged on the gross weight of cargo unloaded and the manifest does not show the gross weight, a list of the amounts of the gross weights as set forth in the declarations, correctly footed, should be furnished with REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 117 the collector's account. Returns of alien passenger tax or head money should give the names of the persons on whose account the tax of $1 per capita was collected. 37. The collectors of each port are required to forward with their monthly account of customs revenues collected lists of all articles remaining in the warehouses of such ports, respectively, which have not been entered for payment within five days after their arrival in port, and also lists of abandoned articles remaining in such ware- houses. 38." The findings of the inspectors of customs showing the kind, quality, and quan- titv of articles inspected, must be indorsed on each invoice. 39. Itemized returns, duly certified, of receipts of goods sold and receipts from storage dues and seizures, must be furnished with each monthly account. 40. Declarations should not be extended by importers further than to state the rates of duties to be assessed, and the rates of duties thus stated on the invoice shall be advisory only; the final column showing the total duty to be paid should be extended by the collector and not by the importer. 41. Collectors of customs will take up and account for all consular fees received by them under the provisions of Circular No. 16, from the War Department, 1899. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 88. J Sa n Juan, June 21, 1899. I. In view of existing and steadily increasing legal business requiring judicial determination, which does not fall within the jurisdiction of the local insular courts, such as smuggling goods in evasion of revenue laws, larceny of United States property, controversies between citizens of different States and of foreign states, violation of the United States postal laws, etc., and pursuant to authority from the President of the United States, conveyed bv indorsement of April 14, 1899, from the Acting Sec- retary of War, and after full conference with the supreme court and members of the bar of the island, a United States provisional court is hereby established for the department of Puerto Rico. II. The judicial power of the provisional court hereby established shall extend to all cases which would be properly cognizable by the circuit or district courts of the United States under the Constitution, and to all common-law offenses within the restrictions hereinafter specified. III. Art. Ill, sec. 2, paragraph 1, of the Constitution is as follows: 1. "The judicial Power shall extend to all Cases, in Law and Equity, arising under this Constitution, the Laws of the United States, and Treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority; to all Cases affecting Ambassadors, other public Min- isters and Consuls; to all Cases of Admiralty and Maritime Jurisdiction; to contro- versies to which the United States shall be a Party; to controversies between two or more States; between a State and Citizens of another State; between Citizens of dif- ferent States; between Citizens of the same State claiming Lands under Grants of dif- ferent States, and between a State, or the Citizens thereof, and Foreign States, Citizens or Siibi6cts. ' J IV. The decisions of said court shall follow the principles of common law and equity as established by the courts of the United States, and its procedure, rules, and records shall conform as nearly as practicable to those observed and kept in said Federal courts. Its terms and places of sitting shall be fixed by the court at such times and places as may be most convenient for the parties litigant and to insure the expeditious transaction of business. V. The provisional court shall consist of three judges, one of whom shall be known as the law judge, and the other two as associate judges, one United States district attorney, one marshal, one clerk, three deputy clerks, one stenographer and reporter, one interpreter, one bailiff and janitor, and one messenger. The law judge shall preside and shall determine and decide all technical questions of law. A majority vote of the bench shall determine all questions of fact. The jury system may be introduced or dispensed with in any particular case, in the discretion of the court. VI. The judges of the provisional court shall be clothed with the powers vested in the judges of the circuit or district courts of the United States. VII. The district attorney shall be authorized to present to the court informations against all parties for violations of the United States statutes and regulations. He shall also in like manner present informations for violations of orders issued by the department commander relating to civil matters which may be referred to him from these headquarters. It shall also be his duty to represent the United States in all 118 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. suits to which it is a party and to perform such other duties as usually pertain to the district attorneys in the Federal courts of the United States. VIII. In order to define more clearly certain branches of the criminal jurisdiction of the provisional court, it is hereby provided that it shall include and be exclusive in the following classes of cases: First. All offenses punishable under the statutory laws of the United States, such as those indicated in Paragraph I of this order. Second. Offenses committed by or against persons, foreigners, or Americans, not resi- dents of this department, but who may be traveling or temporarily sojourning therein, or against the property of nonresidents. Third. Offenses against the person or property of persons belonging to the Army or Navy, or those committed by persons belonging to the Army or Navy, not properly triable by military or naval courts, but not including minor police offenses. Fourth. Offenses committed by or against foreigners, or by or against citizens of another State, district, or Territory of the United States residing in this department. IX. Cases arising under Article XI of the Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain will be determined as therein provided. X. In civil actions when the amount in controversy is $50 or over, and in which any of the classes of persons above enumerated in Paragraph VIII are parties, or in which the parties litigant by stipulation invoke its jurisdiction, shall be brought in the provisional court: Provided, That in the determination of all suits to which Puerto Rieans are parties, or of suits arising from contracts which have been or shall be made under the provisions of Spanish or Puerto Rican laws, the court shall, as far as prac- ticable, conform to the precedents and decisions of the United States courts in similar cases which have been tried and determined in territory formerly acquired by the United States from Spain or Mexico. In all other civil actions the case shall lie within the jurisdiction of the proper insular court as now provided by local law. XL If any party litigant shall feel aggrieved by the judgment or decree of said court, a stay of ninety days shall be granted such party before the execution of such judgment or decree, upon the filing of a bond by him with sureties in an amount and with such conditions as the court may determine, for the purpose of allowing such party to make application to the Supreme Court of the L T nited States for a writ of cer- tiorari or other suitable process to review such judgment or decree. But if at the end of said ninety days such process has not been issued by the Supreme Court execution shall forthwith issue. XII. The department commander will exercise the power of pardon, commutation, or mitigation of punishment in criminal cases. XIII. All fees, fines, and costs paid to the clerk of the provisional court shall be turned over by him at the end of each calendar month to the treasurer of the island, with a statement of the sources from which they are received. _ XIV. Members of the bar of Puerto Rico will be admitted to practice in the pro- visional court upon presentation of a certificate signed by the president of the supreme court of Puerto Rico certifying to their professional standing. XV. All lawyers practicing in the provisional court who are unfamiliar with the English language shall be permitted upon application to use their own interpreter when addressing the court. XVI. The court shall adopt an appropriate seal, which will be procured by the treasurer of the island. The clerk of the court shall have the custody of the seal for use in attesting legal documents in the usual manner. XVII. In accordance with the provisions of Paragraph V of this order the follow- ing appointments are announced to take effect July 1, 1899: To be law judge, Noah Brooks Kent Pettingill. To be provisional United States attorney, J. Marbourg Keedy. The following officers are hereby detailed on the special duty set opposite their respective names: Maj. Eugene D. Dimmick, Fifth U. S. Cavalry, Maj. Earl D. Thomas, Fifth U. S. Cavalry, associate judges of the United States provisional court, First Lieut. Robert Alexander, Eleventh U. S. Infantry, clerk of the United States provisional court. Private Samuel C. Bothwell, Troop D, Fifth U. S. Cavalry, is detailed on special duty as marshal of the United States provisional court. The necessary deputies will be detailed in subsequent orders. The officers named will proceed to San Juan and report to the adjutant-general of the department. The travel enjoined is necessary for the public service. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 119 General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 91. J San Juan, June 29, 1899. I. A superior board of health is hereby constituted for Puerto Rico, the authority of which will extend throughout this department, and to which all local boards of health will regularly report. The board will for the present be composed of six members, as follows: Maj. John Van R. Hoff, surgeon, U. S. A., chief surgeon of the department; Surg. Arthur H. Glennan, U. S. Marine-Hospital Service; Surg. F. W. F. Wieber, TJ. S. N.; Dr. George G. Groff ; Dr. Gabriel Ferrer, and Dr. Ricardo Hernandez. The chief surgeon of the department will act as president of the board and Dr. George G. Groff is appointed secretary and treasurer. The office of the board will be at these headquarters, where its meetings will ordi- narily be held at such times as may be appointed. Four members will constitute a quorum. The board will meet as soon as practicable to prepare regulations covering the scope of its work, which will be submitted to the department commander. II. On and after July 1, 1899, the management and control of the insane asylum at San Juan, now under charge of the bureau of education, will be transferred to the superior board of health of Puerto Rico, and the public funds allotted for the sup- port of the asylum will be disbursed and accounted for by the treasurer of the board under its direction. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 93. J San 'Juan, July 8, 1899. With a view to lessening the expenses of school administration and to securing the advantage of competent counsel in educational matters, and upon the recommenda- tion of the director of public instruction, a board of education similar to like boards in States of the Union is hereby constituted for this island. This board shall act in a general advisory and superintending capacity over the educational interests of Puerto Rico, and shall report directly to the governor-general of the island. I. This board will consist of five members, who shall be men conversant with educational affairs, and who are willing to serve without compensation, except for necessary traveling expenses. Three members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. II. Meetings shall be held monthly at the office of the president of the school board, in San Juan, and at such other times as the board may deem necessary. _ III. The employees of the bureau of education, as provided for in the educational budget for the coming fiscal year, shall be transferred to the board of education, and said bureau shall cease to exist with the issue of this order. The president of the school board shall perform the duties formerly falling upon the director of public instruction, except so far as they are modified by this order. IV. The duties of the board of education shall be — 1. To receive complaints and petitions from citizens or teachers affecting public instruction, and to act upon the same. 2. To approve the warrants for appropriations due the bureau of education and to audit and approve the monthly financial report to the director of public instruction to the auditor of the island. 3. To approve the appointment of administrative officers and teachers in secondary and higher schools. 4. To grade schools and determine the courses of studies, examinations, and stand- ard of requirements to be maintained in schools of different grades; to grant charters to private educational institutions desiring to confer degrees; to grant diplomas to students who have completed required courses in chartered educational institutions or in a public institution under the direct supervision of the board. 5. To decide, subject to the approval of the governor-general, upon the sites and location of public educational institutions under the direct control of the State, and upon the appropriations neccessary for the support of the same, and to supervise and control the erection, maintenance, and repairs of buildings occupied by such institu- tions, and of the furniture and apparatus employed in the same. 6. To nominate to the governor-general suitable persons as members of the local boards of trustees in each municipality to discharge the duties now performed by local juntas of public instruction wherever in the judgment of the board such change is deemed advisable. 120 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 7. To make a quarterly return to the governor-general of the property of the bureau of education and the institutions under its direct charge, with a list of their employees and salaries. 8. To recommend modifications and amendments to the school laws. 9. Appeal from the decisions of the board may be taken to the governor-general. V. The following gentlemen, having consented to serve underthe conditions stated in this order, are hereby appointed members of the board of education of Puerto Rico: Victor S. Clark, Ph. P., acting director of public instruction, San Juan (ex officio) ; George (i. Groff, M. D., Ph. D., ex-president Bucknell University, Pennsvlvania, San Juan; Prof. Henry Huyke, Arroyo; Jose E. Saldaiia, M. D., San Juan; R. H. Todd, San Juan. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 95. J San Juan, July 11, 1899. TJpon the recommendation of the secretary of justice the primary court of the dis- trict of the cathedral, in the city of San Juan, is hereby discontinued. The business pending before this court, together with the records thereof, will be transferred to the primary court of the district of San Francisco, which will hereafter be designated as the primary court of the district of San Juan. The jurisdiction of the primary court of the district of San Juan will embrace the districts heretofore controlled by the primary courts of the district of the cathedral and San Francisco, including the district of Bayamon, which is transferred from the jurisdiction of Vega-Baja. The officials and employees of the primary court of the district of the cathedral will he discharged, to date July 15, 1899. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 97. J San Juan, July U, 1899. The following rules will be observed as respects the conduct of the public business in the several civil departments and bureaus: I. The heads of the several civil departments and the heads of bureaus and offices which are independent of the civil departments will have the control and manage- ment of the administrative and executive work committed to their charge. They will be held responsible that the work of their respective offices is efficiently per- formed and that all persons employed under their direction render full and efficient service. II. Officials and others who are receiving salaries exceeding $1,200 per annum will not be appointed, discharged, or promoted without the approval of the governor- general, but this approval is not necessary with respect to discharges, appointment, or promotion of employees whose rate of compensation is $1,200 per annum and less. Action with respect to the latter class of employees will rest with the head of the department, office, or board, as the case may be. III. Officials, clerks, and other employees provided for and authorized to be employed in any department, office, board, or bureau will not be assigned to duty or permitted to work in any other office, board, or bureau. IV. The allowance in the annual budget for any branch of the public service will not be exceeded without the express authority of the governor-general given in writing. V. In view of the unavoidable delay in publishing the budget for the fiscal year 1899-1900 it is ordered that all officials and employees who continue in office shall receive their salaries from the 1st of July and during their employment in accordance with the budget for the current year, but those holding positions that have been dis- continued and are not hereafter to be allowed will be paid to date of their discharge in accordance with the allowances made therefor in the last annual budget. VI. The use of the "penalty" envelope in the transaction of official business by the heads of departments, boards, bureaus, and the higher courts of justice connected with or carried on under the military government of the island is allowed, but courts of first instance have an allotment for postage in the budget and will not therefore be permitted to use the penalty envelopes. The postal expenses of municipal gov- REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 121 ernments and municipal courts are to be provided for by their respective municipal councils. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: TV. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, Xo. 98. / San Juan, July 15, 1899. In order to further reduce public expenditures, and in practical accordance with the recommendations of committees composed of public-spirited citizens of this island, Avhose advice and counsel has been solicited, and with the advice of the secretary of justice, it is hereby ordered as follows: I. The department of justice will hereafter exercise no control over the courts, and the judiciary will be entirely independent. Judges, however, will be subject to impeachment, and subordinate court officers and employees will be liable to prose- cution for official misconduct as hereinafter provided. II. The department will hereafter be charged only with duties similar to those which pertain to the Department of Justice and the office of the Attorney-General in the United States and in the several States of the Union, such as rendering opinions on contracts to which the insular government is a party, investigate claims against the insular government, prosecuting officials of the insular government for malfea- sance hi office, investigating titles to public lands, interpretation of laws for the guidance of the executive departments, supervising prosecuting attorneys in the vari- ous insular courts, etc. III. The department of justice will be under the direction and control of a judicial board of five members, all of the legal profession, who are willing to serve without salary for such services. IV. The office of the department of justice will be under the immediate charge of a solicitor-general, who, under the direction of the board, will perform all the duties appropriately pertaining to the office, as indicated in Paragraph II. V. The office of the secretary of justice is hereby discontinued. The secretary of justice will turn over to the solicitor-general all the books, records, furniture, and other property pertaining to his office, together with a list of employees and the sala- ries of each. VI. Subject to the approval of the judicial board, the solicitor-general will employ the necessary clerical force for the proper performance of his duties, and will be responsible for the safe-keeping of all books, records, office furniture, and other prop- erty which may be intrusted to him. VII. The solicitor-general will render to the governor-general, through the judicial board, a quarterly return of all property pertaining to his office, together with a list of his employees and the salaries of each. VIII. Questions requiring investigation, legal opinions, or report from the depart- ment of justice will be transmitted to the solicitor-general through the judicial board, and returned through the same channel. IX. The solicitor-general will act as secretary of the judicial board of the depart- ment of justice. In case of his absence through sickness or other unavoidable cause, his chief clerk will so act. X. The judicial board will meet one day in each week in the office of the solicitor- general, and at such other times as they may deem necessary. Three members shall constitute a quorum. It will be their duty" to receive from the solicitor-general all reports, opinions, and recommendations which he mav submit, and transmit them with their remarks to the governor-general. They will also propose to the governor- general, from time to time, such reforms in the laws and in the procedure of the courts as they may deem wise. XL It will be the duty of the judicial board to present to the supreme court, through its fiscal, articles of impeachment against any judge of an insular court, except a justice of the supreme court, against whom they mav receive charges of corruptions or malfeasance in office, or of immoral or vicious habits unbecoming his station. XII. The fiscal of the supreme court shall prosecute all such cases of impeachment so presented, and shall be assisted in this duty by the solicitor-general. XIII. Where complaints are presented against a member of the supreme court, the judicial board shall submit the matter to the governor-general, who will name a special commission of five judges to try and determine the case. XIV. The solicitor-general shall prosecute impeachments against members of the supreme court. He shall also file informations and prosecute the same, or cause them 122 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. to be prosecuted, before the proper tribunals in all cases of official misconduct on the part of other officers, secretaries, clerks, bailiffs, and other employees of the insular courts or of the insular administrative departments or members of the insular police. XV. It shall also be the duty of the judicial board to nominate to the governor- general suitable persons for appointment as judges and fiscals of all the courts when- ever vacancies occur. XVI. Any resident of the island can rile informations against any magistrate, judge, or judicial officer for misconduct in office or immoralities in private life unbecoming his station, subject to the usual penalties for false and malicious accusations. XVII. In case of conviction of any judge or other court officer or employee, the sentence shall include dismissal from office. _ XVIII. All judges and judicial officers are enjoined to abstain from active participa- tion in partisan politics. XIX. The following-named gentlemen, having consented to serve, are hereby announced as constituting the judicial board: Hon. D. Hilario Cuevillas Hernandez; Hon. N. B. K. Pettingill, judge United States provisional court; Maj. A. C. Sharpe, inspector-general, acting judge-advocate; Hon. Juan Hernandez Lopez, and Hon. Manuel F. Rossy. XX. Hon. Rafael Nieto Abeille is hereby appointed solicitor-general. The foregoing appointments will take effect this date. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, • No. 99. I San Juan, July 15, 1899. Chaplain Henry A. Brown, U.S. A., is appointed inspector of the orphan asylum in this city and will report fully to these headquarters respecting the conduct of that institution. All complaints respecting bad food or treatment that may come to the attention of Chaplain Brown will be fully investigated, and abuses, if any exist, will be corrected. He is authorized to give the necessary orders in each case and see that they are carried out, making report of his action to these headquarters. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General '. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 100. J San Juan, July 15, 1899. First Lieut. James J. Hornbrook, Fifth United States Cavalry, is appointed sec- retary and treasurer of the board of prison control, established by General Orders, No. 77, current series, these headquarters, and so much of Paragraph VII of that order as relates to the secretary of the board is revoked. Lieutenant Hornbrook will report to the president of the board. By command of Brigadier-General Davis : W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 101. J San Juan, July 18, 1899. 1. From and after this date the sale of fresh meat throughout the island by -the system known as subasta (or auction) is prohibited. Contracts now existing, if any, shall be limited to expire not later than July 31, 1899. Any person whose cattle can pass the inspection of the municipal authority appointed for such object shall (after paying the slaughterhouse dues fixed by the municipal authorities) be allowed to slaughter them at a place which the alcaldes shall designate for the purpose in his own municipality, and shall be permitted to freely expose said meat for sale in any building or market place in the municipality in which the cattle may be slaughtered which fulfills the requirements of public hygiene, without tax or license of any kind. 2. Fvery meat market, butcher's stall, or other place in which meat is exposed for sale shall have posted therein in a conspicuous place a price list of the various classes of meat for sale. Sales of meat not named in this list or at prices different from those so stated are prohibited. But this does not apply to contracts with the Army or Navy. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 123 3. No municipality shall pass any measure excluding the introduction of live meat from any other municipal district. The suitability of cattle for slaughter shall be decided by the inspector of the slaughterhouse. 4. Nothing in these rules is to be construed as preventing the introduction of refrig- erated native meat into any municipality, provided it is accompanied by a proper certificate from the health authorities of the municipality in which it is killed, which shall also state the hour at which the meat has been slaughtered and prepared for shipment. No restriction shall be imposed by any municipality upon the free sale of imported refrigerated meats, subject to the usual hygienic inspection. 5. Appeal from the decision of the meat inspector in places where troops are on duty may be taken to the board of health. In places where no troops are on duty appeal may be taken to the alcalde. The decision of these officers shall be final. 6. The alcalde of each municipality shall submit, for the approval of the com- manding general, a scale of slaughterhouse charges, such as may be absolutely neces- sary to cover expenses. 7. A copy of this order in Spanish shall be posted in every alcaldia. Each munici- pality is afso authorized to enact any regulations beneficial to or needed for public hygiene, but they must be free of taxation in any shape. 8. If, in the judgment of any municipal corporation, the system of "free slaughter" should, on account of special circumstances and existing local conditions, prove detri- mental to the public health and the interest of the community under its jurisdiction, a report to this effect, setting forth a clear and precise statement of the causes, will be submitted to the secretary of state within ten days after the promulgation of this order, together with an application soliciting special authority to apply the "contract system," if in their judgment such action is deemed necessary to insure justice and equity to all concerned. Requests of this nature will be accompanied with the nec- essary evidence in justification thereof, together with a proposed scale fixing the maximum prices of the several kinds of meats offered for sale. 9. Whenever a municipal corporation has been authorized to resort to the ' 'con- tract system upon a fixed scale, ' ' the reasons therefor will be published for the infor- mation of the public concerned. This authority will only be granted upon the condition that when the bids for contracts exceed the rate fixed, the bids will be rejected and the municipality charge itself with the service of slaughter through administrative methods. The regulations in this respect shall only provide for the actual expenses incurred and for the time intended to be covered by contract had the bids not been rejected. 10. It is the purpose of this order to secure the absolute freedom in the sale of meats, fish, and fowl, subject only to necessary hygienic regulations. Any person convicted of obstructing or interfering with the full operation of this order shall, for each such offense, be subject to a fine of 100 pesos. It is hereby made the duty of all boards of health, fiscals, judges of instruction, alcaldes, town councils, and munici- pal police officers to see that the spirit of this order is fully observed. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 102. J San Juan, July 18, 1899. For the information of all concerned the following orders are published relative to the duties of the superior board of health constituted for the island of Puerto Rico by General Orders, No. 91, current series, these headquarters. It shall be the duty of the superior board of health : I. To have general supervision of all the interests of the public health of the island, and to especially study its vital statistics. II. To make sanitary investigations and inquiries respecting the causes of disease, and especially of epidemic diseases, including those of domestic animals, the sources of mortality, and the effects of localities, employments, condition, habits, food, bev- erages, and medicine on the health of the people. III. To disseminate information upon these and similar subjects among the people. IV. To institute sanitary inspections of all public institutions or places throughout the island. V. To consider and report to the governor upon the plans and specifications for all new water supplies, drainage, sewerage plants, and public institutions of all kinds, or for alterations in such public works or institutions. Copies of such plans and speci- fications will be filed in the office of the board. VI. To suggest amendments to the sanitary laws of the island, and to have power to enforce such regulations as will tend to limit the progress of epidemic diseases. 124 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. VII. To have power and authority to order nuisances, or the causes of any special diseases or mortality, to be abated and removed, and to enforce such interior quaran- tine regulations as said board shall direct, in cities, municipalities, districts, or places where there are no local boards of health, or in case the sanitary laws or regulations should be inoperative in places where boards of health or health officers exist, Any person who shall fail to obey or shall violate such order, shall upon conviction be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $100, or be imprisoned for not more than sixty days, at the discretion of the court. VIII. To have general supervision of the insular system of registration of births, marriages, and deaths, and of prevalent diseases, and to insure the faithful recording of the same; also to prepare the necessary methods, forms, and blanks for obtaining and preserving such statistics. IX. To prepare regulations governing the admittance of persons to the practice of medicine and surgery, pharmacy, dentistry, midwifery, embalming, and undertaking, and to enforce such regulations as are adopted by the government of the island. X. To inquire into and report upon violations of laws governing the purity and wholesomeness of foods, drinks, drugs, and medicines. To submit through the" gov- ernor of the island regulations to control offensive and dangerous occupations, and to report upon and make recommendations regarding any special sources of danger to life or person. XL To require all health officers and health boards throughout the island to for- ward to the superior board copies of all their reports and publications and such other sanitary information as it may request. To require reports and information concern- ing such matters or particulars in respect to which it may in its opinion need infor- mation for the proper discharge of its duties, from all public dispensaries, hospitals, asylums, infirmaries, prisons, penitentiaries, schools, and from the managers, princi- pals and officers thereof, and from all other public institutions, their officers and man- agers, and from the proprietors, managers, lessees, and occupants of all places of pub- lic resort throughout the island. , XII. To from time to time engage suitable persons to render sanitary service, or to make or supervise practical and scientific investigations and examinations requiring expert skill, and to prepare plans and reports relating thereto. This regulation must not be considered as authorizing any expenditure beyond the sum specifically allot- ted to the board for such purposes in the annual budget. When the cost of such investigations exceeds the allotment, special authority for the expenditure must be obtained from the governor of the island. XIII. To make a written report to the governor on or before June 30 of each year, covering the general sanitary conditions of Puerto Rico, the work of the officers and agents of the board, and a detailed statement by the treasurer of all moneys received and disbursed during the year. To submit special reports from time to time as the occasion may demand. XIV. To especially supervise subjects directly relating to public health, as follows: (1) Public water supplies. (2) Markets, bakeries, groceries, and milk depots. (3) The purity and wholesomeness of all foods, drinks, liquors, drugs, and medi- cines. (4) Public institutions, schools, asylums, jails, hospitals, dispensaries, barracks, court rooms, theaters, etc, (5^ Tenement houses. (6) Vital statistics — marriages, births, deaths. (7) Licensing and registration of physicians and surgeons, dentists, pharmacists midwives, undertakers, etc. (8) Plumbing and registration of plumbers. (9) Sewering. (10) Street cleaning. (11) Privies, water-closets, cesspools, etc. (12) Nuisances. (13) Slaughterhouses, stables, yards. (14) Contagious and infectious diseases. (15) Trades, factories, and industries offensive or injurious to the public health. (16) Undertaking and cemeteries. (17) Disinfection. (18) Licenses and permits. (19) Vaccination and the production of vaccine virus. (20) Diseases of domestic animals communicable to man. (21) Interior quarantine. (22) Poisons, explosives, and special sources of danger to life and person. (23) Sanitary supervision of travel and traffic. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 125 XV. To institute prosecutions for violations of the provisions of this order in the nearest local court, or in the United States provisional court, as the governor may- direct. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ ■ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 103. I San Juan, July 20, 1899. I. For the purpose of facilitating preliminary inquiries into criminal charges made against persons who would be tried before the United States provisional court, under General Orders, No. '88, current series, these headquarters, it is hereby ordered that the commanding officers of the military posts within this department, shall act ex officio as United States provisional court commissioners, and that as such they shall have the power to administer oaths, issue warrants of arrests, and hold prelimi- nary hearings for the purposes hereinafter provided. II. Whenever any person shall apply to any post commander, or other court com- missioner, for a warrant of arrest and shall make oath in writing before him, setting forth the commission by any party of an offense which comes within the jurisdiction of the United States provisional court, under the terms of General Orders, No. 88, cur- rent series, these headquarters, it shall be the duty of such post commander, or other court commissioner, to take the oath of such person and forthwith to issue a warrant to arrest and bring the party so charged before him for a preliminary inquiry into the facts of the charge so made. Such inquiry shall be made at as early a day as the witnesses can be conveniently brought before such commissioner, and after an exami- nation of all the witnesses produced before him, said commissioner shall decide from the evidence whether there appears probable cause of the guilt of the defendant. If he finds such probable cause, the commissioner shall bind the defendant to appear for trial before said United States provisional court at its next term -to be held at the place most convenient to the place of hearing and fix such bail as in his judgment the case demands. If the commissioner finds no probable cause of the defendant's guilt, the defendant shall be discharged and the complaining witnesses shall be adjudged to pay all the costs which such defendant may prove he has incurred by such hearing. III. In case any commissioner shall adjudge costs against a complaining witness under the preceding section, such commissioner shall forthwith send to the clerk of the said United States provisional court a certificate setting forth that such a hearing has been had, and such adjudication made, and upon the recording of such certificate in the judgment docket, it shall have all the force and effect of a judgment of said United States provisional court. IV. The court commissioners aforesaid shall have the further authority to approve bonds of defendants bound over under the provisions of Paragraph II hereof: Pro- dded, That hi each case the bond must be signed by two good and sufficient sureties. In all cases where persons are bound over under the provisions of this order, the commissioner shall upon the conclusion of the procedings before him, transmit all papers in each case under seal to the prosecuting attorney of said United States pro- visional court. V. In case a defendant is bound over at a preliminary hearing and is unable to give bond, or the commissioner finds that the offense is not a bailable one, he shall forth- with send the prisoner, under proper guard, to be delivered into the custody of the marshal of the said United States provisional court. VI. Said court commissioner shall also keep a docket containing a memorandum of each preliminary hearing held before him, the number of witnesses examined on each side, the amount of bond required, if defendant was bound over, and the disposition made of the defendant. All commissioners will submit at the end of each quarter, to the clerk of said United States provisional court, a duly certified copy of this docket. Whenever a post commander, acting as commissioner, is transferred from his station, he will immediately submit to the said clerk of said United States provisional court a certified copy of his docket, covering the cases heard by him during the portion of the quarter in which his transfer takes place. VII. Post commanders will exercise great care in their inquiries to determine whether the cases brought before them fall clearly within the provisions of General Orders, No. 88, current series, these headquarters. In case any doubt should arise regarding the question of jurisdiction the commissioner will suspend the hearing and report the matter to the provisional court for instructions. VIII. All correspondence relating to the duties herein prescribed will be conducted directly between the provisional court and the commissioners. By command of Brigadier-General Davis : W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. 126 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 104. / San Juan, July 19, 1899. I. Under the provisions of paragraph 16, General Orders, No. 87, current series, these headquarters, Francisco Aeosta, chief clerk in the office of the solicitor-general, is designated as disbursing officer for the officers and employees of the solicitor-gen- eral's office and for the judges, court officers, secretaries, clerks, and officials of the insular courts in San Juan. He will furnish a bond in such an amount as may be determined by the judicial board for the faithful discharge of his duties. He will also prepare monthly separate memorandum estimates of funds for salaries and expenses of all the courts of the island and submit them through the solicitor-general to the judicial board for examination and approval. These the judicial board will forward with their approval to the auditor of the island. II. The payment of the salaries and expenses of the insular courts located outside of San Juan will be made by the collectors of internal revenue, who Avill forward their monthly estimates for funds to the secretary of finance before the 20th of each month. III. Hereafter when any insular court imposes confinement as a punishment for crime, it will at the same time designate the prison in which the confinement is to be executed. On the date on which the prisoner is sent to the prison so designated the court will transmit a transcript of the sentence to the warden of the designated prison, and a duplicate copy of the same to the secretary of the prison board at San Juan. The practice of sending these reports to the department of justice will be dis- continued. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General . General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 105. J San Juan, July 19, 1899. Upon the recommendation of the judicial board the operation of General Orders, No. 95, current series, these headquarters, is temporarily suspended. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 106. j San Juan, July SI, 1899. Paragraph 4 of General Orders, No. 87, of June 26, 1899, is hereby amended so that it shall read as follows: ' ' 4. The treasurer will issue receipts in duplicate for moneys paid to him, which receipts must be countersigned by the auditor of Puerto Rico, in order to make them valid vouchers. After such receipts have been countersigned by the auditor, the originals will be retained in his office and the duplicates will be delivered or trans- mitted by him to the officers or agents by whom the payments were made. Such duplicate receipts will constitute the official vouchers upon which the officers or agents making the payments will receive credit in the settlement of their monthly revenue accounts by the auditor, and must be transmitted with such accounts when rendered. Acting postmasters will, at the beginning of each month, make remittances to the director-general of posts at San Juan of all postal revenues and money-order fees received by them respectively during the preceding month. The director-general of posts will receipt in duplicate for such remittances, forwarding one receipt to the party making the remittance and the other to the auditor of Puerto Rico, and he will deposit such remittances, in the names of the respective persons making the same, with the treasurer of Puerto Rico, who will issue his receipts in duplicate therefor." By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General . General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 108. i San Juan, July 28, 1899. The degree of bachelor in the educational system of Puerto Rico will be no longer issued. In lieu thereof there will be furnished by the insular board of education and signed by the president thereof, a certificate, containing a statement of the sub- jects that have been completed by students to whom the degree of bachelor was for- REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 127 inerly conferred. For this certificate there will be no charge, and it will have all the force that belonged to the degree formerly given. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General . General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 109. I San Juan, July 31, 1899. The United States provisional court, instituted by General Orders, No. 88, current series, these headquarters, having been vested with jurisdiction over cases arising in Puerto Rico under United States statutes, the following section of these statutes will apply to this military department (in addition to the existing local law, articles 150 and 249, Penal Code) and are published for the information and guidance of all con- cerned : * ****** ' ' Sec. 5336. If two or more persons (in any State or Territory) conspire to over- throw, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution' of any law of the United States, or by force to take, seize, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, each of them shall be punished by a fine of not less than five hundred dol- lars and not more than five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment, with or without hard labor, for a period not less than six months nor more than six years, or by both such fine and imprisonment." ******* "Sec. 5283. Every person who, within the limits of the United States, fits out and arms, or attempts to fit out and arm, or procures to be fitted out and armed, or know- ingly is concerned in the furnishing, fitting out, or arming, of any vessel with intent that such vessel shall be employed in the service of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or people, to cruise or commit hostilities against the subjects, citizens, or property of any foreign prince or state, or of any colony, district, or peo- ple with whom the United States are at peace, or issues or delivers a commission within the territory or jurisdiction of the United States, for any vessel, to the intent that she may be so employed, shall be deemed guilty of a high misdemeanor, and shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars, and imprisoned not more than three years. And every such vessel, her tackle, apparel, and furniture, together with all materials, arms, ammunition, and stores, which may have been procured for the building and equipment thereof, shall be forfeited, one-half to the use of the informer and the other half to the use of the United States." ******* The following are authoritative opinions relating to the foregoing statutes: "It is also a well-established principle of American law that if a publication be calculated to alienate the affection of the people by bringing the Government into disesteem, whether the expedient resorted to be ridicule or obloquy, the writer and publisher are' punishable; and whether the defendant really intended by his publica- tion to alienate the affection of the people from the Government or not, is immaterial; if the publication be calculated to have that effect it is seditious. "Depredations by our citizens upon nations at peace with the United States, or combinations for committing them, have at all times been regarded by the American Government and people with the greatest abhorrence. Military incursions by our citi- zens into countries so situated, and the commission of acts of violence on the mem- bers thereof, in order to effect a change in its government, or under any pretext what- ever, have from the commencement of our Government been held equally criminal on the part of those engaged in them, and so much deserving punishment as would be the disturbance of the public peace by the perpetration of similar acts within our own territory. "No individuals have a right to hazard the peace of the countrvor to violate its laws upon vague notions of altering or reforming governments in other States." By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. 128 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 110. J San Juan, August 2, 1899. Municipal councils are hereby authorized to appoint and dismiss municipal police- men for their respective localities. The exclusive authority heretofore exercised by the mayors for this purpose is hereby revoked. Councils will exercise great care in selecting only such persons for appointment to the police force as are of good moral character and intelligence and are physically qualified for the performance of this important duty. They are also charged with the enforcement of the rules for the government of the police force of their respective municipalities. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 111. J San Juan, August S, 1899. I. Civil employees connected with the insular government who are charged with the disbursement of funds will be required to furnish bonds of fidelity, forms of which will be furnished by the auditor of Puerto Rico. II. Chiefs of departments, bureaus, offices, and administrative boards will see that all employees referred to in the preceding paragraph are required to furnish bonds as herein directed. The bonds may be — In money of the United States, deposited with the treasurer of Puerto Rico, a written instrument accompanying the same to show the character and purpose of the deposit. In the form of a paper signed by the disbursing employee and two sureties, each of the latter to be held jointly and severally responsible for the whole amount of the bond, and each to make affidavit that he is worth double the amount of the sum stated in the bond over and above all his debts and liabilities. The sureties on the bond must be residents of the island of Puerto Rico. Those not owning unencum- bered property in Puerto Rico of double the value of the bond named will not be accepted as bondsmen. A description of said property must be given. The bond may also be given by a surety company doing business in Puerto Rico, whose character for responsibility is approved by the governor-general. The responsi- ble representative of the surety company and the principal or disbursing officer must both sign the bond. III. Every bond of fidelity that may be tendered must be approved by the treas- urer of Puerto Rico and made payable to or collectible by the treasurer of the military government of Puerto Rico. IV. Civil employees now in office who are not under bond must furnish the same with the least possible delay. Those who may be hereafter appointed must qualify by filing their bonds before entering upon their respective duties. The certificate of the auditor to the fact of the filing and the sufficiency of the bond will evidence those facts. V. Bonds of fidelity will be sent to the treasurer of the island through the office of the auditor of Puerto Rico. No bonds will be required of commissioned officers of the Army or Navy who are engaged in disbursing duties. VI. The bonds required of civil disbursing officers will be determined and fixed by the auditor of the island, who is authorized to correspond directly with the heads of offices and their disbursing officers in respect to bonding. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 112. / San Juan, August 7, 1899. Information having been received at these headquarters regarding the official action of the various boards of supervisors at the election for municipal officers held at Adjuntas on the 25th of July last, a careful investigation has been made by the com- manding general of all the facts connected with this matter. 1. It appears that during the noon hour on the day of election the various boards of supervisors adjourned for breakfast, suspending the election for a certain period of time, removing the ballot boxes from public view and carrying them to private nouses or hotels where the supeiwisors were taking breakfast. It further appears that the ballot boxes during this interval of time were kept con- stantly in the possession of and under the eye of the supervisors, and there is no evidence that they were tampered or interfered with in any way. EEPOET OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 129 The commanding general is. satisfied that no corrupt practices were resorted to in this matter, and that the election was fairly conducted and is a just expression of the choice of the people of Ad juntas; but inasmuch as the ballot boxes were removed from the polling places, and thus withdrawn for a time from public view, it may be regarded technically as a vitiation of the election, and in order that every appearance of illegality may be removed another vote is hereby ordered to be taken at Adjuntas for this purpose on the 22d day of August, 1899. 2. A new board of registration of five members will be organized by the command- ing officer at Adjuntas, consisting of one army officer as president, and two mem- bers of each of the political parties. Each civilian member of this board before entering upon his duties will take oath before the municipal judge (for which oath there will be no charge or fee) for the faithful discharge of his duties. After this board is thus duly qualified, the commanding officer at Adjuntas will turn over to it the official list of Alters which was prepared by the former board of registration, which shall be regarded as the official list of voters. The board will post copies of this list for three days prior to the day of election at the post-office, the alcalde's office, and such other public places as it may deem advisable. 3. It having been alleged that certain persons not bona fide residents of Adjuntas, and therefore not qualified to vote at that place, were included in this list of voters, the new board of registration will convene and remain in session three days after the public posting of the lists for the purpose of receiving challenges or objections to any of the voters named in said list. The place, dates, and hours of meeting of said board shall be publicly announced by the commanding officer by posters at the post- office, the alcalde's office, and in such other manner as he may deem proper. 4. The qualifications of a voter are that he must be a bona fide male resident of of the municipality; he must be over 21 years of age, a taxpayer of record at the date of this order, or must be able to read and write; he must have resided upon the island of Puerto Rico for two years next preceding the election and for the last six months of that time within the municipality of Adjuntas. 5. In determining the ability of voters to read and write any standard book or newspaper may be used by the board of registration, the voter being required to write one or more phrases from dictation. 6. No challenges will be received at the polls except as to the identity of voters with the persons whom they represent themselves to be, named in the official list. 7. Upon the revision and completion of the polling lists the board of registration will certify to the correctness of the lists, each member signing the certificate, and will then turn the lists over to the proper boards of supervisors. 8. Boards of supervisors to superintend the balloting, and each to consist of one army officer as president and one member each of the opposing political parties, will be appointed by the commanding officer at Adjuntas. Each civilian member of these boards shall take oath as prescribed in paragraph 2. of this order for the faithful dis- charge of his duties. 9. Should there be any doubt in the mind of any member of the board of super- visors as to the identity of a voter with the person whom he represents himself to be, proof will be required to establish his identity to the satisfaction of the board. 10. Any person who fraudulently votes, or attempts or offers to fraudulently vote, shall, upon conviction thereof, be subjected to a fine of $100, or imprisonment at hard labor for three months, or both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. 11. It shall be the duty of each member of the boards of supervisors having knowl- edge of fraudulent voting or of attempt to fraudulently vote to file information in the proper court against the person so offending. Upon receipt of such information the court will institute the proper proceedings without delay. 12. For the purpose of establishing the identity of voters whose identity is chal- lenged the president of the board of supervisors in each polling place is empowered to administer oaths to the challenged party and to the witnesses whom he may pro- duce to establish his identity. False swearing under this article shall be subject to the same pains and penalties as perjury. 13. The Australian ballot will be used. The necessary ballots will be prepared by the commanding officer at Adjuntas, being identical in every detail with those that were used at the election of July 25 last. In voting for councilmen each elector will be permitted to vote for not more than eight candidates of one party, so as to permit the defeated party to have a minority representation of four members in the council. Voters are cautioned to put no writing or marks on the ballot except a character- istic mark, thus X, or thus 4-, in the margin opposite the name of the person for whom they desire to vote. Ballots otherwise marked will be rejected. 12558 -9 130 EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. In case of a tie vote between councilmen of the same party, that one will be declared elected whose name appears nearest the head of the list on the ballot. In case of a tie vote between councilmen of different parties, those will be declared elected whose party elects the alcalde. 14. From the hour that the polls open until they close the ballot boxes shall remain publicly exposed in the custody of the proper boards of supervisors. 15. Ballot boxes must not be removed from the polling places until the polls are closed. 16. No polling places shall be located outside the limits of the town of Adjuntas. 17. All polling places and the hours for balloting will be publicly announced by the commanding officer at Adjuntas, by written or printed posters displayed at the post-office, and at the alcalde's office; also in such other manner as he may deem proper, at least three days before the day of election. This order will in like manner be published for three days. 18. Every precaution will be taken to see that every person who is entitled to vote has opportunity to do so. The necessary precautions will be taken by the command- ing officer at Adjuntas to avoid disturbances at the polls and to keep the way to the ballot boxes unobstructed. 19. Immediately after the polls are closed the various boards of supervisors will begin the counting of the ballots which have been deposited in the ballot boxes under their particular charge. The ballots will be carefully preserved. A certificate of the count and result of the votes will be signed by the three members of the board, and shall state that the vote was conducted fairly and honestly, or shall state such irregularities, if any, as may have occurred. All the ballots, together with the certificate of the board, will, in the presence of the board, be inclosed in one pack- age, carefully sealed, and delivered by the board immediately to the commanding officer at Adjuntas. These packages, with seal unbroken, will be brought by the commanding officer at Adjuntas to these headquarters by the first available trans- portation. 20. In determining any question that may come before any of the boards a major ity vote of the members of the boards will decide. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 113. | . San Juan, August 7, 1899. Upon recommendation of the board of education, it is hereby ordered that the funds appropriated by the insular government for the support of the public schools shall be apportioned as follows : 1. On or before the 20th of each month the disbursing officer of the insular board of education shall deposit with the government's bankers in San Juan the money appropriated for the public schools for that month, to the credit of the treasurers of the different municipalities, pro rata, according to the share of the annual appro- priation that each municipality respectively receives. Each municipal treasurer shall give vouchers in triplicate for the sum so received to the disbursing officer of the insular board of education. 2. The money so deposited shall be expended each month by the treasurers of the municipalities exclusively for the payment of the salaries of legally qualified teachers serving in the public schools of each municipality under legal contract, approved by the insular board of education. The municipal treasurer shall receive for all pay- ments so made vouchers approved by the president and the secretary of the local board of education, and signed in duplicate by the teachers. One copy of said vouchers shall be filed with the disbursing officer of the insular board of education before the appropriation for the subsequent month is received. 3. When the number of schools in any municipality is increased by the organiza- tion of new districts or otherwise, the municipal treasurer shall divide the money received from the insular government among all the teachers serving in this munici- pality, pro rata, in proportion to the full salary received by each teacher according to the grade of his school. The additional amount necessary to complete the salary prescribed by the school laws shall be paid by the municipality, or, in case of organized districts, by the district board of trustees. 4. Organized districts shall not be taxed twice for school purposes. Where dis- tricts are organized, such districts shall determine in their local meeting or election the amount of taxes which they will levy for the support of their schools, and they shall be relieved of all contribution to the municipal treasury for school purposes. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 131 5. The municipal treasurer of each municipality shall give bond to the disbursing officer of the board of education, satisfactory to the auditor of the island, for twice the amount of the monthly appropriation from the insular treasury that will come into his hands, and he and his bondsmen shall be responsible for any money expended contrary to the provisions of this act. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Eico, No. 114. J San Juan, August 7, 1899. I. Upon the recommendation of the judicial board the judicial system of Puerto Rico is reorganized as follows, to take effect August 10, 1899, on and after which date the present system will cease to exist, according to instructions which will be published later: 1. The supreme court of Puerto Rico, with residence fixed in San Juan, will here- after consist of one chief justice and four associate justices, who will constitute a judicial bench for all civil and criminal business. A prosecuting attorney shall also .be attached thereto who shall represent the State on all proper occasions. The supreme court shall have one secretary, two court clerks, one file clerk and taxer of costs, six clerks, one janitor, and two bailiffs. 2. The island is divided into five judicial districts, whose respective capital cities are San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo, and Humacao. 3. The judicial district of San Juan will comprise the following municipalities: San Juan, Vega Baja, Vega Alta, Corozal, Naranjito, Toa Alta, Toa Baja, Dorado, Bayamon, Rio Pieclras, Trujillo Alto, Carolina, Rio Grande, Loiza, Caguas, Aguas Buenas, Comerio, Cayey, and Cidra. 4. The judicial district of Police will comprise the following municipalities: Ponce, Juana Diaz, Coamo, Barros, Adjuntas, Pefiuelas, Salinas, Guayanilla, Yauco, Gua- yama, Santa Isabel, Aibonito, Barranquitas, and Arroyo. 5. The judicial district of Mayaguez will comprise the following municipalities: Mayaguez, Ailasco, Rincon, Aguada, Aguadilla, Moca, Isabela, San Sebastian, Las Marias, Maricao, San German, Sabana Grande, Lajas, and Cabo Rojo. 6. The judicial district of Arecibo will comprise the following municipalities: Are- cibo, Manati, Morovis, Ciales, Barceloneta, Utuado, Hatillo, Camuy, Quebradillas, and Lares. • 7. The judicial district of Humacao will comprise the following municipalities: Humacao, Piedras, Naguabo, Fajardo," Yabucoa, Maunabo, Juncos, Gurabo, San Lo- renzo, Patillas, and Vieques. II. Upon the recommendation of the judicial board the following appointments are announced, to take effect August 10, 1899: To be chief justice of the supreme court: Mr. Jose Severo Quifiones. To be associate justices of the supreme court: Mr. Jose" Conrado Hernandez, Mr. Jose Maria Figueras, Mr. Rafael Nieto Abeille, Mr. Juan Morera Martinez. To be prosecuting attorney of the supreme court: Mr. Rafael Romero Aguayo. To be secretary of the supreme court: Mr. Eugenio Lopez Gaztambide. To be judges of the district court of San Juan: Mr. Juan Ramon Ramos Velez, Mr. Angel Acosta Quintero, Mr. Felipe Cuchf Arnau. To be judges of the district court of Ponce: Mr. Jose Ramon Becerra Garate, Mr. Isidoro Soto Nusa, Mr. Ramon Quifiones. To be judges of the district court of Mayaguez: Mr. Juan J. Perea Baster, Mr. Felipe Casaluc Goicoechea, Mr. Enrique Lloreda Casabo. To be judges of the district court of Arecibo: Mr. Julio M. Padilla, Mr. Salvador Fulladosa Mir, Mr. Horacio Nieto Abeille\ To be judges of the district court of Humacao: Mr. Juan F. Vias Ochoteco, Mr. Ricardo La Costa Izquierdo, Mr. Pedro Aldrey Montoliu. To be prosecuting attorney of the district court of San Juan: Mr. Eduardo Acuna Aybar. To be prosecuting attorney of the district court of Ponce: Mr. Rafael Sanchez Montalvo. To be prosecuting attorney of the district court of Mayaguez: Mr. Jose de Diego Martinez. To be prosecuting attorney of the district court of Arecibo: Mr. Jesus M. Rossy Calderon. To be prosecuting attorney of the district court of Humacao: Mr. Emilio Toro Cuevas. 132 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. To be secretary of the district court of San Juan: Mr. Ramon Falcon Elias. To be secretary of the district court of Ponce: Mr. Jose Tous Soto. To be secretary of the district court of Mayaguez: Mr. Jose Rosado Ay bar. To be secretary of. the district court of Arecibo: Mr. Antonio Moreno Calderon. To be secretary of the district court of Humacao: Mr. Jose Ramon Aponte. III. The judicial board will give the necessary direction for establishing the new system, for installing the court officials, and appointing the proper employees in their respective offices on the 10th day of August, 1899. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, "1 Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 115. J San Juan, August 11, 1899. For the purpose of ascertaining the exact conditions resulting from the recent hur- ricane obtaining in the various municipal districts, the island is divided into twelve inspection divisions corresponding to the twelve military posts, each embracing the following-named municipalities : I. San Juan. 1. 2. 3! Bayamon. Trujillo Alto. Loiza. 4. 5. 6. Luquillo. Rio Piedras. Carolina. II. Humacao. 7. 8. Rio Grande. Fajardo. 1. 2. 3. Patillas. Naguabo. Juncos. 4. 5. 6. Maunabo. Ceiba. Piedras. III. Cayey. 7. 8. Yabucoa. Arroyo. 1. 2. Salinas. San Lorenzo. 3. 4. Caguas. Guayama. IV. AlBONITO. 5. Gurabo. 1. Sabana del Palmar. 2. Aguas Buenas, V. Ponce. 3. Cidra. 1. 2. Juana Diaz. Coamo. 3. 4. Barros. Barranquitas. VI. San German. 5. Santa Isabel. 1. Cabo Rojo. 2. Sabana Grande. VII. Mayaguez. 3. Lajas. 1. 2. Maricao. Hormigueros. 3. Aflasco. VIII. Aguadilla. 4. Las Marias. 1. 2. Isabela. Moca. 3. 4. Rincon. San Sebastian. IX. Arecibo. 5. Aguada. 1. 2. Hatillo. Quebradillas. 3. Camuy. X. Manati. 4. Barceloneta 1. 2. 3. Vega Baja. Toa Baja. Dorado. 4. 5. 6. Corozal. Ciales. Vega Alta. 7. 8. 9. Toa Alta. Xaranjito. Morovis. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 133 XI. Lakes. 1. Utuado. XII. Adjuntas. 1. Yauco. 2. Pefluelas. 3. Guayanilla. Post commanders are appointed inspectors of the respective divisions, and will at once send out an officer, noncommissioned officer, or intelligent private into each municipality to ascertain the extent of damage to houses and crops, the number of injured and sick and the number of destitute, the probable amount of food in the district, and the points which demand immediate attention. These reports will be sent to these headquarters at the earliest practicable moment. It will also be the duty of the inspectors to supervise the distribution of such funds and material as may be sent for distribution to the poor by the board of charities o? other sources. By command of Brigadier-General Davis : W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 116. j San Juan, August 12, 1899. I. In order to still further simplify administration and reduce expenses, it is hereby ordered that the departments of state, treasury, and interior be discontinued, and the officers, secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, and secretary of the interior, be also discontinued. The officers and other employees in the departments named, together with their records, furniture, and other property, will be disposed of as hereinafter- indicated. II. A bureau of state and municipal affairs is hereby created, its officials, employees, and office furniture to be taken from the office of the depai'tment of state. The head officer will be styled "chief of bureau," with a salary of $2,000 per annum. To this bureau are assigned duties respecting — («) Correspondence connected with diplomatic and consular affairs. lb) Municipal affairs and elections. lc) Patents, trade-marks, and labels. Id) Permits for carrying firearms. (e) Concessions, franchises, and privileges. III. A bureau of internal revenue is hereby created, its officials, employees, and office furniture to be taken from the department of finance. The head officer will be styled "chief of bureau," with a salary of $2,000 per annum. To this bureau are assigned duties respecting — (a) Internal-revenue assessments and collections. (b) Industries and commerce. lc) Weights and measures. Id) Banks, banking, and currency. (e) Public lands and forests. Such of the records of the department of the interior as pertain to industries and commerce will be transferred to the bureau of internal revenue. IV. A bureau of agriculture is established. Its head officer will be styled ' ' chief of bureau," and his salary is fixed at $2,000 per annum. The bureau of agriculture is charged with duties pertaining to — (a) Collection of facts and statistics respecting the cultivation of the soil and dis- posal of its products. (6) Model farming establishments for experiment with and test of the value of new shrubs, plants, fruits, grains, and domestic animals. (c) Mines and mining. Such of the records of the department of the interior as pertain to the bureau of agriculture will be transferred to that bureau. V. The office of civil secretary to the military governor is hereby created, with a salary of $4,000 per annum. The bureaus of state affairs, internal revenue, and agri- culture are placed under the official supervision and direction of the civil secretary. He will proceed to reorganize the bureaus named, retaining the most efficient em- ployees and discharging those whose services are no longer required. The records of the department of state and department of finance will be transferred to the control of the civil secretary. VI. The bureau of education with its present organization will be continued under the board of education, the president of the board reporting direct to the military governor. Such of the records of the department of the interior as pertain to schools and education will be turned over to the board of education. 134 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. VII. The bureau of public works will hereafter be under the control of a board of public works consisting of the persons hereinafter named. To this bureau will be turned over such of the records of the department of the interior as pertain to the bureau of public works, to which are assigned duties respecting — (a) Construction, repair, and maintenance of the highways and bridges heretofore styled "military roads." (b) Construction, repair, and maintenance of country roads and bridges. (c) Construction, repair, and maintenance of public buildings used for civil purposes. Id) Improvement and maintenance of harbors and establishment of harbor lines. (e) Supervision of construction of wharves, docks, and slips. (/) Construction, repair, and maintenance of light-houses and beacons. VIII. The branch of the public service heretofore designated as harbor works will be discontinued as a separate establishment, and its duties and functions will be transferred to the bureau of public works, to' which the records, machines, tools, dredging apparatus, and other property will be transferred. The employees of the harbor works will be transferred to the bureau of public works, and all whose services can be dispensed with will be discharged. The president of the board will recommend to the military governor the number, classification, and rates of pay of the old employees of the harbor works proposed to be retained. IX. All matters respecting charitable institutions, including homes and asylums for succor of the poor, sick or incurables who are supported by insular expenditures, together with matters relating to assistance for the sufferers by the recent hurricane, are committed to a board of charities. Detail for the board. — Maj. John Van R. Hoff, chief surgeon, president; Surg. F. W. F.' Wieber, IT. S. N.; Dr. Francisco del ValleAtiles; Capt. G. M. Wells, assist- ant surgeon, U. S. A. ; Capt. F. P. Reynolds, assistant surgeon, U. S. A. ; Rev. J. de J. Nin, Catholic priest; Rev. Henry A. Brown, chaplain, U. S. A. ; Harold W. Cowper, acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A., secretary and disbursing officer. To this board will be transferred the executive and administrative control of the insane asylum, the orphan asylum, and the leper colony. The board will report direct to the military governor. The funds available for expenditure for the branches of the public service above indicated are those carried by the budget for the current year, and will be disbursed and accounted for by the disbursing officer, under the direction of the board of charities. X. The other branches of the public service not heretofore mentioned in this order are as follows, all reporting directly to the military governor: (a) The treasury. lb) The auditor. (c) The judicial boards. Id) The board of prison control. (e) The insular police. (/) The postal service. (g) The telegraph service. Ui) The quarantine service of ports. m The superior board of health. Ik) The inspector of lights and buoys. (I) The United States provisional court. XL The discontinuance of the departments of state, finance, and the interior, and the organization of the bureaus of state affairs, agriculture, and internal revenue will take place on the 15th instant, on which date the appointment of the civil secretary will take effect. The amalgamation of the harbor works with the public works bureau will take place on the 15th instant. XII. The following appointments in the civil branch of the military government are hereby announced: As civil secretary, Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste. As chief of bureau state affairs, Mr. Manuel Camunas. As chief of internal-revenue bureau, Dr. Calixto Romero. As chief of bureau of agriculture, Mr. Juan Bautista Rodriguez, C. E., to succeed Mr. Juan Castro, who may be retained in a suitable capacity. As board of public works, Capt. William V. Judson, United States Corps of Engi- neers, president; Mr. F. L. Hills, civil engineer; Mr. JuanB. Rodriguez, civil engineer. As inspector of lights and beacons and in charge of buoys, Ensign W. R. Gherardi, U. S. N. In making selections for appointments as above there may seem to one of the political parties a preponderance of numbers of officers of another political party. The military governor announces that his selections for office are, in every case of REPORT OE BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 135 reappointment, based upon the result of his experience and observation, or the manner in which the gentlemen named have in the past performed the duties per- taining to other public places they have held. He has in no case been actuated by a thought of promoting the ambitions of any party, and should it be found that any public officer uses his position, or attempts to use it, in promoting any personal or partisan purpose, he will be immediately removed. The military government will be administered for the benefit of all alike, without respect to party, race, or color, and if abuses are brought to the knowledge of the commanding general, he will immediately take measures to correct them. A board of insular policy of nine members, composed of representatives of all par- ties and business interests, will be appointed in a few days. To this board will be referred all important questions affecting public interests concerning which he feels that he needs advice. This board will be requested to have an oversight on the manner in which heads of bureaus and officers conduct their business and perform their duties, and the mil- itary governor will be glad to have brought to his attention by anyone any error of omission or commission by any public officer. Because an officer is a republican or a liberal it does not follow that he is incapa- ble of rendering valuable public services, valuable to all inhabitants, whatever their party. Casualties and removals will probably occur, and in filling such places a balance of power between the parties and the nonpartisan will be secured. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 117. j San Juan, August 14, 1899. I. The board of charities of Puerto Rico at San Juan is charged with the super- vision of the distribution of food to the needy. It will make timely requisition on these headquarters for the necessary material, which will be distributed to the depots and transported by the quartermaster's department, and it will see that all requisi- tions by the division inspectors are promptly filled. The division inspectors and local boards of charity will report at least once each week to the board of charities at San Juan, the former giving the number of rations issued, the latter the number requested and likely to be required, together with such other information as may be useful in the work of the board. II. All military departments, and officers on duty in Puerto Rico, will give the board of charities of San Juan such assistance as it may call upon them for in the prosecution of the relief work. III. The board of charities of San Juan is required to make requisition upon these headquarters for such funds as may be necessary, for which, and other material, it will account as required by orders and regulations. IV. The board of charities of San Juan is authorized to employ such personnel and purchase such material as may be necessary in the carrying out of its relief work. V. Numbered ration cards will be issued by the municipal boards of charity, and signed by the chairman, to the needy of his district, giving date, name, and number of adults and children in the family. On this card is a certificate stating that the individual named on the card is indigent and will require food for a stated number of adults and children for a specified time, which must be signed by the chairman. The card is intended for four issues, covering a period of four weeks, after Avhich it will be taken up at the subdepot and if necessary a new card will be issued by the municipal board of charities. These cards will be furnished by the board of charities for Puerto Rico at San Juan. VI. Any irregularities or misappropriation of relief material will be immediately reported to the board of charities, San Juan, by anyone cognizant of such. VII. A depot of supplies will be established at San Juan and at each military post, and a subdepot in the chief town of each municipal district, the post depot draAving supplies from San Juan and the subdepot from the post in its inspection division. VIII. Requisitions 1 will at once be forwarded to these headquarters by the com- manding officer of each post covering the requirements of his division for one month, on the basis of 6.857 ounces of beans, 6.875 ounces of rice, and 2.285 ounces dried 1 The ration for one person for one week is 3 pounds each of rice and beans and 1 pound of dried codfish or bacon. 136 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. codfish or bacon for each daily ration. He will receipt for and be responsible for the material invoiced to him. IX. Food will be distributed in bulk from the post to each of its subdepots, which subdepots will be in charge of a noncommissioned officer, with two or more privates, who will receive, receipt, and be responsible for and issue the material invoiced him from the depot. X. Rations will be issued to the bearers of cards certified to by the chairman of the local board of charities, which issues will be entered when made upon the issue card, and in a book to be kept at the subdepot, and no issue will be made except to the bearer of an issue card or his authenticated representative, whose name is writ- ten thereon. Accounts of issues will be rendei'ed monthly by the division inspectors. XL All cards must be taken up when filled and filed as vouchers to the issue account of the subdepots. XII. Commanders of depots and subdepots will make timely requisitions for sup- plies, and Avill be held responsible that the food is brought to the needy with the utmost promptness. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 118. J San Juan, August 16, 1899. Upon the recommendation of the judicial board, the following reorganization and functions of the judiciary of this island were approved on August 10, 1899, and are published for the information and guidance of all concerned: 1. The organization and functions of the courts of justice of this island will, from the IDth instant, undergo reforms in accordance with the following dispositions: 2. There shall be a supreme court of justice, with fixed residence in thfe city of San Juan, composed of a chief justice and four associate justices, who jointly will consti- tute a judicial bench for all civil and criminal business; the court shall also have a prosecuting attorney, one secretary, two court clerks, one file clerk and taxer of costs, six clerks, one janitor, and two bailiffs. 3. The island is divided into five judicial districts, whose respective seats shall be San Juan, Ponce, Mayaguez, Arecibo, and Humacao. 4. The judicial district of San Juan will comprise the following municipalities: The city of San Juan, Vega-baja, Vega-alta, Corozal, Naranjito, Toa-alta, Toa-baja, Dorado, Bayamon, Rio-piedras, Trujillo-alto, Carolina, Rio-grande, Loiza, Caguas, Aguas-buenas, Comerio, Cayey, and Cidra. 5. The judicial district of Arecibo will comprise the following municipalities: Arecibo, Manati, Morovis, Ciales, Barceloneta, TJtuado, Hatillo, Camuy, Quebradillas, and Lares. 6. The judicial district of Humacao will comprise the following municipalities: Humacao, Piedras, Naguabo, Fajarclo, Yabucoa, Maunabo, Juncos, Gurabo, San Lorenzo, Patillas, and Vieques. 7. The judicial district of Mayaguez will comprise the following municipalities: Mayaguez, Anasco, Rincon, Aguada, Aguadilla, Moca, Isabela, San Sebastian, Las Marias, Maricao, San German, Sabana-grande, Lajas, and Cabo-rojo. 8. The judicial district of Ponce will comprise the following municipalities: Ponce, Juana-Diaz, Coamo, Barros, Adjuntas, Peiiuelas, Salinas, Guayanilla, Yauco, Guayama, Santa Isabel, Aibonito, Barranquitas, and Arroyo. 9. Justice in civil and criminal matters will be administered in each district by a court established in its respective capitol. These courts will have exclusive jurisdic- tion and public oral trial of all classes of civil and criminal matters, under the forms and procedure established further on in this general order. 10. Each district court will be composed of three judges, one of whom shall be pre- siding judge, and who jointly shall constitute a bench for civil and criminal business. To each district court there shall be attached a prosecuting attorney, who will repre- sent the law in criminal cases, and in civil cases, when in order. 11. The district court will be assisted by one secretary, two chamber clerks, one court janitor, and two bailiffs. 12. The civil suits in progress of appeal before the supreme court will be transferred to the San Juan district court, acting as a court of second instance, which shall hear and decide them in conformity with the law r now in force. Criminal cases, except those awaiting appeal, shall also be turned over to the San Juan district court by the supreme courtT 13. Criminal cases in process before the court of Ponce will be turned over to the EEPOET OF BRIOADIEK-GENEKAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 137 district court to be established for that district. The court of Mayaguez will also turn over its business to the district court likewise to be established there. 14. Business in progress before courts of instruction and first instance courts shall be turned over with due formalities to the district courts corresponding to each respective judicial district. 15. The criminal business transferred from the abolished courts shall be proceeded with by the district courts. Matters of civil litigation shall also follow their course up to the step in procedure known as presentation of proofs, when they shall be con- tinued under the rules of civil oral suits established by this general order. If said civil business shall have got so far as presentation of proofs without concluding same the remainder shall be heard in oral suit, but if the suit be found in a stage of pro- ceedings subsequent to the presentation of proofs it shall be finished and decided by the district courts in conformity with existing proceedings, after public hearing, it being understood that recourse of cassation against the decision shall only be allowed within the dispositions of this general order. JUDICIAL RESPONSIBILITY. 16. The administration of justice shall be carried on with entire independence and without any other limitation than the civil or criminal responsibility which judges or courts may incur by reason of their actions, for which they will be answerable as provided in General Orders, No. 98, current series, these headquarters. 17. The investigation of charges in cases treating of judicial responsibility may be given in charge of judicial functionary of category superior to the accused, but only the supreme court in banc shall authorize the presentation of the charge. 18. Civil responsibility of judges, judicial functionaries, and attorneys shall be in- curred for the following reasons: Manifest infraction of the law, corrupt misstatement of facts, and negligence or want of diligence in complying with judicial duties and functions. 19. Civil responsibility may be demanded before the supreme court and under the rule established for civil oral suits before the district courts by the parties prejudiced. 20. No appeal lies against decisions of the supreme court. 21. Civil or criminal responsibility incurred by minor functionaries of the admin- istration of justice shall be exacted before the district or municipal court correspond- ing, and in the usual form established by ruling dispositions. 22. It shall not be necessary to give bond or establish a preliminary suit in order to lodge accusation or complaint against judicial functionaries or attorneys. 23. When the members of the supreme court incur responsibility, they shall be tried by a special tribunal as established in paragraph 13 of General Orders, No. 98, cur- rent series, these headquarters. MUNICIPAL COURTS. 24. There shall be a municipal court hi each municipal district, Each municipal court shall consist of one judge and two associate judges, who shall jointly decide and sign all the cases that have been properly brought before the court and. deter- mined by the same. 25. In criminal matters, municipal judges shall have cognizance in all misde- meanors established by the ruling penal code, as well as petty thefts, frauds, and offenses against property in cases where the~amomit of- the object of the offense or damage occasioned does not exceed §5, United States currency, which offenses shall be considered misdemeanors, with the exception of those comprised in article 538 of the penal code, which shall be judged by the corresponding district court. They shall also have cognizance in assaults where the healing of wounds caused shall have been completed in not more than fifteen days. In all these cases they shall apply the respective punishments stated by the code. 26. In civil matters municipal judges shall have cognizance of all litigation where the amount at stake between litigants does not exced 3400, United States currency. 27. It shall also be the duty of municipal judges to prepare the preliminaries in criminal cases within the limits of investigation; substantial proof of punishable acts, their nature, gravity, and essential circumstances; search for the author or authors; their detention or imprisonment in accordance with the law, and the seizure of the instruments of'the crime or objects which might convict, in cases where such exist. These preliminaries must be practiced by municipal judges within the period of six days after they recerve the information that a crime has been committed. 28. The police force as a whole and individually is also obliged to attend to the preliminary investigation of all crimes until the appearance of the municipal judge to whom they will give notice immediately. 138 EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 29. As soon as municipal judges have completed the preliminary investigations in criminal cases within the period previously fixed, they shall send them by a police officer without delay to the attorney of the respective district court, together with the prisoners, as supposed authors of the crime, if any has been made. 30. The designation of the associates shall be made by lot in the following manner: Each municipal judge shall request the respective alcalde to furnish him with a list of competent persons or residents with academic or professional diplomas, and of such persons as have held the position of alcalde, councilor, or municipal judge, and another list of an equal number of municipal taxpayers in the order of the amount paid, beginning with the largest amount. These lists, which shall be rectified or added to each year, shall include only persons of more than 21 years of age who know how to read and write. 31. On the first day of each quarter, or every three months, the municipal judge shall call a meeting of the persons inscribed in the two lists and publicly and in the presence of those attending will draw by lot one from each list, so as to form pairs, until both lists are exhausted. This will cause each pair to be formed of one competent person and one taxpayer. On the conclusion of the drawing a list shall be prepared of the associates who have so served during the quarter, which shall be posted in the court room, duly signed by the judge, secretary, and others present. 32. The associateSj in the order of their respective terms and without prejudice to the particular obligation of each when his proper turn arrives, shall act as substitutes one for the other. 33. The municipal judge shall advise the associates when their turn arrives, stating the day and hour a sufficient time beforehand. With this object municipal judges shall name one, two, or more days if necessary in each week for the prompt and orderly decision of business in hand. 34. Municipal judges shall receive under oath, subject to the penalties of perjury, statements from the associate judges that no motive or just and legal impediment preventing them from sitting on the case connects them with the litigants. 35. The associate judges whose turn it is may have cognizance of all suits awaiting decision on the day corresponding to such turn, which suits shall not be passed on for the cognizance of other associates. In the act of the trial shall be stated the decision which shall contain the result of the voting and the resolution of the pending cases, without the form known as "resultando y considerando." 36. Against the decision of municipal and associate judges free appeal will lie to the respective district court. Eecourse of appeal must be had within five days, count- ing from the day following the notification of sentence. 37. An appearance must be put in before the district court within a period of ten days after notice being served. 38. Both parties having put in an appearance, the district court shall set a day and hour for the public hearing, at which either the litigants, their legal representatives, or their lawyers may appear. 39. No appeal of any sort shall lie against the decisions of the district courts in civil or criminal verbal suits. 40. As a recompense for the increased work which the foregoing imposes on the municipal courts, an amount shall be appropriated in the insular budget for the benefit of the secretaries of said courts both for personal services and materials. For this purpose different categories shall be formed, taking into consideration the greater amount of work which may fall-to the share of the courts in municipalities containing the most inhabitants. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE. • 41. The attorney of the district court on receiving the summary sent by the munic- ipal judge shall issue an order for the detention of the prisoners, if any, in the cor- responding prison, and within the precise period of ten days shall draw up a bill of charges or present a petition for quashing. In cases of wounding, the recovery of the person wounded shall be awaited, which recovery shall be certified to by the physi- cian in attendance under his exclusive responsibility and without need of ratification. 42. On presentation of the bill of charges by the prosecuting attorney the court will inform the accused thereof, so that he can state whether or not he agrees to the penalty requested, and if not, he shall be required immediately to name his lawyer for the defense. If the lawyer named refuses to defend, the first lawyer on the list will be appointed, and the accused will be informed thereof to enable him to give instructions accordingly. 43. As soon as the defense files a bill of conclusions in writing within five days, REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 139 the court will decide upon the admission of the testimony proposed, and shall imme- diately set a day and hour for the hearing of the oral trial. 44. In the record of the oral trial the petitions of the prosecuting attorney and lawyer for the defense regarding the points which they may consider essential to assuring the exactitude of the evidence of witnesses of experts shall be succinctly stated. The questions in examination or cross-examination ruled out by the court shall also be recorded. 45. In cases provided for by the law of criminal procedure appeal in cassation will lie against sentences pronounced by the district courts for infraction of law or error in procedure. 46. Against writs or ordinances of the district courts which are not of mere pro- cedure appeal always lies to the same court for reconsideration or amendment. CIVIL PROCEDURE. 47. All civil litigations between parties when the amount exceeds $400 United States currency, shall be originally heard and decided before the respective district court in the form established by the following articles. 48. The litigants must be advised by lawyers registered at the bar of this island, and may appear personally or by procurator, as they choose. 49. The claim must be lodged with the district court which shall first decide whether to admit it, and it shall immediately name, in order of precedence, a judge or mem- ber of the court who shall conduct the preliminaries of the suit up to the oral hear- ing. Said judge will make all the orders of mere procedure, and the district court the writs and resolutions not of that character. 50. On the admittal of the claim, it shall be handed to the defendant in the suit for him to reply within a period of twenty clays, which can not be extended, and within which time he must also put in an appearance in the suit. Pleas of counter- claim will be allowe'd, and in such the demandant will have three days to answer the counterclaim. 51. On reply being made to the claim, and the plaintiff being furnished with a copy of such reply, or on the defendant being accused and declared in default, the preliminary judge shall cite the litigants for a verbal hearing, setting a day and hour therefor, with notice of not less than fifteen nor more than twenty days. 52. Both litigants or their legal representatives, accompanied by their respective lawyers, shall appear at this hearing, and shall present in writing a notice of the tes- timony of every description which each intends to call for. At this meeting the law- yers on both sides may amplify or add to the documents they had drawn up. 53. The preliminary judge shall confine himself to hearing the petition of the liti- gants, noting down briefly and succinctly the arguments presented by each one, and, after ordering that the documents presented form part of the records, shall declare the hearing terminated, and shall reduce to writing the minutes thereof, giving notice to the court, at its first session, of the notices of testimony presented for the court to resolve therein as is proper. 54. If neither of the litigants have asked for hearing of testimony in their docu- ments of claim and reply, the court shall immediately set a day and hour for a public hearing, at which the lawyers for the complainant and defense shall state their client's case. 55. The district court shall examine the testimony proposed to be submitted, admit- ting that which they consider pertinent, and at once setting a day and hour for the hearing of the civil oral suit. 56. If testimony is to be taken outside of the territory of this island, the necessary rogatory letters trial shall be granted in the proper form and through the proper channel, and the hearing of the suit shall be put off until the extraordinary stay be terminated or the testimony taken by commission be returned. For the compari- son of public documents with their originals, the court, when deciding on the admis- sion of testimony, shall issue letters mandatory containing the necessary clauses conferring sufficient power on municipal judges of the districts where the comparison is to be made. Should the comparison have to be made outside of his jurisdiction, he will grant the required letters of rogation. 57. On the day of the hearing the testimony proposed shall be examined before the court and with the intervention of the lawyers of both parties, who shall examine the witnesses or experts in turn by questions, cross-examination, or declarations Which they consider necessary for their case within the matter under discussion and that proposed in the document of testimony. The court may throw out any sugges- tive, captious, or impertinent question or cross-question. Each witness or expert shall be examined first by the lawyer for the case presenting him, afterwards by the law- 140 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. yer for the other side, if he wishes, and lastly by the court, if wishing to make clear or ask for explanation of any points it thinks fit. 58. The secretary of the court shall draw up the minutes of the suit, recording sub- stantially the result of evidence and the cross-examining of the lawyers. 59. On the termination of testimony offered, the lawyers of both parties may com- ment on the question under discussion and the rights of their clients. They are allowed one opportunity to rectify the allegations adduced in their pleas. The suit shall then be declared closed, and decision must be given within not more than ten days, counting from the day following the termination of the suit. Said sentence must be drawn up and written in the form established by the law of civil procedure when referring to major suits. 60. The appearance of witnesses and experts shall be compulsory, except when, in the opinion of the court, they can allege and prove just cause. Any witness or expert not appearing, without just cause, shall be fined not exceeding $50, at the discretion of the court. 61. Each expert or witness should be indemnified by the party he appears for, and for this purpose, on the termination of each suit, the court will fix the amount of indemnity and will immediately inform each of the litigants or their legal representa- tives the amounts they are called on to pay to each witness, except when litigating as paupers. In this case indemnities shall be paid in the same manner as those paid to witnesses or experts in criminal cases. 62. Should the defendant present a dilatory plea in abatement, evidence shall be taken thereon, and at the conclusion of the evidence the lawyers on both sides shall present their argument verbally, the main suit being meanwhile suspended for the time purely necessary for the court to give a succinct decision in the incidental matter. If the plea is sustained, it shall, of course, have effect as against the claim; if over- ruled, the original suit shall continue its course. 63. Costs shall always be paid by the litigant who loses his ease on all points. In othes cases the court shall give an equitable decision in the matter of costs. 64. By costs are understood lawyer's fees, procurator's fees, indemnities for wit- nesses and experts, and the legal expenses necessarily incurred as a direct conse- quence of litigation. GENERAL PROVISIONS. 65. Both in civil and in criminal matters judges shall discuss their decisions pri- vately, but the voting thereon must be held at a public hearing and in the presence of the litigants or their legal representatives. The presiding judge shall put the question or questions on which a case turns separately to the vote, and shall endeavor to separate duly the different points debated. Each of the judges shall reply simply "Yes" or "No," and the decision shall be immediately recorded accord- ing to majority of votes. In civil matters the decision shall be reduced to form by the judge who conducted the preliminaries, unless he dissent from the decision. In criminal matters it shall be done by the judges by turns. The dissenting judge shall write his opinion at the foot of the decision. ADDITIONAL CIVIL PROVISIONS. 66. All the attributes conceded to judges of first instance under the law of civil procedure in proceedings relating to meetings of creditors, bankruptcy, intestacy, probate, and other matter relative to declaration suits and suits in liquidated claims shall remain in force and shall be exercised by the district courts; nevertheless, should the case arise that in any of these proceedings contest occurs within the limits of the law, the district court shall hear the claim and rebuttal and the evidence in the manner previously established, and shall proceed to decide thereon in civil oral suit. 67. The attributes in favor of judges of first instance mentioned in the law of civil procedure and the provisions relating to precautionary attachments, the giving security for property in litigation, the execution of judgments, voluntary jurisdiction, and Other dispositions relating to judicial questions of a general character shall also remain in force and be transferred to the district courts. 68. In all such cases the judges of the district court by turns shall conduct the preliminary proceedings, but the court itself shall issue such writs and orders as are not merely of procedure. 69. In suits of liquidated claims the district courts preserve the attributes enjoyed by judges of first instance, following the law of civil procedure up to such step as the reply to the claim or failure to reply thereto, in which case the preliminary judge will cite the litigant to appear and submit the proposal of evidence to be offered, REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 141 after which the suit shall continue under the rules established for civil oral suits in general. 70. The provisions of the law of civil procedure relative to the form of presenting claims and replies, proposal of proofs, and legal formulas in general shall continue to exist and be applied. Documentary proofs "may be presented optionally together with the claim or reply, or at the hearing held for the proposal of proofs. The attendance, and advice of a lawyer for each litigant is obligatory in civil oral suits and other cases established by said law of procedure. 71. The system of procedure established by the law of hypothecation and other special laws shall remain in force, it being understood that the district, courts assume the jurisdiction and faculties of the abolished supreme court, territorial audiencias, and courts of first instance, all cases in which judicial contest arises being settled in single instance and by civil oral suit. 72. All steps, exceptions, and proofs in the various classes of suits shall be such as required by the law of civil procedure and according to whether the suit be declara- tive, liquidated claim, injunction, eviction, or of other character. Dilatory excep- tions, when authorized by the law, shall be presented conjointly with peremptory exceptions, and in corresponding order, according to their respective nature. In the same form and in one written document proposal of proofs relative to both classes of exception must be made. 73. Petitions for annulment must be pleaded during the oral hearing, and the court will previously decide in the form established for dilatory exceptions whether they affect the essential validity of the suit. The lawyers for both sides may enter the protest they think fit for the purpose of appeal against error in procedure, which protests shall be recorded in the minutes. GENERAL CIVIL AND CRIMINAL PROVISIONS. 74. All provisions of the laws of civil and criminal procedure referring concretely and specially to forms or manner of procedure different or contrary to the prescrip- tions of this order are abrogated. 75. Verbal suits and proceedings before municipal courts, both in civil and criminal matters, shall retain the same form as the present law orders. 76. The judicial board created by General Orders, No. 98, current series, head- quarters Department of Puerto Rico, will proceed as soon as possible to codify such dispositions governing civil and criminal procedure as remain in force. These shall be divided into two volumes, civil and criminal, respectively, and shall be published in the accustomed manner for the information of all concerned. 77. All disputes or differences between judicial and gubernatorial authorities shall be decided by the commander in chief of the department after hearing the opinion of the supreme court and its attorney. APPEALS TO THE SUPREME COURT. 78. Appeal to the supreme court will lie in all civil suits for infraction of law and error m procedure m the cases which the law of civil procedure defines for the latter, but not for suits heard before municipal courts. 79. Besides the cases defined by the law of civil procedure such appeal will also he for error in the consideration of proofs. 80. In criminal trials appeal may be taken for infraction of law and error in proce- , dure incases defined by the law of criminal procedure. 81. Notice of appeal shall be given to the sentencing district court not later than ten days after the day of notification of sentence. 82. The district court shall decide whether to allow the appeal only when such is to be taken for error in procedure, and its decision adverse may be appealed against before the supreme court within fifteen days. For this purpose the district court when denying right of appeal shall grant a literal and certified copy of the ruling against which appeal was sought to the party appealing within three days at the latest, and besides shall order both sides to appear before the supreme court. 83. On the termination of the time allowed for appearance and on the appearance of the appellant, the supreme court after public hearing shall immediately give a decision on the appeal against the ruling of the lower court debarring right of cassa- tion. The lawyers for both sides may be present, and the matter must be decided before all other business in hand. 84. Should the district court allow appeal, the original documents must be sent to the supreme court after citing the parties to appear during a period of ten davs. It shall not be necessary to give any bond on appeal to the supreme court. 142 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 85. On the appearance of the appellant before the supreme court of cassation the documents shall be given him to enable him to base and establish his appeal in writing within twenty days. His appeal in writing shall be handed to the other litigant for twenty days also, and on the return to the court of all the documents it shall set a day and hour for a public hearing, at which the prosecuting attorney and the lawyers on both sides shall state their cases according to whether the matter be a civil or criminal suit. 86. The supreme court shall give its verdict by vote in public in the form previously established in this order for district and municipal courts and within five days of the public hearing. After giving decision, the original documents shall be returned to the proper court with a certified copy of such a decision. All sentences of the supreme court of justice shall be published in the Official Gazette. 87. All provisions of the laws of civil and criminal procedure relative to the sub- stantiation of appeals which are in opposition to the provisions of this order are repealed. COMPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS. * t 88. The positions of judge or prosecuting attorney of the supreme court of justice and district court shall be filled by lawyers only. 89. Besides the legal diploma the nomination of judicial functionaries shall be niade after taking into account services rendered, seniority at the bar, and known ability in the profession. 90. The secretaries of the supreme court of justice and district courts must also be lawyers. Taking into account the employees of the courts of first instance, who by virtue of this order will lose their positions, it is hereby ordered that such "escri- banos" as possess the necessary conditions as to capability, honesty, and good service in their last position will be given preference in selecting secretaries of the district courts. 91. Municipal judges must also be lawyers registered at the bar of this island, but when such are not available in the respective municipalities, persons possessing the best conditions of fitness and capacity for judicial functions may be nominated. Law- yers holding the office of municipal judge are not permitted to practice law. 92. The nomination of municipal judges and attorneys shall be made in the manner established for the rest of the personnel of the administration of justice until such time as they may be chosen by suffrage. 93. Secretaries of the municipal courts shall be nominated in the manner estab- lished by the preceding paragraph. 94. The court shall nominate one or more supplementary judges to substitute the incumbent in case of vacancy, absence, or sickness. Each attorney shall also nomi- nate his substitute for the same reason. These nominations must be made from among lawyers registered at the bar of this island, who are practicing in the town where the court sits. • Substitute judges shall receive $6 for each day's service in the district courts and $10 if serving in the supreme court of justice. 95. Judges of the courts and attorneys do not require any permission for absenting themselves, but shall receive no salary during their absence, and must see to it that a substitute fill their places. 96. Notice and proof to the entire satisfaction of the court of which he forms part must be given by a judge or attorney when sick, during which period only one-half of the salary shall be allowed. 97. The presiding judge of each court shall give notice, under his responsibility, to the solicitor-general of the absence of any of its members through sickness or other causes. 98. Should the sickness last more than three months, the court of which the sick "judge forms part shall so inform the solicitor general to enable him to take the necessary action. The above provisions are applicable to court secretaries, court clerks, and other employees of the administration of justice. 99. The court shall also inform the attorney-general of all vacancies, absences, and substitutions, for purposes of keeping the proper accounts. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 143 General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 119. j g an j U an, August 16, 1899. I. In addition to the military post npon the island, the following places are desig- nated as depots of supplies for the destitute in their neighborhoods: Bayamon Fa- jardo, Caguas, Arroyo, Guanica. A detachment of one officer and twenty -five men will be sent to each of these places to receive, care for, and distribute supplies. The officer in charge will, if necessary rent suitable buildings for the proper transaction of his duties, and will forward to these headquarters requisitions as indicated by paragraph 8, General Orders No. 117 current series, these headquarters, and will be governed by this order and such other instructions as may be given. II. The commanding officers of San Juan and Ponce will supply from their posts the officers and detachments for these points as follows: From San Juan: Bayamon Caguas, Fajardo. From Ponce: Arroyo, Guanica. III. The destitute in the v£»rious municipalities will be supplied from depots or subdepots as follows: Sun Juan.— Rio Piedras, Carolina, Loiza, Trujillo Alto. Bayamon.— Toa Baja, Toa Alta, Naranjito, Dorado, Corozal. San German. — Sabana Grande, Lajas. Fajardo.— Rio Grande, Luquillo, Ceiba. Mayaguez.— Cabo Rojo, Hormigueros, Las Marias, Maricao, Anasco. Caguas. — Gurabo, San Lorenzo, Aguas Buenas, Juncos. Arroyo. — Guayama, Salinas, Patillas. Guanica. — Yauco, Guayanilla, Manati — Morovis, Ciales, Vega Baja, Vega Alta. Arecibo.— Utuado, Hatillo, Camuy, Quebradillas, Barceloneta. Ponce.— Juana Diaz, Santa Isabel, Penuelas, Coamo. Humacao.— Yabucoa, Naguabo, Piedras, Maunabo. Aiboniio. — Barros, Barranquitas. Cayey.— Sabana del Palmar, Cidra. AguadiUa.— Moca, Aguada, Rincon, Isabela, San Sebastian. IV. While this plan of distribution will be followed as near as practicable it may be found necessary on account of difficulties in certain lines of travel to make slight changes m the depots or subdepots from which parts of municipalities will draw their supplies. Officers in charge of depots are authorized to make these changes when necessary. b V. The quartermaster's department will supply such transportation and ridin^ animals as may be required at Bayamon, Fajardo, Caguas, Arroyo, and Guanica. & By command of Brigadier-General Davis : W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, °" . • -* San Juan, August 17, 1899. An advisory board, (1) for consideration of questions on insular policy, (2) for devising measures looking to the industrial and economic improvement of Puerto Kico, {6} tor concerting measures that may soonest enable the sufferers from the storm to rebuild and restore their houses, fields, and shops, is hereby appointed, to consist of the followmg-named gentlemen, who have consented to serve: Mr. Andrew Orosas, Mr J R. Latimer, Mr. Francisco Acuiia, Mr. M. Egozcue, Mr Manuel ^T% m -> Sa ™? g 2 V a i mer ' Mr. Rafael Palacios Apellaniz, & Mr. F. Guillermety, and Mr. Ramon Mendez Cardona. J The military governor of Puerto Rico will be ex officio the president of the board, but as nis public duties will frequently prevent his participation in its meetings, the board at its first meeting for organization is requested to elect a vice-president and secretary. The signatures of these officers only will be necessary to authenticate proceeamgs, reports, and recommendations. Papers relating' to these and other subjects above indicated will be referred to the board, and reports will be submitted from time to time A suitable room for the sessions of the board will be provided by the civil secre- tary and stationery and office furniture will be supplied by the same officer. 1 fie board is requested to nominate for appointment a clerk and typewriter, who should also be a competent translator, also an office messenger. The salary of these employees to be $1,600 and $300 per year, respectively. Additions will be made to the budget to cover the office expenses of the board. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. 144 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 122. J San Juan, August 17, 1899. The society established on this island, under the name of ' ' Protectora de los Ani- mates, " is to defray all its expenditures for personnel and materiel out of such funds as it may collect arising from fines imposed for infringement of its regulations. The "juntas" established in towns of the island shall render monthly accounts to the president at San Juan, who shall in his turn render them monthly to the civil secretary of the governor-general of Puerto Rico. The reports of the several "juntas" will contain a statement of the number of cases of arrests for cruelty to animals and the amount of the fine imposed and col- lected in each case. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. f General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 123. J San Juan, August 18, 1899. Paragraph II, General Orders, No. Ill, current series, these headquarters, is amended by adding thereto the following subparagraph: (d) Mortgage bonds (cedulas hipotecarias) issued by any established banking house of Puerto Rico may be accepted as surety, with the approval of the governor-general, the bonds being properly accompanied by a written instrument showing the number of the bond and issue of the same, and the conditions of the transfer, together with a certificate of the validity of the bond. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ ' Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 124. j San Juan, August 19, 1899. I. It having been brought to the attention of the department commander that idle, able-bodied men are refusing work at fair wages, it is hereby ordered that no such man who so refuses will be permitted to draw food for himself or family. All men who receive food are required to do such work or service as their division inspector or his representative may direct. II. Any person who misapplies any material furnished for the relief of the desti- tute by fraudulently obtaining or by selling or otherwise disposing of the same will be punished by a fine not exceeding f 500 for each offense or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year. III. When food can not be obtained from other sources a division inspector is authorized to sell directly at cost price (commissary list) to the heads of families resident in his district such food from the supplies in his depot as is absolutely neces- sary to prevent hunger in said families. The amount of food thus sold must not exceed a week's supply at the rate of 1 pound per day for each individual in the family. The money thus received will be accounted for to the board of charities for Puerto Rico, San Juan, following the general method laid clown in Army Regulations. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 125. J San Juan, August 22, 1899. In view of the recent hurricane which has so severely devastated this island, it is hereby ordered that the collection of taxes due by landholders to the insular treasury and municipalities, as well as all executions for arrears of such taxes, be suspended until further instructions. Taxes on city property, where owners can produce legal evidence that their houses have been destroyed or seriously damaged by the storm, are also ordered to be remitted. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DA^S. 145 General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 126. J San Juan, August 22, 1899. The attention of the alcaldes and others concerned is called to the fact that the peo- ple in the country districts and in the open parts of towns should he required to at once plant corn, potatoes, beans, and such other vegetables of rapid growth as will at the earliest possible moment resupply the country with the requisite food. No excuse should be accepted for failure to comply with this order, the requirements of which will receive the personal attention of the alcaldes as well as that of the comisarios de barrios. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 128. J San Juan, August 24, 1899. In order to avoid as far as possible the annoyance and damage caused by stray animals, it is hereby ordered: First. Alcaldes are authorized to impose fines, for the benefit of the municipal treasuries, upon the owners of stray animals found trespassing upon private property. Second. In the investigation of complaints of this character, alcaldes shall institute oral examination of the interested parties and their witnesses. For the purpose of taking such evidence the alcalde is authorized to administer oaths. Against his deci- sion there shall be no appeal. Third. Fines imposed by alcaldes pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs shall be as follows: For the first offense, §1 per head; for the second offense within six months, §2 per head; for each subsequent offense within six months, S3 per head. Fourth. Persons upon whom fines have been imposed pursuant to the foregoing paragraph who fail to pay the same within three days shall be arrested and confined in municipal jail one day for each dollar which they may fail to pay. Owners of property who suffer damages from stray animals may institute civil action before the proper court for such damages. Fifth. A copy of this order in Spanish and in English shall be posted publicly on the door of every alcalde's office for the information and guidance of all concerned. Sixth. All laws or orders in conflict with the foregoing provisions are hereby revoked. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: TV. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 129. j San Juan, August 24, 1899. 1. It having come to the notice of the department commander that the provisions of the penal code of Puerto Rico for the prevention of the crime of duelling have for some years past been disregarded by the authorities charged with their enforcement, and that persons have been permitted to engage in this pernicious practice without official interference or punishment, it is hereby announced that according to the spirit of American law and institutions it is a serious offense to challenge another to fight a duel, either by word or letter, or to be the bearer of such challenge, or to endeavor to provoke another to send a challenge, or to aid or abet in provoking or inciting a duel. To act as principal in a duel, or to participate in a duel as a second, attending surgeon, or assistant to either of the principals in a duel, whether either principal is injured or not, is a high misdemeanor. 2. Where one of the parties to a duel is killed, the survivor is guilty of murder, and all who are present, aiding and abetting in the act, are accomplices. 3. In order that there may be no misunderstanding regarding this matter in future, it is hereby ordered that all persons who participate in duels as challengers, bearers of challenges, or as provoking or endeavoring to provoke challenges to fight duels, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by imprisonment at hard labor in jail for not less than three nor more than six months. 4. All persons who participate as principals, seconds, surgeons, or assistants in duels, where there are no resulting wounds or injuries, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by confinement at hard labor for not less than six months nor more than one year. 5. All persons who participate in duels, either as principals, seconds, surgeons, or assistants, where one of the parties is wounded, shall be deemed guilty of assault 12558 10 146 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. with intent to kill, and, upon conviction thereof, will be punished by confinement in the penitentiary at hard labor for not less than one year. 6. All persons participating in duels, either as principals, seconds, surgeons, or assistants, where one of the parties is killt'd, or dies as the result of a wound received in said duel, shall be deemed guilty (as principals or accomplices) of murder, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be punished accordingly. 7. The district courts instituted by General Orders, No. 114, current series, these headquarters, and the United States provisional court instituted by General Orders, No. 88, current series, these headquarters, shall have current jurisdiction over the offenses herein described. It is hereby made the duty of all judges and officers con- nected with the said courts and of all municipal judges, alcaldes, and members of the insular and municipal police forces of this island to give immediate information to the nearest court having jurisdiction of any violation of this order. 8. All laws, decrees, or orders now or heretofore existing in conflict with the pro- visions of the foregoing order are hereby revoked and annulled. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 130. j San Juan, August 29, 1899. General Orders, No. 22, current series, these headquarters, dated February 17, 1899, relative to a reward of $100, to be given to any person for the apprehension and delivery to the military authorities, and conviction of anyone guilty of arson, mur- der, robbery, or violent assault for the purpose of murder or robbery on the part of anyone forming a combination known as the banditti or organization for violating the law, is revoked. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 132. J San Juan, August 31, 1899. Under the provisions of Article IX of the Treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain, "Spanish subjects, natives of the Peninsula," residing in Puerto Rico, ' ' may preserve their allegiance to the Crown of Spain by making before a court of record, within a year from the date of the exchange of ratification of the treaty, a declaration of their intention to preserve such allegiance, in default of which decla- ration they shall be held to have renounced it and to have adopted the nationality of the territory in which they may reside." I. The proclamation of the President of the United States announcing the ratifica- tion of the Treaty of Peace having been made on April 11, 1899, the limitation of one year referred to and prescribed in the treaty will begin to run from that date. All Spanish subjects, natives of the Peninsula, residing in Puerto Rico, who desire to preserve their Spanish nationality, may declare such intention before the municipal judge of the municipality in which they live. Those who fail to do so on or before April 10, 1900, will be understood to have renounced their allegiance to Spain, and will be considered as having adopted citizenship in Puerto Rico. II. For the purpose of permanent record and the protection of the parties concerned, a document will be prepared in duplicate in each case by the municipal judge setting forth the following facts: (a) The name and surname of the interested party, his or her age, nationality (specifying the province) , civil status, and profession, trade, or occupation. (//) Names of wife and children, should there be any, and the names of the appli- cant's parents. (c) The date in which the declaration is made and signed. This document shall be subscribed by the applicant and witnessed by the signa- tures of the municipal judge and the secretary of his court. III. Unmarried women (natives of the Peninsula) of legal age will make declara- tion in the same manner as men. IV. Guardians may make declarations for their wards (such children being natives of the Peninsula) , but any such ward who attains the age of 21 years before April 11, 1900, may renounce such act when he or she becomes of legal age by appearing before a municipal judge and making declaration of such renunciation, and such renunciation will be recorded, indorsed, and returned in the same manner as here- inafter prescribed for declarations. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 147 V. Immediately upon the execution of the document the municipal judge shall transmit both copies to the civil secretary for registration in the bureau of state and municipal affairs. The chief of the bureau will enter the document in a register pre- pared for the purpose, file one copy in his office, and return to the municipal judge the other copy, duly indorsed with its serial number and the date of entry in the register of nationality. The copy so returned will be immediately delivered by the municipal judge to the interested party. VI. No fees of any character shall be required fer the execution of the documents provided for in this order. VII. Municipal judges will be held responsible for a careful compliance with the provisions of this order. VIII. Printed blank forms will be prepared by the chief of the bureau of state and municipal affairs, under the direction of the civil secretary, and furnished upon application and without charge to the municipal judges. IX. The civil rights and political status of other inhabitants of this island are to be determined by Congress as provided in the treaty. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 134. J San Juan, August 31, 1899. Upon the recommendation of the judicial board it is hereby ordered as follows: I. In order to practice law in Puerto Rico it shall be requisite to be 21 years of age and have the title of lawyer. II. On and after this date it shall be requisite that the title of lawyer be obtained at a university of the United States, or at such law school as may be established in Puerto Rico, except in exceptional cases hereinafter named. A certificate of admis- sion to the bar of the Supreme Court of the United States shall also be a sufficient title to exercise the profession of lawyer in this island. III. The title of lawyer practicing at present before the tribunals of this island, which are registered at the present bar association, shall be valid and effective for all legal purposes connected with the practice of the profession. IV. Native lawyers shall be admitted to the practice of the profession upon the presentation of law diplomas which have been heretofore issued by Spanish or Cuban universities. V. Lawyers who are matriculated at the existing bar association shall continue in the exercise of their profession upon promising to present their diplomas; but they shall be obliged to present said diplomas within six months from the day on which this order is published in the Official Gazette, which period shall not be extended, and on failing to do so they shall immediately cease to practice. VI. The university law diplomas presented by native lawyers who have begun their studies at any university of Spain or Cuba previous to the change of sovereignty in this island shall be valid and admitted, provided that said circumstance be proved to the satisfaction of the supreme court of justice. VII. Lawyers who are in possession of certificates of admission to the bar issued by tribunals of the different States or Territories of the United States, or of the District of Columbia, may practice in Puerto Rico after having passed an examination before the supreme court of justice to the satisfaction of said court that they have a sufficient knowledge of the laws of the island. VIII. Diplomas or certificates shall be presented to the supreme court of justice for registration when found to be in accordance with the conditions required by this order, and after having been registered the oath may be taken before any tribunal. IX. In special cases of exceptional importance the supreme court of justice may permit distinguished foreign lawyers, upon presentation of their titles, to exercise their profession for the exclusive purpose of defending their countrymen or the interests of the same. X. The titles of Spanish lawyers referred to in General Orders, No. 69, shall be respected. XL The profession of solicitor (procurador) is hereby abolished. Those who have practiced successfully said profession of solicitor (procurador) before any tribunal shall be entitled, in default of lawyers, to be appointed municipal judges or secretaries to the municipal courts. XII. In future, when not appearing personally, parties litigant shall be represented before the supreme court of justice^and the district courts exclusively by lawyers, without the necessity of furnishing the latter with a letter of attorney, and any lawyer who assumes a representation for which he has not been authorized shall be 148 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. suspended by the tribunals from exercising his profession for such period as may be determined by the court, aside from the civil or criminal responsibility which he may have incurred. In the municipal courts parties litigant may appear in person or be represented by a resident of the locality duly authorized by them for the purpose. XIII. For the purpose of conducting the minor affairs connected with judicial business lawyers may avail themselves of agents, whom they shall designate in writ- ing to the courts of justice. By command of Brigadier-General Davis. W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 135. J San Juan, September 2, 1899. General Orders, No. 119, current series, these headquarters, is modified to read as follows: I. In addition to the military posts upon the island, the following places are desig- nated as depots of supplies for the destitute in their neighborhoods: Bayamon, Fajardo, Caguas, Arroyo, Guanica. A detachment of one officer and twenty-five men will be sent to each of these places to receive, care for, and distribute supplies. The officer in charge will, if nec- essary, rent suitable buildings for the proper transaction of his duties and will for- ward to these headquarters requisitions as indicated by paragraph 8, General Orders, No. 117, current series, these headquarters, and will be governed by this order and such other instructions as may be given. II. The commanding officers of San Juan and Ponce will supply from their posts the officers and detachments for these points as follows: From San Juan: Bayamon, Caguas, Fajardo. From Ponce: Arroyo, Guanica. III. The destitute in the various municipalities will' be supplied from depots or subdepots as follows: San Juan. — Rio Piedras, Carolina, Loiza, Trujillo Alto. Bayamon.— Toa Baja, Toa Alta, Naranjito, Dorado, Corozal, Comerio. San German. — Sabana Grande, Lajas. Fajardo. — Rio Grande, Luquillo, Ceiba. Mayaguez. — Cabo Rojo, Hormigueros, Las Marias, Maricao, Anasco. Caguas. — Gurabo, San Lorenzo, Aguas Buenas, Juncos. Adjuntas. — Arroyo. — Guayama, Salinas, Patillas. Lares. — San Sebastian. _ • Guanica. — Yauco, Guayanilla. Manati.— Morovis, Ciales, Vega Baja, Vega Alta, Barceloneta. Arecibo. — Utuado, Hatillo, Camuy, Quebradillas. Ponce. — Juana Diaz, Santa Isabel, Penuelas, Coamo. Humacao— Yabucoa, Naguabo, Piedras, Maunabo, Vieques, Culebra, and other islands. Aibonito. — Barros, Barranquitas. Cayey. — Cidra. Aguadilla. — Moca, Aguada, Rincon, Isabela. IV. While this plan of distribution will be followed as near as practicable, it may be found necessary on account of difficulties in certain lines of travel to make slight changes in the depots or subdepots from which parts of municipalities will draw their supplies. Officers in charge of depots are authorized to make these changes when necessary. V. The quartermaster's department will supply such transportation and ndmg animals as may be required at Bayamon, Fajardo, Caguas, Arroyo, and Guanica. By command of Brigadier-General Davis. W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 136. J San Juan, September 5, 1899. On the "15th instant the customs houses at Vieques, Fajardo, and Guanica will be closed; the employees thereat will be discharged, and these ports will be discontinued as ports of entry. , . Upon due notice from owners or masters of vessels desiring to load or unload at REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 149 either of these ports the collector of customs for Puerto Rico or the collector at the nearest port, as hereinafter set forth, will designate an inspector or appraiser to super- vise the matter, the extra expenses of such detail to be paid by the owners or masters of vessels. The ports of Fajardo and Vieques are placed under the supervision of the collector of customs at Humacao and that at Guanica under the supervision of the collector of customs at Ponce, these collectors being authorized to employ a guard, with the title of customs agent, at a salary of S30 per month at each of these ports to represent them there. The records and office furniture of the port of Guanica will be sent to the collector of customs at Ponce and those of the ports of Vieques and Fajardo to the collector of customs at San Juan. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 137. J San Juan, September 5, 1899. The island of Miraflores and the public buildings thereon are assigned temporarily as the quarantine station of this port and will be turned over to the quarantine inspector of the island of Puerto Rico. They will be put in order and so maintained by the board of public works. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 138. J San Juan, September 6, 1899. The collection of taxes due by land holders to the insular treasury and municipali- ties having been suspended, alcaldes are hereby ordered to institute investigation proceedings upon request of the parties concerned in order to determine which of these are entitled to have their taxes remitted for the current fiscal year, in view of the damages caused to their property by the hurricane of August 8, 1899. The papers relating to said proceedings drawn in conformity with all the requirements of the law shall be forwarded to the civil secretary, who shall submit same to the governor- general for his approval. By command of Brigadier-General Davis : W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 142. j San Juan, September 18, 1899. With the concurrence of the superior board of health, General Orders, No. 101, current series, these headquarters, relating to the sale of fresh beef, is amended so as to remove the restriction upon the slaughter of pregnant cattle for beef, when not more than six months pregnant, such cattle being otherwise in healthy condition. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 143. J . San Juan, September 19, 1899. I. The number of councilmen in the various municipalities of the island will here- after be in accordance with the number prescribed in the following table: Mayor. Council- men. In towns of — Not more than 8,000 inhabitants I 1 Over 8,000 inhabitants and not exceeding 16,000 1 Over 16,000 inhabitants j l 150 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. II. Until municipal elections can be held for the purpose of conforming to the above rule no vacancies now existing, or which may hereafter occur in town coun- cils, shall be filled, unless the number of councihnen forming the municipal corpo- ration is or shall be reduced below the quota herein authorized, in which case the vacancies will be rilled by appointment by the governor-general. Report of such vacancies, should any occur, will lie made to the governor-general by the mayor. III. Upon the date on which the newly elected municipal council of any city or town is installed in office, the municipal board of such city or town will cease to exist. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Pico, No. 144. J San Juan, September 19, 1899. The municipal courts created by General Orders, No. 118, current series, these headquarters, being charged with all business relating to the civil register, it is the duty of the municipalities to provide for the necessary expenses of personnel and material for maintaining said register. The municipalities will also provide for the payment of all necessary expenses for postage for the official correspondence of their respective municipal courts. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 145. j San Juan, September 21, 1S99. Municipal elections which may hereafter be held in this island will be conducted according to the following rules: I. The election will be under the general direction and control of an army officer, to be designated by the commanding general of the department as the officer in charge. II. The officer in charge will, by public advertisement, at least twenty days in advance of the date fix!ed upon for the election, call upon the contending political parties to assemble in peaceable convention and nominate their candidates for the respective offices. There shall be eligible for the offices of alcaldes, councihnen, municipal judges, and suplente only those taxpayers of the municipality who are included in the first two- thirds of the total number of taxpayers, arranged in the order of the amount of taxes paid, or members of the liberal professions. Each convention will, through its pre- siding officer and secretary, certify the list of persons nominated by their convention to the officer in charge, who will thereupon prepare the printed ballots (the form of Australian ballot being used) , and will furnish the same in sufficient quantity free of charge to the executive committees of the contending political parties. The expense of printing ballots will be borne by the municipal treasury. III. Within three days after receiving the lists of candidates from the respective conventions the officer in charge will organize a board of registration, consisting of one army officer as president and two members of each of the contending political parties. Each civil member of this board, before entering upon his duties, will take oath before the municipal judge (for which oath there will be no charge or fee) for the faithful discharge of his duties. After this board is thus duly qualified it will prepare poll lists of the eligible voters of the municipality, and as soon as such lists are completed copies thereof will be publicly posted by the board for three days at the 'post-office, alcalde's office, and such other public places as the board may deem advisable. Each voter, upon being registered, will be serially numbered, and the number thus given to each will be posted opposite his name in the polling list. The polling place of each number or series of numbers will also be posted in like manner. IV. During the three days on which the poll lists are publicly posted the board of registration will remain in session for the purpose of receiving challenges or objec- tions to any of the voters named in such lists, and applications for registration from those whose names may have been erroneously omitted therefrom. The place, dates, and hours of meeting of said board shall be publicly announced by the officer in charge by posters at the post-office, alcalde's office, and in such other manner as he may deem proper. V. An elector, to vote at such elections, shall possess the following qualifications: (a) He must be a bona fide male resident of the municipality. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 151 (b) He must be over 21 years of age. (c) He must be a taxpayer of record at the date of his registration, or he must be able to read and write. (d) He must have resided upon the island of Puerto Rico for two years next pre- ceding the date of his registration, and for the last six months of said two years within the municipality where the election is held. VI. In determining the ability of voters to read and write, any standard book or newspaper may be used by the board of registration, the voter being required to write one or more phrases from dictation. VII. Upon the revision and completion of the polling lists the board of registration will certify to the correctness of the lists, each member signing the certificate, and will then turn the lists over to the proper boards of supervisors. VIII. Boards of supervisors to superintend the balloting, and each to consist of one 'army officer as president and one member each of the opposing political parties, will be appointed by the officer in charge. Each civilian member of these boards shall take oath as prescribed in Paragraph III of this order for the faithful discharge of his duties. IX. No challenges will be received by the boards of supervisors at the polls, except as to the identity of voters with the persons whom they represent themselves to be as named in the official polling lists. X. Should there be any doubt in the mind of any member of the board of super- visors as to the identity of a voter with the person whom he represents himself to be, proof will be required to establish his identity to the satisfaction of the board. XL For the purpose of establishing the identity of voters whose identity is chal- lenged, the president of the board of supervisors in each polling place is empowered to administer oaths to the challenged party and to the witnesses whom he may pro- duce to establish his identity. False swearing under this article shall be subject to the same pains and penalties as perjury. XII. Any person who fraudulently votes, or attempts or offers to fraudulently vote, at any public election, shall, upon conviction thereof, be subjected to a fine not exceed- ing $100 or to imprisonment at hard labor not exceeding three months, or to both such fine and imprisonment, at the discretion of the court. XIII. It shall be the duty of each member of the boards of supervisors having knowledge of fraudulent voting, or of attempt to fraudulently vote, to file informa- tion in the proper court against the person so offending. Upon receipt of such infor- mation the prosecuting attorney will institute the proper proceedings without delay. The district courts instituted by General Orders, No. 114, current series, these head- quarters, shall have jurisdiction of all pixtsecutions relating to elections in their respective districts. XIV. All polling places and the hours for balloting will be publicly announced by the officer in charge by written or printed posters displayed at the post-office and at the alcade's office, and also in such other manner as he may deem proper, at least three days, before the day of election. A copy of this order, in Spanish and English, will also be posted for three days preceding the first day of registration at the post- office, alcade's office, and at such other places as the officer in charge may deem advisable. XV. In voting for councihnen each elector shall have the right to vote for candi- dates not exceeding in number the following: For 6, where the number to be elected is 9; for 8, where the number is 12; for 10, where the number is 15. And when the number marked on any ballot exceeds the proportion above specified said ballot shall not be counted. XVI. Voters are cautioned to put no writing or marks on the ballot except a char- acteristic mark thus f or thus x in the margin opposite the name of the person for whom they desire to vote. Ballots otherwise marked will be rejected. Those candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall be declared elected in order up to the number of seats to be filled. In case of a tie vote between councihnen of the same party, that one will be declared elected whose name appears nearest the head of the list on the ballot. In case of a tie vote between councilmen of different parties, those will be declared elected whose party does not elect the alcalde. XVII. From the hour that the polls open until they close the ballot boxes shall remain publicly exposed in the custody of the proper boards of supervisors. XVIII. Ballot boxes must not be removed from the polling places until the polls are closed. XIX. No polling places shall be located outside the limits of the town in which the election is held. XX. Every precaution will be taken to see that every person who is entitled to vote has opportunity to do so. The necessary precautions will be taken by the offi- 152 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. cer in charge to avoid disturbances at the polls and to keep the way to the ballot boxes unobstructed. XXI. Immediately after the polls are closed the various boards of supervisors will begin the counting of the ballots which have been deposited in the ballot boxes under their particular charge. The ballots will be carefully preserved. A certificate of the count and result of the votes will be signed by the three members of the board, and shall state that the vote was conducted fairly and honestly, or shall state such irregu- larities, if any, as may have occurred. All the ballots, together with the certificate of the board, will, in the presence of the board, be inclosed in one package, carefully sealed, and delivered by the board immediately to the officer in charge. These packages, with seal imbroken, will be brought by the officer in charge to these head- quarters by the first available transportation, where the result will be announced and the necessary orders given for installing the successful candidates in office. XXII. The persons elected at such election shall hold office until November 1, 1900. In case vacancies occur within the year by death, resignation, or for other legal cause, the council will elect suitable eligible persons to fill such unexpired term. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 146. J San Juan, September 21, 1899. I. Hereafter the business of municipal councils will be conducted according to parliamentary rules. II. One-half plus one of the total membership, including the alcalde, will consti- tute a quorum. III. Attendance by all members at all regular or special meetings is obligatory. IV. Absent members (except where prevented from attending by sickness or other evident necessity) , shall be equally responsible with those present for any action or resolution taken by the council. V. Excuses for absence will be presented to the council, and if accepted and approved by the same they will be so entered in the minutes of the meeting. VI. If disapproved, a statement of the facts, with the action of the council,, will be forwarded to the governor-general, with the recommendation of the council. The action taken will also be entered in the minutes of the meeting. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 147. J San Juan, September 23, 1899. Upon the recommendations of- the advisory board on insular affairs and of the judicial board the following is published for the information and guidance of all con- cerned : "Retroactive effect is hereby given to General Orders, No. 16, current series, these headquarters, dated November 26, 1898, and all dues heretofore known as royal clues on the transfer of property, inheritance, and similar transactions, as referred to in said general orders, and which at this date remain unpaid, are hereby remitted." By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 148. J San Juan, September 23, 1899. The Spanish translation of section 4, Paragraph VIII, General Orders, No. 88, cur- rent series, these headquarters, is corrected so as to read: ' ' Offenses committed by or against foreigners or by or against citizens of another State, district, or Territory of the United States, residing in this department." By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 153 General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 150. J San Juan, September 26, 1899. I. Hereafter the records of all courts, magistrates, notaries, registrars, municipali- ties, and other public offices shall be open to the inspection of the public during office hours. II. All officers or custodians in charge of such records shall furnish officially cer- tified copies thereof to any person who may make application therefor upon payment of the following fees: For each folio of transcript of a record, 15 cents, American currency; for each official certification of a transcript, 25 cents, American currency. III. The term folio shall mean 100 words, counting each figure as a word. Where there are over 50 and under 100 words they shall be counted as one folio, but a less number than 50 words shall not be counted except when the whole document so copied contains less than fifty words. IV. All fees collected under the provisions of this order by salaried officials shall be turned in monthly to the insular treasury. Those collected by unsalaried officials shall be retained by the official making the certificate. By command of Brigadier-General Davis. W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Eico, No. 151. j San Juan, September 27, 1899. The following orders are published for the information and guidance of all con- cerned : PURITY AND WHOLESOMENESS OF FOODS, DRINKS, DRUGS, AND MEDICINES. 1. Foods and drinks in the meaning of this order are all articles used for food or drmk by man, whether simple or compound. The term drug includes all medicines used by man, whether for internal or external use. 2. No adulterated articles of food or drink shall be made or sold in Puerto Rico; articles ordinarily recognized as foods, which are reallv mixtures, may be sold, if marked with the word "mixture" or "compound." 'No diseased, decomposed, offensive, or unclean article shall be used in the manufacture of any food, drink, or medicine. 3. No person shall sell in Puerto Rico any impure, diseased, decayed, or unwhole- some provisions, or any adulterated bread, or any food substance mixed with a poisonous substance. 4. No person, whether owner, manager, keeper of, agent, bartender, or clerk, in any saloon, restaurant, boarding or eating house in Puerto Rico, shall offer for sale any food or drink containing anything poisonous or unwholesome. 5. No person owning, renting, or leasing any stall, room, or stand, where milk, meats,_ vegetables, or groceries are sold as food, shall fail to keep said room, stall, or stand m a cleanly condition, nor shall such persons allow such milk, meats, vegetables, or groceries to become poisonous or infected or unfit for food by reason of uncleanly condition of such stall, room, or stand. 6. No person shall offer for sale in Puerto Rico any unwholesome, watered, or adulterated milk, or milk produced from cows which are visibly diseased or are kept upon and fed on garbage, swill, or other deleterious substances. 7. No person in Puerto Rico shall sell any article of food or drug which is not of the nature, substance, and quality of the article demanded by any purchaser; and no person shall sell any compound food or drug which is not composed of ingredients m accordance with the demand of the purchaser. 8. No person in Puerto Rico shall subtract from any article of food any part of it, so as to affect injuriously its quality, substance, or nature; and no person shall sell any article so altered without making disclosure of the alteration. 9. All drugs sold must be of the standard quality and strength prescribed in the bpamsh or United States pharmacopoeias. 10. All compound, proprietary, patent, or secret remedies sold in Puerto Rico shall bear upon the bottle, box, or package an exact formula, stating the constituents of tne medicine or remedy. _ 11. No pharmacist, not a legally qualified physician, shall prescribe remedies for the sick. Every bottle, box, or package containing any medicine or dru^ shall be labeled with the name of the same and with the name of the physician who wrote the pre- scription. Pharmacists shall not sell arsenic, strychnine, or other compounds, or other drugs, commonly known as deadly poisons, except upon the prescriptions of 154 EEPOET OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. legally qualified physicians. Before such sale is made the name of drug and its quan- tity, the name of the physician presmbing and also the name of the purchaser shall be entered in a book especially kept for the purpose. The purchaser shall sign his name in a book below the entry made by the druggist. Every bottle, box, or pack- age containing a dangerous drug shall be distinctly labelled " poison " and the person shall be warned of the nature of the article. 12. Violation of the provision of this regulation shall, upon conviction, be punished with a fine of not less than $10 nor more than $200, or imprisonment for not less than five nor more than ninety days, at the discretion of the court, By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. CIRCULARS, 1899. Circular, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 1. / San Juan, March 10, 1899. In the construction of all works and improvements upon this island by the United States Government, or under its supervision, native Puerto Ricans possessing profi- ciency will, when practicable, be employed in preference to all foreigners; this to prevent the importation of foreign labor to the detriment of Puerto Ricans. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. Circular, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No: 3. J San Juan, March 18, 1899. The alcaldes of the several jurisdictions of the vaccination divisions of this depart- ment are required to use all their authority to secure prompt compliance on the part of the people with the order of these headquarters requiring all the inhabitants to present themselves for vaccination when notified. Any persons failing to so present themselves, either for vaccination or examination afterwards, as directed, will be punished. No person who can not present a duly attested official certificate of vaccination after the date when the official vaccination in his or her barrio or district is completed, shall be admitted to any school, public or private, shall travel by any public con- veyance, visit any theater or any place of public resort, engage in any occupation related to the public, or receive employment. All school-teachers, managers, employers, and others affected by this order will govern themselves accordingly under penalty. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. Circular, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 8. J San Juan April 11, 1899. By direction of the Acting Secretary of War, Messrs. De Ford & Co., fiscal agents of the United 'States for the island of Puerto Rico, will not discount drafts or checks drawn on Government funds or custom-house receipts, but will pay the same in full on presentation. By command of Major-General Henry: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. Circular \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 17. J San Juan, July 3, 1899. Referring to General Orders, No. 71, current series, from these headquarters, the following instructions are published: 1. A writ of habeas corpus — in general terms — is one that is issued for the delivery of a prisoner to the authority issuing same by the person who has him in custody, for the purpose of ascertaining and deciding without delay whether the prisoner should continue in confinement, have his bail reduced or altered, or be released on his own recognizance. 2. The petition for a writ of habeas corpus must be made by addressing an appli- cation in writing to any of the authorities enumerated in paragraph 1 of General Orders, No. 71, current series. In said petition the party concerned shall set forth: What authority or person ordered his arrest; the date thereof; the causes that led to his imprisonment; the place of his confinement; whether he is held without bail, or in case bail has been required the amount of same; the allegations he may see fit to EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GEISTEEAL G-EO. W. DAVIS. 155 advance in support of his petition; the evidence he may have to substantiate said allegations; and lastly, a request that the.writ of habeas corpus be issued, and that after the proper formalities he be ordered released under his own recognizance or his bail fixed or reduced. 3. Upon receipt of this petition by the judge or court to whom it is addressed, should he have no jurisdiction over the party concerned, he shall forthwith refer said petition to the nearest authority having such jurisdiction, giving due notice thereof to the petitioner. 4. When the petition has reached the hands of a judicial authority having juris- diction over the petitioner he shall immediately issue a writ of habeas corpus to be served upon the party who has the custody of the petitioner, ordering the prisoner to be brought before him, and the writ returned with a statement thereon as to the causes of the imprisonment, the manner in which it was ordered, and the time the prisoner has been confined. 5. When the prisoner has been brought before the authority issuing the writ of habeas corpus he shall be examined under oath as to the truth of the statements contained in the petition. He shall then be made cognizant of the report of his custodian, indorsed upon the writ. The evidence offered by him in support of his statements shall be briefly heard or examined in his presence, within the term he may demand therefor, should such evidence be necessary for the purpose. 6. On the day following the last one of the term fixed for the verification of the evidence the aforesaid authority, after duly weighing same and taking into account the petitioner's allegations, shall decide thereon according to law and justice. 7. All persons indicted for an offense the penalty whereof is less than that of cor- rective confinement shall remain at large. All those indicted for offenses whereof the penalty is greater than that of corrective confinement shall be admitted to bail, in cash or property, in proportion to the gravity of the offense, and the injury caused by it, except in cases of murder. 8. When the party requesting a writ of habeas corpus does not reside in the same city or town with the authorities enumerated in paragraph 1 of General Orders, No. 71, current series, said authorities may designate the inferior authority before whom the prisoner should be brought by his custodian, and who is to verify the evidence, an indorsement to that effect being made upon the writ. 9. When by virtue of a writ of habeas corpus the release of a prisoner or the reduc- tion of his bail has been ordered, the judicial authority issuing same shall forward a copy of said decision to the judge or court where the prisoner is being tried, in order that it may be joined to the record of the case. 10. The writ of habeas corpus and the decision given by reason thereof shall not affect the final judgment that eventually may be given in the prosecution instituted against the party requesting it. Its object is only to prevent the undue prolongation of his detention in jail. 11. The writ of habeas corpus shall be issued without cost to the petitioner. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. Circular, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, No. 23. J San Juan, July 31, 1899. 1. All physicians, health officers, alcaldes, municipal judges, or other persons hav- ing knowledge of cases of cholera, yellow fever, leprosy, oriental plague, diphtheria, or glanders, shall at once notify the secretary of the superior board of health at San Juan by telegraph if possible, if not, by letter. 2. Municipal judges and alcaldes will send one copy of their monthly health returns direct to the secretary of the superior board of health. 3. Physicians will continue to make returns to the municipal judges for the present. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. Circular, \ Headquarters Department op Puerto Eico, No. 27. J San Juan, August 12, 1899. Under instructions from the AVar Department, upon the recommendation of the military governor, all agricultural and sugar-making machinery imported into Puerto Eico has been placed upon the free list. Customs taxes will not be hereafter col- lected on them. 156 EEPOET OF BRIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Under instructions from the same authority, upon the same recommendation, the tax of $4 per head on castrated oxen imported into Puerto Rico exclusively for slaughter has also been remitted, so that they will b'e admitted to this island free of duty. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. Circular, ^ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 28. J San Juan, August 19, 1899. ' The established rate of wages to laborers upon public works is 5 centavos per hour or its equivalent in United States currency. This applies also to all laborers employed in barrack reconstruction and other ordinary labor. Tools will be furnished by the employer. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. Circular, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 32. J San Juan, September 1, 1899. The destruction caused by the recent hurricane, while deplorable, may be made ultimately to result in substantial benefits to the inhabitants of Puerto Rico. Not the least important of these is the opportunity afforded of beautifying the cities and villages and improving their sanitary conditions. Attention is invited to the circular of June 8, 1893, issued by the Spanish governor- general, the provisions of Avhich, so far as applicable to present conditions and except as herein modified, are reiterated. Each and every town in Puerto Rico should be divided into three zones: First. That in which the buildings should be of brick or stone.- Second. That in which the buildings may be either brick, stone, or w r ood, and must be roofed with metal or tiles and substantially constructed. Material equally durable with wood may also be used. Third. That in which the buildings may be of lighter material with thatch or bark roofs and siding. Particular attention is called to the third zone, which is usually a collection of hovels, uninviting in appearance, and because of their unsanitary condition, threat- ening to the public health. This zone, as well as others, should be laid out in well- defined streets and alleys. In the third zone each street should be at least ten meters wide and each alley five meters wide. Each lot in this zone should have an area of 336 square meters (8 by 42 meters) , which would afford space for a garden in addi- tion to the house, and the latter should stand three meters back from the edge of the street. One lot should not be occupied by more than one family, or have upon it more than one residence. There should be a properly constructed latrine for each house placed at a convenient distance from it, and wells should be located in suitable positions to be indicated by the board of health. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: "W: P. Hall, Adjutant- General. Circular, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 35. J San Juan, September 22, 1899. Under the provisions of tariff circular No. 82, War Department, Washington, July 10, 1899, collectors of customs at the various ports of the island of Puerto Rico are hereby designated and empowered to issue certificates of protection to vessels which are not documented by law as vessels of the United States, but are by the law of nations entitled to the protection and flag of the United States. All certificates of protection issued under this circular will be forwarded to these headquarters through the collector of customs for Puerto Rico. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 157 Appendix C. Military Government op Puerto Rico, Headquarters, San Juan. [The gentlemen whose names are preceded by an asterisk give their service gratuitously to the mili- tary government. No United States Army officer mentioned herein receives any salary from the insular government for civil duties performed by him.] Military governor. — Brig. Gen. George W. Davis, IT. S. V. Lieut. Col. William P. Hall, chief of staff; Capt. George T. Langhorne, acting aid- de-camp; First Lieut. John S. Battle, aid-de-camp. Commandant of naval station. — Capt. A. S. Snow, U. S. N., captain of the port of San Juan. The advisory board on insular affairs. — President, the military governor; *Mr. Francisco P. Acuiia, vice-president; *Mr. Andres Crosas, *Mr. J. R. Latimer, *Mr. M. Egozcue, *Mr. Santiago R. Palmer, *Mr. Rafael Palacios Apellaniz, *Mr. F. Guillermety, *Mr. Ramon Mendez Cardona, *Mr. Manuel Paniagua, jr., secretary. The judicial board. — * Mr. Hilario Cuevillas Hernandez, Mr. N. B. K. Pettingill, Maj. A. C. Sharpe, U. S. V., * Mr. Juan Hernandez Lopez, * Mr. Manuel F. Rossy. The solicitor-general. — Mr. Rafael Meto Abeill'e. THE JUDICIARY. The. supreme court. — Chief justice: Mr. Jose Severo Quiiiones. Associate justices: Mr. Conrado Hernandez, Mr. Jose Maria Figueras, Mr. Rafael Nieto Abeille, Mr. Juan Morera Martinez, Mr. Luis Ealo y Dominguez, ad interim. Prosecuting attorney: Mr. Rafael Romeu Aguayo. Secretary: Mr. Eugenio Lopez Gaztambide. The United States provisional court. — Law judge: Mr. N. B. Kent Pettingill. Associate judges: Maj. Eugene D. Dimmiek, U. S. A., Maj. Earl D. Thomas, U. S. A. Attorney United States provisional court: Mr. J. M. Keedy. Clerk of the court: First. Lieut. Robert Alexander, U. S. A. Marshal United States provisional court: Private Samuel C. Both well, Troop D, Fifth United States Cavalry. The district court of San Juan. — Mr. Juan Ramon Ramos Velez, Mr. Angel Acosta Quintero, Mr. Felipe Cuchi Arnau. Prosecuting attorney: Mr. Eduardo Acuna Aybar. The district court of Ponce. — Mr. Jose Ramon Becerra Garate, Mr. Isidoro Soto Nusa, Mr. Ramon Quiiiones. Prosecuting attorney: Mr. Rafael Sanchez Montalvo. The district court of Mayaguez. — Mr. Juan J. Perea Bastor, Mr. Felipe Casalduc Goicoechea, Mr. Enrique Lloreda Casabo. Prosecuting attorney: Mr. Jose de Diego Martinez. The district court of Arecibo. — Mr. Julio M. Padilla, Mr. Salvador Fulladosa Mir, Mr. Horacio Nieto Abeille\ Prosecuting attorney: Mr. Jesus M. Rossy Calderon. The district court of Humacao. — Mr. Juan F. Vias Ochoteco, Mr. Ricardo La Costa Izquierdo, Mr. Pedro Aldrey Montoliu. Prosecuting attorney: Mr. Emilio Toro Cuevas. The board of prison control. — Mr. Jose Severo Quinones, Maj. A. C. Sharpe, U. S. V. ; Maj. L. P. Davison, U. S. V. ; Mr. Rafael Romeu Aguayo, *Mr. Manuel F. Rossy. Secretary and disbursing officer: First Lieut. James J. Hornbrook, U. S. A. Treasurer. — Maj. James A. Buchanan, U. S. A. Auditor. — Mr. J. R. Garrison. Civil secretary. — Mr. Cayetano Coll y Toste, having jurisdiction of the bureaus of state, internal revenue, and agriculture. Chief bureau state and municipal affairs. — Mr. Manuel Camunas. • Chief of bureau internal revenue. — Mr. Calixto Romero. Chief of bureau of agriculture, industry, and commerce. — Mr. Juan Bautista Rodriguez. Board of education. — Mr. Victor S. Clark, president; George G. Groff, M. D., *Prof. Henry Huyke, *Jose E. Saldana, M. D., *Mr. R. H. Todd. Board of public works. — Capt. William V. Judson, U. S. A.,' president; Mr. Francis L. Hills, Mr. Juan Bautista Rodriguez. Superior board of health. — Maj. John Van R. Hoff, surgeon, U. -S. A., president; Dr. George G. Groff, secretary and treasurer; Surg. Arthur H. Glennan, U. S. M. H. S., Surg. F. W. F. Wieber, U. S. N., *Dr. Gabriel Ferrer, *Dr. Ricardo Her- nandez. Board of charities. — Maj. John Van R. Hoff, surgeon, U. S. A., president; Surg. F. W. F. Weiber, U. S. N., *Mr. Federico Degetau Gonzalez; Capt. G. M. Wells, assist- 158 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. ant surgeon, IT. S. A.; Capt. F. P. Reynolds, assistant surgeon, U. S. A.; *Rev. J. de J. Nin, Catholic priest; Rev. Henry A. Brown, chaplain, IT. S. A.; Harold W. Cowper, acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A. , secretary and disbursing officer. Postal service. — Mr. W. H. Elliot, director of posts. Military telegraph service. — Maj. Wm. A. Glassford, IT. S. V. Quarantine service. — Surg. Arthur H. Glennan, IT. S. Marine Hospital Service, in charge; Asst. Surg. Claude H. Lavinder, IT. S. Marine Hospital Service, at Ponce. Light-house service. — Capt. Wm. V. Judson, IT. S. A., engineer; Ensign W. R. Gherardi, IT. S. N., inspector. Customs service. — Maj. Charles L. Davis, IT. S. A., collector for the island and for the port of San Juan; Maj. Francis W. Mansfield, IT. S. A., Ponce; Capt. Pierce M. B. Travis, IT. S. A., Mayaguez; Capt. Augustus C. Macomb, IT. S. A., Arecibo; First Lieut. Seaborn G. Chiles, IT. S. A., Aguadilla; Capt, Fred W. Foster, U. S. A., Arroyo; Capt. Clarence E. Den tier, V. S. A., Humacao. Insular -police. — Mr. Frank Techier, chief. Appendix D. Population of the Island of Puerto Rico foe the Various Years from the Dis- covery up to the Present Time, according to Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste. 1493 ( Year of discovery) . — According to Fray Bartolome de las Casas, the island was populated like a beehive. Fray Inigo Abad accepts Bayacete's total of 600,000 inhabitants. The probabilities are that, owing to the difficulties of obtaining food and to the struggle of the aborigines against the unhealthy condition of the inter- tropical zone, the number of indigenes did not exceed 80,000 or 100,000 souls. 1515. — Thirty -five inhabitants in the village of Caparra and 35 in San German, the only towns of the island (Licenciado Velazquez) . The indigenes were divided into gangs and made to work in the mines. Those who took part in the uprising Avere branded on the forehead with an F. 1548. — The capital, 130 inhabitants; San German, 20. (Had been burned by French corsairs.) 1646. — The capital, 500 inhabitants; San German, 200; Arecibo, 100, and Coamo, 80. 1759. — 5,611 fighting men, according to Gov. Esteban Bravo. 1765. — 44,833 souls, according to Governor O'Reilly (first census). 1775.— 70,260 souls. (Fray Inigo.) 1782.— 81,120 souls. 1783.— 87,984 souls. 1755.-101,398 souls. 1795.-120,022 souls. 1796.-132,982 souls. 1795.-132,982 souls. (Fray Inigo.) 1799.-153,232 souls. 1509.-155,426 souls. 1802.— 163, 192 souls. 1595.-174,902 souls. 151^.-183,014 souls. 1515.-220,892 souls. 155^.-358,836 souls. 1846. — 443,139 souls. (Santiago Fortun.) 1569.-580,329 souls. (Paulino Garcia.) 1577.-731,648 souls. 155^.— 784,709 souls. 1557.-802,439 souls. This census comprises 474,933 whites, 246,647 mixed bloods,, and 76,985 negroes. Also 3,224 members of the army, 114 of the navy, and 536 prisoners. 1597.-899,439 souls. This census comprises 573,187 whites, 241,900 mixed bloods, and 75,824 negroes. Also 7,014 members of the army, 368 of the navy, and 1,101 prisoners. Since 1867 a census has been ordered taken every ten years. From 1860 to 1867 no census was taken. A marked decrease will be noticed in the number of negroes, by comparing the total of 75,824 in the census of 1897, with that of 76,985 in the cen- sus of 1887. By prohibiting the immigration of negroes from the neighboring islands, and estimating the annual loss to that race through absorption by the white and mixed races at 3 per cent, those 75,824 negroes that remain in the island would have disappeared in a period of about 300 years. This is a very interesting anthro- pological study, because, on the event of this happening, the island of Puerto Rico would be the only one of the West Indies where the white race would predominate numerically. EEPOET OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 159 Population of the Island of Puerto Pico, by nationality, census of 1897 . [Compiled from information furnished by Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste, civil secretary/ Natives of — Names of towns. 6 a o Sh a '3 a 02 ' p 3 w •S 3 M a d o N > o5 o S a) % o ho g 1 o « o d <& in o a G ft _& s d o 18 207 300 23 262 54 225 65 432 48 90 25 16 285 176 1,097 28 72 389 8 115 56 38 70 70 5 31 167 276 48 44 20 218 30 291 23 73 68 28 276 188 48 ' 44 101 100 22 1,586 24 24 41 55 21 30 1,917 79 8 44 249 11 34 208 5.297 100 16 115 40 26 176 21 56 124 53 263 98 1 3 1 6 3 79 12 6 3 21 5 21 5 1 3 2 •70 43 7 47 3 28 3 12 11 2 7 3 1 11 4 5 21 1 10 15 8 7 12 33 4 7 7 13 17 15 16 9 11 13 4 16 6 13 8 10 3 11 12 8 8 9 12 3 13 13 23 7 8 21 11 7 10 12 7 6 32 11 11 9 6 14 11 45 6 6 9 11 9 3 20 27 16 3 7 3 4 40 6 9 5 12 9 6 031 393 042 385 989 633 697 704 761 158 117 756 644 799 658 579 101 147 771 142 174 606 638 898 921 427 540 114 328 521 231 069 850 887 966 121 567 122 928 206 456 823 264 885 196 003 780 825 416 607 531 222 108 610 674 746 929 397 364 045 972 522 582 623 698 007 885 152 787 590 1 6 20 1 7 1 23 4 1 1 2 40 3 144 6 30 4 1 24 1 2 5 1 1 1 4 3 7 2 1 54 11 14 1 7 3 2 1 40 5 38 172 13 9 1 13 4 5 6 2 5 1 5 1 8 1 1 5 1 3 1 1 1 1 8 7 3 4 1 39 2 6 1 4 1 i 2 1 2 2 5 3 1 14 34 5 2 3 1 24 1 10 6 37 27 5 1 5 146 3 1 16 38 2 5 1 5 19 3 4 1 10 95 46 1 1 1 1 1 Hatillo . 1 2 1 4 4 2 4 17 2 4 4 1 2 1 3 19 47 1 8 19 3 1 3 1 8 1 16 4 2 2 2 1 1 2 4 1 l 1 4 5 111 23 45 15 4 3 15 24 8 37 2 1 3 1 22 3 3 27 9 74 1 4 1 46 9 4 l l 5 96 1 3 1 1 2 2 218 1 12 1 1 2 6 299 13 3 4 11 61 1 5 16 46 56 71 80 1 2 2 2 6 1 2 148 66 2 ■ 4 14 1 2 6 210 33 3 1 3 1 55 2 2 36 4 1 1 10 1 15 5 222 1 6 5 2 1 12 165 20 1 Ponce 112 2 66 6 2 5 1 3 20 19 21 77 1 2 8 1 1 4 27 1 1 1 1 29 1 7 242 5 San Juan 7 66 3 22 10 14 Toa-Alta 3 1 72 3 12 14 1 7 1 2 8 1 1 Trujillo Alto 6 3 2 20 2 1 111 1 164 1 1 2 1 1 3 4 3 1 1 25 2 160 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Population of the Island of Puerto Rico, by nationality, census of 1897 — Continued. Natives of — Names of towns. <6 3 hi a 3 | 3 c W s s < 03 03 03 o °3 03 -a 03 6 c 03 R 03 o >> 03 M 3 E-i c 03 03 CO _53 > "o pq 1 3 -a c o a Aguadilla 4 5 1 4 1 1 6 1 3 Anasco 1 3 2 30 17 1 1 1 19 6 l 3 16 13 4 2 1 Barros , 5 5 9 6 1 1 1 o 3 1 2 1 4 11 i Cabo Rojo 4 1 3 7 6 9 o 7 1 2 4 1 2 1 4 15 14 4 6 Fajardo 9 18 1 1 1 3 1 1 26 20 3 Guavama Hatillo 1 1 13 1 2 1 1 18 4 Juncos 1 1 1 2 3 1 1 1 1 10 1 2 1 1 8 4 1 1 9 1 31 9 10 36 18 3 i 13 96 2 11 i 7 20 12 1 1 15 i 143 20 58 31 58 216 1 1 3 1 3 1 1 2 44 1 2 3 1 19 5 1 87 1 18 1 3 2 ■ 48 27 9 6 6 5 Toa-Alta i i 2 Trujillo Alto ... 4 1 1 3 Vega Alta 3 8 1 1 2 112 3 4 •184 14 1 1 1 3 3 j 3 3 1 3 5 REPOET OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 161 Population of the Island of Puerto Rico, by nationality, census of 1897— Continued. Natives of — Names of towns. 5 s a o o tic 3 o >> 3 P 3 a 3 & .3* and occ Vtion of the contracting parties. Blank forms for such license will be prepared by the chief of the bureau of state and municipal affairs, and furnished upon requisition to the municfp7Ses Upon application of the contracting parties, municipal judges will post a notiSon the door of their court for five days, stating that application for icense to marry h£ •STt^ f °? h ^ 6 namGS ' age ^' and residence of the applicants TheprS scribed five days' notice having expired and the municipal judge having satisfied himself that the parties are qualified to marry, he will fill out a lcenTeSefem SlST m ^ C1 J n regist - er Prided for the purpose, and officiaUy Sgu Ind fee not exceeSLT^f^ If^ The ™**F* ^dge is authorized to c&rge a lee not exceeding $1 United States currency, for the issue of the marriage license n k£5\ £ ny T mClp + al ] ? dge 0r °? dained P riest or minist ^ of any religiSus denomi- riag?cermrny ° n Ctmg P arties ma ^ sel ^ is authorized to officiate at a Z- iudfe o? d™^^ SSS marria ge™t deliver their license to the officiating juage or cleigj man. Within five days after the marriage the officiating iudse or clergyman shall indorse on this license the fact of his execution of the sanie with lieent fc 6 ° f *• T- n > ge ' a , d return [t to the municipal °udge who tZed the tee, The municipal judge will record it in the civil register and place the license X. Any person failing to make the return prescribed in Paragraph IX or who makes false return will be subject, on conviction thereof, to a fine of not less than XL If a marriage is solemnized by a clergyman, it may be celebrated in the forms of his religious faith or that of the contracting parties. If it is solemnized bv a municipal judge the ceremony will be performed in the following manner- tinTp«,?r T !w < i tingpartie 1 S ' accoin P anied by at least two witnesses, shall appear at a time and place previously agreed upon with the officiating judge. The judge shall then ask each of the contracting parties if he or she knows of any legaHncamcity or 3 rr™t° their marnage. If both parties answer in the negative, the judge snail then put the following questions to each of the contracting parties: "Do you wish to take ■— - — for your husband (or wife)?" To which they should reply: 1 do. On hearing these words from both contracting parties the judge shall say: "I pronounce you husband and wife." i XII. It shall be the duty of all persons who have authority under this order to join persons m marriage, before doing so to ascertain from the contracting parties by sufficient evidence that they are not under the provisions of this order incapable of contracting marriage. Any person who contracts a marriage or who voluntarily unites parties in marriage knowing that either of the contracting parties is legally incapacitated, under the provisions of this order, for making such contract, shall be punished, on conviction thereof, by a fine of not less than $100 or by imprisonment tor not less than three months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. XIIL Any person within the degrees of consanguinity in which marriages are declared invalid by section 4, Paragraph VI, of this order who shall contract marriage one with the other, or shall cohabit dissolutely and lasciviously one with the other they or any of them shall be punished, on conviction thereof, by imprisonment in the penitentiary for not more than one year or bv a fine of not less than $50. XIV. All marriages celebrated beyond the limits of this island which are valid according to the laws of the country wherein they were celebrated or contracted ishall be likewise valid in this island, and shall, therefore, have the same force as if they hM been celebrated according to the laws in force in this island. XV. No marriage between relatives within the prohibited degrees or between or With infants under the prohibited ages shall be declared void except by a decree of the district court upon proper proceedings being had therein; and in case of minors, no person who may be over the prohibited age shall be allowed to applv for or obtain a decree of the court declaring such marriage void, but such minor may do so; and m the case of a female, the court may, in its discretion, grant alimony until sne becomes of age or remarries; and all children of marriages so declared void as 12558— 15 226 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. aforesaid shall be deemed and held as legitimate, with the right of inheritance from both parents; and also in case of minors, if the parents should. live together until they arrive at the age under which marriage is prohibited by this order, then and in that case such marriage shall be deemed legal and binding. XVI. All persons now living in concubinage are enjoined to marry without further delay, thereby honoring the mother of their children, legitimizing their offspring, and fulfilling their duties as good citizens in conformity with the laws of the land. DIVORCE. XVII. A divorce from the bond of marriage may be granted only where one of the parties has committed adultery during the marriage: Provided, That in such case the innocent party only may remarry: And provided, That legal separation, without per- mission for remarriage, may be granted for drunkenness, cruelty, or desertion: And provided, That marriage may be judicially annulled in the following cases: Section 1. When such marriage was contracted when either party thereto had a former wife or husband living, unless the former marriage had been lawfully dissolved because of adultery of the other party to the former marriage. Sec. 2. Where such marriage was contracted during the lunacy of either party. Sec. 3. Where either party was matrimonially incapacitated at the time of the mar- riage and has continued so. Sec 4. Where either party had not arrived at the age of legal consent to the con- tract of marriage, but in such cases only at the suit of the party not capable of con- senting and before reaching such age of consent. Sec 5. The provisions of this article shall not invalidate any marriage heretofore solemnized according to law or affect the validity of any decree or judgment of divorce heretofore pronounced. XVIII. When a marriage has been annulled for causes specified in Paragraph XVII, the persons and property of the children shall remain in the control of the father, passing on his death to the mother. As regards the property of the couple whose marriage is annulled, each one acquires the ownership and administration of his or her share, and a division is made just as if a dissolution of matrimonial partnership caused by the death of one of the parties was being treated of. XIX. Where the court shall grant a divorce from the bonds of matrimony the custody of the children under 3 years of age shall be given to the party decreed to be entitled to such divorce. But where children under 3 years of age have been placed in the custody of the mother under the above provision, although the father has been decreed to be entitled to such divorce, said father shall be allowed to obtain the custody of them after they have arrived at the said age of 3 years by petition to the court granting said divorce, unless it is shown that he is unfit for such custody. Where the court shall grant a legal separation, as hereinbefore provided, the custody of the children shall be decreed in the manner as above specified for absolute divorce; and where a legal separation shall be decreed in favor of the wife, the court shall also decree such sum to be paid monthly as alimony as may be equal to one-half of the income of the husband, but in no case less than a sum sufficient to support the wife and such children as may have been committed to her custody according to their condition in life; said alimony to be paid as long as the separation continues. Property rights upon the death of either party shall remain undisturbed by the separation. In case of absolute divorce the property rights of the parties shall be as follows: Section 1. The guilty party shall lose all that may have been given or promised by the innocent party or by other persons on the latter' s behalf, and the conserva- tion of everything received by the innocent party, together with the right of claiming all that has been promised by the guilty party. Sec 2. The transfer of all conjugal property to the innocent party, and on petition of the wife when her husband is the guilty party the loss by the latter of the right to administer her property. Sec 3. When innocent the husband retains the administration of the property of the wife, she being entitled to alimony only. XX. Marriage contracted in good faith, although null, shall be valid and effective while lasting, and children born therein shall be legitimate. XXI. When good faith operates on the part of one of the contracting parties only, such party and the children shall benefit as above stated. XXII. Unless proved to the contrary, good faith is always presumed to exist. XXIII. Where there has been good faith on both sides, male children remain under the father's care and female children under the mother's in case of annullment of marriage. • In case of good faith on one side only, children of both sexes shall remain under the care of the aggrieved person, but in all cases children of less than 3 years of age must remain in the mother's care until reaching that age. BEPOBT OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 227 XXIV. The parents, acting of common accord, can dispose of the children differ- ently than mentioned in the last paragraph if they wish. XXV. Decree of nullity of marriage shall produce the same effect respecting con- jugal property as divorce, but the party who shall have acted in bad faith loses the part of profits which would otherwise come to him. XXVI. Decree of nullity must be inscribed in the same register in which the entry of marriage is made. XXVII. The district courts established by General Orders 114, c. s., these head- quarters, have exclusive jurisdiction in all questions, suits, or actions regarding mar- riage and divorce, but appeal from their decision may be taken to the supreme court. They may grant absolute divorce or legal separation, according to the equity of the case, without regard to the form or ceremonial by which the marriage was solemnized: Provided, That the provisional court established by General Orders 88, c. s., these headquarters, shall have concurrent jurisdiction with said district courts, under this order, between the classes of persons over whom it is given jurisdiction in other cases by said order. XXVIII. Hereafter no person shall commence any action for divorce in any court of this island unless such person has been a bonafide resident of the island for the period of twelve months. Evidence of such residence satisfactory to the judge trying the case will be required by the judge before granting any judgment or divorce. XXIX. The judicial order published in No. 71 of the Official Gazette of Puerto Bico, under date of March 24, 1899, and all laws and parts of laws inconsistent here- with are repealed. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: \ > Adjutant- General. Appendix I. [Translation.] A Beview of the Social, Economic, and Industrial Conditions op the Island op Puerto Bico Immediately Breceding Occupation by the United States, by Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste, Civil Secretary. SOCIAL CONDITIONS. The island of Buerto Bico at the time of its final occupation by the United States pursuant to the treaty of Bans was a Spanish colony recently established under a specially autonomic regime. The mother country had at last recognized the right of the Buerto Bican colony to govern itself. The Spanish Government had, by virtue of the royal decree of the 25th of November of the year 1897, granted the autonomic charter to the people of Buerto Bico, and on the 9th of February of the year 1898 the Governor-General, Don Manuel Macias, as delegate of the Spanish nation, inaugurated the provisional insular cabinet, composed of a president and five secretaries, namely, president of the cabinet, secretary of grace and justice and state, secretary of finance, secretary of public instruction, secretary of public works and communications, and secretary of agriculture, industry, and c Dm- merce. He at the same time abolished the old organizations, the office of the general intendant of the treasury, the council of administration, the technical inspection, etc. On the 11th of February, 1898, the acting secretaries took charge of their offices and proceeded to reorganize the services of the colonial government. On the 1st of March the governor ordered the election of insular representatives, to take place on the 27th of the same month, in order that on April 25 the chambers might be consti- tuted by popular suffrage; but on the 21st of April the constitutional guarantees were suspended by him on account of the preparations for the war between Spain and the United States, orders being given to rigorously enforce the law of public order of April 23, 1870. On the following day martial law in the military district of Buerto Bico was proclaimed and the meeting of the insular chambers postponed. On May 12 San Juan was attacked by the squadron under command of Admiral Sampson. On the 4th of July the Governor-General convoked the insular chambers for the 13th day of the same month; and on that date, at the meeting of the insular parliament, the council and representatives being present, the general above referred to, as dele- gate of the mother country, read the message delivering the management of the 228 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. interests of the country into the hands of the men elected by the vote of the people,, and approved the colonial statute on July 20. The insular chambers had then been constituted and a responsible government established with the Governor-General at its head as delegate of the mother country and as a supreme bond of national unity. It was not possible to establish the municipalities by popular suffrage owing to- the American invasion, which began in the latter part of July, at Guanica and Ponce. .The town councils continued to be governed by the municipal law of 1896, and the towns are still administered under it with the exception of the modifications intro- duced in that law through the general orders of the American military government. Such were the social conditions existing in the island previous to" the American occupation, as far as the administrative-political order is concerned. Before the establishment of autonomy that regime consisted of a governor-general and a civil secretary; a board of authorities composed of the governor-general, the bishop, the military governor commanding the post, the chief commander of the navy, the president of the territorial higher court, the "fiscal" of said court, the intendant-general of the treasury, and the civil secretary; a council of administration consisting of the aforesaid personalities to which were added the lieutenant-colonel of volunteers, five provincial deputies, four members appointed by the King, two coun- selors, with power to bring any matter before the assembly, one secretary, two first- class officials, five fifth-class officials, two first-class clerks, one second-class clerk, two third-class clerks, one doorkeeper, and one janitor. The municipalities of the island rendered their accounts to a provincial deputation composed of a president, one vice-president, and nine deputies, and having one sec- retary and one hundred and seventeen employees of different ranks. The provincial deputation had its own budget of receipts and expenditures independently of the insu- lar treasury and those of the municipalities. The municipal councils defrayed the expenses of the deputation by means of a provincial assessment. Reporting directly to the governor-general there were the district delegates of San Juan and Ponce; the technical boards of public works, education, communications, and health; the territorial higher court in San Juan and criminal higher courts at Ponce and Mayaguez, and to the higher courts all the primary courts, two at San Juan, and one each at Caguas, Humacao, Vega Baja, Guayama, Mayaguez, Arecibo, Agua- dilla, San Gernutn, and Utuado. There depended also on the governor-general the provincial board of education, composed of the governor-general as president and the "fiscal" of the court of appeals, a judge of first instance, a councilman of the municipal council of San Juan, the director of the institute, the director of the normal school, the pro visor of the episcopate, the two inspectors of public instruction and four heads of families as vot- ing members, one secretary, three officials, and one warden or janitor. In every town there was a local board of education. In San Juan, an institute of higher education with fourteen professors and five subordinate employees; one normal school for male teachers with twelve professors and two subaltern employees; one normal high school for female teachers, with ten professors, and elementary, auxiliary, country, and adult schools throughout the island. There were also established one provincial board of agriculture, industry, and com- merce; one chamber of commerce, industry, and navigation; one board of harbor works in San Juan, one at Ponce, and another at Mayaguez. As to the judiciary, the territorial higher court in San Juan continued as hereto- fore with a president, a "fiscal" or attorney, a hall president, five magistrates, an assistant attorney, an adA^ocate attorney, three hall secretaries, a court physician, and eighteen subordinate employees; the criminal higher courts at Ponce and Mayaguez, with a president, a ' ' fiscal ' ' or attorney, two magistrates, an assistant attorney, a sec- retary, a court physician, and a hall officer; and the primary and municipal courts. Thus the judiciary remained exactly as it had been during the worst period of colo- nial times, except that a very few natives had been appointed to office. There also continued the same nine offices of registrars of deeds and the twenty-five offices of the notaries. In the religious order there was no change whatever; one Catholic episcopate with one peninsular bishop, one Catholic cathedral with its chapter, nearly all of its canons being native Spaniards, and a Spanish Catholic clergy in all the prebends throughout the island with the exception of some insular coadjutors. In public education few changes were made, notwithstanding the existence of a department especially devoted to this particular branch. There were in the island 497 schools, to which 7,157 girls and 15,108 boys assisted, making a total of 22,265 pupils. The postal and telegraph service during the autonomic period continued exactly as it had been before — the same methods of carrying the mails by land and sea and of EEPOET OF BEIOADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 229 transmitting messages by wires and cable. Since 1870 we are in commmiication by- cable with foreign countries over the lines of the "West India and Panama Company, Limited. The steamers of the Spanish, French, German, and American trans- Atlantic and intercolonial lines have also contributed to-the mail service of the island. This island, which in 1797, according to the census of that year, contained 138,758 inhabitants, had reached in 1897 a population of 899,394, made up as follows: Whites, 573,187; mixed races, 241,900; negroes, 75,824; besides over 7,014 belonging to the army, 368 to the navy, and 1,101 convicts, which shows the great increase of its pop- ulation during the present century. Public opinion was represented by the following newspapers: La Correspondencia, El Boletin Mercantil, La Union, El Buscapie, El Liberal, El Pais, El Ensayo Obrero, El Listin Comercial, El Magisterio, El Boletin Eclesiastico, in San Juan; La Demo- cracia, El Autonomista, El Domingo Alegre, El Listin Mercantil, in Ponce; El Impar- tial, El Diario Popular, La Bruja, in Mayaguez; El Criterio, in Humacao, and a few others in the rest of the towns of the island, and the spirit of association for the prog- ress and advancement of the island was represented by the "Economical Society of Friends of the Country," whose foundation dates back to 1813; the bar association, established in 1840; the Puerto Bican Atheneum, established since 1875; the colleges of notaries and solicitors, since 1874, and the Medico-Pharmatheutical Mont-de-Piete, since , and the several savings and mutual benefit associations scattered over the island, and the provincial and local committees of the liberal and radical parties, which strive for political mastery and the control of the government of the island. It may be said that the only change brought about by the charter of autonomy in the Puerto Rican colony was of a political administrative order. II. ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. Agriculture is the principal basis of the wealth of the island of Puerto Eico, but it has been so overburdened with taxation that it has failed to attain a truly flourish- ing condition. The insular budgets amounted to about 4,000,000 pesos, wbile those of the provin- cial deputation and municipalities reached to about 8,000,000 pesos. Thus the tax- payers have had to defray the annual expenses of the official centers, amounting to 12,000,000 pesos. Of this amount half a million went toward meeting the expenses of the ministry of the colonies, something over 1,500,000 toward supporting the army, and the bal- ance was applied to paying the Catholic clergy, canons, prebends, civil and military- pensions, religious orders for men and women, and a multitude of employees of dif- ferent classes and ranks. Public instruction occupied in the budget of the insular treasury a secondary place, and the greater part of the expenses of education was defrayed by the municipalities. Regarding the construction of highways and public roads, they were nearly all in embryo or under consideration, excepting the central highway that leads from San Juan to Ponce. These proceedings in the budgets of the island were not due to ignorance of eco- nomics on the part of rulers, but rather, be it said with shame, to a refined malice and injustice toward the people of Puerto Eico. The colonial minister, Don Diego Lopez Ballesteros, on June 21, 1864, on submitting the budget of Puerto Eico for the fiscal year 1864-65 to the approval of the Queen of Spain, took occasion to remark that "the budgets of the colonies would never be what they should as long as the expenses of the fiscal and defense services exceeded those devoted to public edu- cation and the promotion of whatever tended to develop production and commerce without unjustly burdening the substance of taxpayers." These were the words of the colonial minister in 1864, and in 1897, that is to say, thirty-three years later, public education and works for the advancement of the country continued in the budgets of the island to be placed far below the appropria- tions for maintenance of the army and navy and for the expenses of the Government. The economic condition of the island, therefore, could not, under the Spanish domination, come up to the level it should have reached if the great fertility of its soil and the spirit of civilization which it has displayed in some other directions are taken into account. The island has an area of abont 9,500 square kilometers, out of which 8,525, i. e., 2,089,761 cuerdas, were variously cultivated and utilized. The agricultural statistics of the country for 1897 show that in that year the total number of property holders was 50,733 and the total number of agricultural estates 60,953, estimated at from 48,000,000 to 49,000,000 pesos. 230 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Of these agricultural estates 61,498.23 cuerdas were dedicated to the cultivation of sugar cane; 122,399.76 cuerdas to coffee plantations; 4,264.07 cuerdas to tobacco; 93,511.08 cuerdas to the cultivation of minor fruits; 16,277.23 cuerdas to other culti- vation; 1,127,537.55 cuerdas to pasture lands, and 664,273.37 cuerdas to other products, with a total value of 48,644,584 pesos. It may be seen, by these statistical data, that more than one-half of the arable land in the island is devoted to stock farming; the land under the heading "other prod- ucts" has not yet been duly exploited. There were in the stock farms, in that year, 395,792 head of live stock, including 67,751 horses, 4,464 mules, 717 donkeys, 303,612 head of black cattle, 2,055 sheep, 5,779 goats, and 13,411 hogs. If horses, mules, and donkeys are averaged at $30 each, sheep at $5, goats at $4, hogs at $5, and black cattle at $20 per head we have a total of from 8,000,000 to 9,000,000 pesos worth of live stock. In the year 1897 the island exported black cattle to the amount of 220,680 pesos. Two thousand four hundred and twenty head went to Cuba; 1,471 to the English colonies; 1,312 to the French possessions; 304 to the Danish West Indies; 10 to Santo Domingo. The value of real estate amounted that same year, 1897, to 28,867,928 pesos 79 centavos. Thus the agricultural resources, real property, and live stock of the island made, in the year 1897, a grand total of about 86,000,000 pesos. Sugar cane has been always regarded in the island as its main source of wealth. From 1850 to 1897 the year of greatest production was 1879, when the island produced 154,839,562 kilograms, reaching a value of 4,645,186 pesos 86 centavos. Nevertheless, in the previous year, 1878, a much smaller production,. 76,536,701 kilos, obtained a value of 7,487,211 pesos 97 centavos. It should also be taken into account that in the year 1879 the Spanish Government taxed cane products, for the first time and contrary to sound economic principles, with an export duty amounting to 313,600 pesos 50 centavos. That duty remained in force until 1889, when the exportation of sugar was declared free. Cane-juice sirup and molasses have also yielded every year a fair production. In 1897 cane-juice sirup was exported amounting to $82, 990. 78, and molasses to $403,519.62. In July, 1878, there remained in the island 505 sugar estates, the cultivation of 138 having been abandoned. In 1880 there were central factories established in the townships of Loiza, Vega Baja, Aguada, Naguabo, and Maunabo, while projects were being considered for the establishment of more- important ones in all the departments of the island, where, according to statistics furnished by agricultural societies, there was ample room for 46 such central factories. Upon the occupation by the United States, the island contained 249 sugar estates and 22 central factories. The island of Puerto Rico with due protection from the Government, and making use of modern improvements for the extraction of sugar, can easily produce more than 300,000 tons of sugar, inasmuch as in the year 1879 it produced 170,000 tons. The production of coffee is also one of the principal resources of the island, it hav- ing begun to increase in 1873, when its exportation had already amounted to 1,110,928 pesos 48 centavos. It fluctuated in the neighborhood of 1,000,000 up to the year 1877, when it reached 3,010,338.53 pesos. In 1879 it reached 5,000,000 pesos. That year the Spanish Government taxed said produce with an export dutv amounting to 156,934 pesos 66 centavos. In 1881 coffee produced over 7,000,000 pesos; in 1892, more than 9,000,000 pesos; in 1893 and 1894, over 11,000,000 pesos; in 1896, over 13,000,000 pesos, and in the year 1897, 12,222,599 pesos 48 centavos. The year of greatest production of coffee was 1879, when it reached 30,527,901 kilograms, with a value of 5,189,743 pesos 17 centavos. In 1896 the production did not exceed 26,662,194 kilograms, but it amounted to 13,864,340 pesos 88 centavos in value. There is in the island much land suitable for the cultivation of coffee in which it has not yet been planted. Coffee production reached its highest point in 1879, when it amounted to 33, 182 J tons. That production can easily be doubled if land holders find due protection. Tobacco has also been one of our sources of wealth. The planting of tobacco has been in direct ratio to the protection afforded by the Government to the leaf. From 1850 up to the present date, the year of largest production was 1880, when it amounted to 5,540,235 kilograms, with a value of 831,035 pesos 45 centavos. In 1897 the produc- tion was only 2,843,615 kilograms, but it was worth 1,194,318 pesos 30 centavos. The day when in Puerto Rico landholders devoted to planting tobacco find a uniform and REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 231 constant protection from the Government, thereby encouraging the manufacture of the leaf in the country, it will be able to sustain in all the marketsof the world a strong competition with the best cigars and cigarettes manufactured in the island of There is in the island another product that has a bright future, namely, the cocoa- nut In the year 1897, 14,425.26 pesos worth of cocoanuts was exported to the United States; 8,554.26 pesos worth to Cuba, and 4,758.82 pesos worth to the Spanish pen- insular. - , There are along the coasts of the island of Puerto Rico large tracts of sandy lands that are fit for planting cocoanut palm trees. The day when said land, now of little value, be devoted to cocoanut groves, a large production of that fruit will be obtained, as is the case in some of the South Pacific islands. Another source of wealth in the island is the exportation of cattle hides. In the year 1897, 49,932 pesos worth of hides were exported to the Spanish peninsula, 12 251.58 pesos worth to France, 7,028.10 pesos worth to Germany, 1,681.12 pesos worth to Italv, and 959.50 pesos worth to Cuba. Instead of exporting this raw material to foreign countries it would be better to protect the tanning and hide dres- sing industries in the island, which would be followed by the establishment of factories for & the supply of fine shoes, saddles, belts, harnesses, etc., at all the principal towns of the island. ,•,•,■■ Another source of our wealth is rum. Two hundred thousand one hundred and five liters, worth 20,010 pesos 50 centavos, were exported in the year 1897 to the Spanish peninsula; 86,508 liters, worth 8,655.80 pesos, to Africa; 15,783 liters, worth 1 578 pesos 30 centavos, to the United States; 4,663 liters, . worth 466.30 pesos, to France; 18,367 liters, worth 183.70 pesos, to Italy, and 1,060 liters, worth 106 pesos, to Cuba. On the other hand, alcohol and spirits were imported from Spam, England, and France, though in small quantities; from the first mentioned place 717 liters, worth 143.40 pesos; from the second, 125 liters, worth 25 pesos, and from the last, 6 liters, worth 1.20 pesos. But there was an importation of liquors and brandies aggregating 178,645 liters and valued at 54,642.32 pesos, which well might have been manufactured in the country, without counting the ale and beer imported, reaching 563,788 liters, worth 111,422.76 pesos, which also could have been made in the country instead of paving this tribute to the foreigner. There are other exports of less importance, as malagueta or "bay" rum, of which 50,177 liters, worth 7,520 pesos 55 centavos, were exported in that same year to the United States, and 162 liters, worth 34.30 pesos, to the Danish possessions. Four hundred and twenty kilograms of vegetable guano, worth 46 pesos 20 centa- vos, were exported in the year 1897 to the Spanish peninsula; 50,339 kilos, worth 5,537.29 pesos, to Cuba. Two hundred sweet oranges, worth 50 centavos, were exported to the Spanish Peninsula; 939,798, worth 2,349.49 pesos, to the United States; 46,000, worth 115 pesos, to Cuba; 17,000, worth 42 pesos 50 centavos, to the Danish West Indies; and 1,050, worth 2 pesos 63 centavos, to the English possessions. Thirty liters of essential oil of malagueta, worth 120 pesos, were exported to the United States, and 193 liters, worth 772 pesos, to the Danish possessions. Five thousand seven hundred and fifteen kilograms of cocoa, worth 2,286 pesos, were exported to the Spanish peninsula. Thirty-four thousand five hundred and forty-six kilograms of achiote, or annatto, worth 1,727 pesos 30 centavos, were exported to Germany; 10,773 kilograms, worth 583.65 pesos, to the United States; 8,481 kilograms, worth 424 pesos 5 centavos, to France; and 1,013 kilograms, worth 50 pesos 65 centavos, to the Danish possessions. Fifty-eight kilograms of chocolate, worth 46 pesos 40 centavos were exported to the Spanish peninsula. Sixtv thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven kilograms of starch, worth 6,690.97 pesos, "were exported to Cuba, and 728 kilograms, worth 80 pesos 8 centavos, to Santo Domingo. Six hundred and ten kilograms of tamarind pulp, worth 61 pesos, were exported to the United States, and 6,984 kilograms, worth 698.40 pesos, to England. One thousand two hundred and eleven kilograms of "hedionda" (Anagyris fetida) , worth 121 pesos 10 centavos were exported to the Spanish peninsula, and 1,117 kilo- grams, worth 111 pesos 70 centavos, to Cuba. One million two hundred thousand pineapples, worth 840 pesos, were exported to the United States. Two hundred and twenty thousand kilograms of salt, worth 6,600 pesos, were exported to the Dutch possessions. 232 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W, BATIg. Two thousand two hundred kilograms of fleshy sides of hides, worth 110 pesos, were exported to Spain. One thousand three hundred and forty-nine kilograms of cocoa shell, worth 13 pesos '49 centavos were exported to the Spanish peninsula. Five thousand and thirty-two kilograms of tobacco seed, worth 2,113 pesos 44 centavos, were exported to Cuba. Four thousand eight hundred and ninety-nine kilos of peanuts, worth 489 pesos 90 centavos, were exported to Cuba. Five thousand three hundred kilograms of ginger, worth 530 pesos, were exported to the United States. Seven thousand six hundred and four kilograms of melted tallow, worth 760 pesos 40 centavos, were exported to the Spanish Peninsula, and 109,020 kilos, worth 10,902 pesos, to Cuba. Besides, large quantities of minor fruits were exported to Cuba and Santo Domingo in said year 1897. The current coin in the island before the cession was a special silver piece recently ordered to be minted for Puerto Rico by Colonial Minister Castellanos. Puerto Rico has been the country of untold exchanges of coin, whereby she has been vilely vic- timized. May 5, 1857, by virtue of a royal decree, the ' ' macuquina ' ' (cut coin) then in circulation was called in and ordered to be exchanged for that of the Spanish peninsular stamp at a discount of 12 J per cent. The macuquina had been coined at Venezuela before the loss of that country by Spain, and its origin was as Spanish as that of the peninsular coin. It was only a little worn out. In order to cover the deficit resulting therefrom a transitory export duty of one-half real fuerte was imposed on each hun- dredweight of sugar, 2 reals on each hundredweight of coffee, 3 reals on each hundred- weight of tobacco, 4 reals on each hogshead of molasses, 8 reals on each hogshead of rum, and 3 per cent on all salaries and pensions paid out of the insular treasury. Those duties were abolished in April, 1862. The Government sent from the peninsula 1,350,000 Spanish pesos to exchange them for the macuquina, and the insular treasury had to cover the deficit of $215,466.40 in order to complete the exchange, amounting to $1,565,466.40. In 1867 the copper coin of Santo Domingo was brought into the country, owing to the loss of that island by Spain. In 1867, by virtue of a royal decree, foreign money was allowed to circulate in the island at the following value in Spanish money: The United States $20, double eagle, equaled 38 escudos (380 reals vellon) ; the dollar equaled 19 reals; the French gold coin of 20 francs equaled 76 reals vellon, and the napoleon equaled 19 reals vellon. Merchants, in order to keep the gold in our market, gave the American eagle the value of 16J pesos, and to the Spanish doubloon the value of 17 pesos. The best period as to monetary conditions in the island lasted up to the year ] 879. By virtue of the royal decree of February 22, 1879, it was ordered to officially admit into circulation the Mexican silver dollar piece with a value equal to that of the United States — that is, 95 centavos each peso — and the royal order of August 6, 1881, authorized its free circulation. Then it was that the celebrated Hermua negotiation was carried into effect, Mexican pesos being obtained at 20 per cent profit. That was a gross error, in which private speculation took part under different forms. To write the history of that transaction does not belong to this place. In 1883 the whole country already felt the effects of that negotiation, and the cham- bers of commerce and official and private commissions began to act with a view to remedying the evil. More than 400 documents were sent to Madrid showing the need of applying prompt remedy to that condition of things. Mexican money was acquired outside the island at 59 and 60 centavos, and it was made to circulate in Puerto Rico with a commercial value of 100 centavos and in the official centers with a value of 95 centavos. The smuggler baffled the vigilance exercised by the custom- house officers. At last, on the 28th of October, 1895, the Mexican coin was called in and ordered exchanged for a special provincial coin. About 7,000,000 pesos of large and small Mexican pieces were withdrawn; but only 6,426,393 pesos were exchanged. Of the provincial money, 8,300,000 special pesos were sent and 1,060,000 pesos' worth of pesetas and vellons. Both amounts make a total of 9,360,000 pesos. One million two hundred thousand pesos were never received in the treasury, being transferred from the ship on which they came to the ship on which they were to return to Spain. Besides, 1,733,607 pesos were taken back as surplus because of the lack of Mexicans for which to exchange them. Both amounts make a total of 2,933,607 pesos, which was coined again in Madrid into peninsular money. Therefore, the exchange for provincial silver only amounted to 6,426,393 pesos. The coinage of these 9,000,000 cost Puerto Rico 362,000 pesetas. Packing, trans- portation, and insurance cost 423,000 pesetas. Two hundred and fifty-three thousand REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 233 pesetas were paid to the Spanish Bank as interest on loan for advance of bar silver to coin the provincial money. The engraving of the exchange tickets that were used in the island for twenty-one days cost Puerto Rico 172,000 pesetas. Of that sum, 23,764 pesetas were paid as gratuities to the personnel of the mint, 2,000 to the offi- cers of that particular section, and 1,600 to the personnel of the ministry of finance. Oh, Puerto Rico, how spoliated wert thou! In respect to the 480,000 pesos that came in 5-peso gold coins, some of them, up to the amount of 69,084 posos, were divided among the high officials, military as well us civil, and the rest, amounting to 410,416 pesos, were appropriated to buy a cruiser; that gold was therefore shipped back to the Spanish Peninsula. The first lot, 342,444 pesos, was sent on January 14, 1898; and the second, amounting to 68,472 pesos, on the 3d of February of that same year. That gold then only took a trip to the Lesser Antilles. Thus our monetary wealth suffered a loss of 12J per cent on being exchanged for the macuquina; 5 per cent on the introduction of the American money; 5 per cent more on the exchange for the Mexican, and again 5 per cent on the exchange for the provincial silver. All of which added makes a total loss of 27J per cent, and only to get a currency just as special as was the macuquina (called in in 1858) . Of course they assured us that it would be to our benefit to have a new coin with two-thousandths less of pure silver. Precisely as when a father places in the hands of his child a gold coin, lets _ it have it for a while, and then takes it .away to keep it for himself and buy the child a toy. There were at the capital only two banks, the Spanish Bank and the Territorial and Agricultural Bank, and a species of savings institution called the Popular Bank. The Spanish Bank was founded in February, 1890, with a stock capital of 1,500,000 pesos, and began operations with 25 per cent, say 375,000, the stockholders having paid in only 50 per cent of their stock, say 750 pesos, besides a reserve fund of 15 per cent, making 112,500 pesos. This bank issued notes of from 5 pesos to 200 pesos, reaching a maximum issue in April, 1898, of 2,587,445 pesos. October 22, 1898, the assets of the Spanish Bank were, in account current, 6,331,599.79 pesos. - The Territorial and Agricultural Bank was founded on July 4, 1894, with a capital of 2,400,00 pesos, divided in four series of 6,000 shares each of 100 pesos. It began its operations with the first issue of 600,000 pesos. It has made five issues of scrip, the first on January 25,1895, for 57,000 provincial pesos; the second on March, 1895, for 114,000 pesos; the third on November 25, 1895, for 200,000 pesos; the fourth on November 25, 1895, (?) for 75,000 pesos, and the fifth on July 27, 1896, for 500,000 pesos. On June 15 of last year it had already redeemed 115,563 pesos of said scrip. Three hundred thousand pesos were held as collaterals by private parties ; 116,000 pesos were in bonds deposited by public officials and contractors of works for the State, the diputacion provincial, and municipalities. In surities deposited at the same bank, 180,000 pesos, and held by capitalists 243,437 pesos, making a total of 955,000 pesos. This scrip earns an interest of 7 per cent per annum, payable every six months. One-third of the unencumbered scrip is held by religious com- munities. The assets of the bank in account current on October 14, 1898, amounted to 5,394,424.14 pesos. The Popular Bank was established in January, 1894, with the fifth of its capital, say 1,000 pesos. Its business is to make loans of from 25 to 500 pesos, secured by sig- natures or mortgages, at the rate of 12 per cent per annum. It admits deposits at 6 per cent. In Ponce there was already established an association with a capital of 200,000 pesos, called Credito y Ahorro Ponceno, which had opened business with an issue of 2,000 shares of 100 pesos each on February 10, 1895. Its balance for December 31 of last year showed assets of 1,131,037.48 pesos in account current. This corporation also admits deposits. The Savings Bank of Mayaguez was founded in January, 1874, with a capital of 2,000 pesos, distributed in 100 shares of 4 pesos each. It does not admit deposits under 25 centavos or above 10 pesos, and pays an annual dividend of 6 per cent among shareholders and depositors, besides an extraordinary dividend which is dis- tributed every December 31, and consists of all the profits. In addition thereto lots are cast every year for three prizes of 10, 15, and 25 pesos among such poor deposi- tors as have deposited every Sunday during six months, without interruption, either 1 peso, 50 centavos, or 25 centavos, and have not drawn any money during that time. The assets of said bank on June 30, 1898, amounted to 298,791.90 pesos. There are other banks, more or less of the same description, in San German and Sabana Grande. The insular budget for 1897-98 showed appropriations for expenses amounting to 23-1 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 3,536,342.19 pesos, while the receipts were calculated at 3,939,500 pesos. That of the diputacion provincial for the same year reached 1,217,700 pesos, expenses and receipts, and those of the municipalities, also for 1897-98, 2,814,597.84 pesos, receipts, and 2,811,978.07 expenses. INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS. Industry in Puerto Rico has not reached the degree of development enjoyed by other countries, owing not only to the lack of active private enterprise, but to-the absence of the requisite protection on the part of former Spanish governments. Despite all these drawbacks, our old Jamaica sugar mills have been substituted by improved machinery and implements; and the accompanying paper on the history of sugar cane and its products in the island, as also the statistics of exportation of sugar, will reveal the progress made during the past years and furnish an idea of what might be obtained under proper protection. As to coffee, perfected mills and apparatus have been imported to dry, classify, and polish the aromatic bean, and thus has it been able to hold its own against the prod- ucts of mocha and Java in the markets of the world. Herewith we present a history and statistics of exportation of this staple product. Our tobacco is of as good a quality as that of Cuba, and until recently Habana was the best market for our wrappers and fillers. The Cuban growers, fearing our com- petition, have succeeded in prevailing upon the government to shut out our tobacco. Ih this country the leaf is manufactured into chewing plugs, smoking tobacco, wrap- pers, cigars, and cigarettes. Lately important manufactures have been established in the country, and should the Federal Government extend its protection to this indus- try it will no doubt prove a formidable rival to that of Habana and be an inexhaust- ible source of wealth. There are, besides, in the line of industry, some foundries, a number of factories turning out matches, soup paste, chocolate, ice, soap, candles, hats, preserved fruits, etc.; tanneries, distilleries, lithograph printing, cabinetmaking, petroleum refinery, gas and electric light plants, telephones, aqueducts, not to mention many other minor trades; and lastly, our marble and other stone quarries are beginning to be worked successfully. Such was — described at great strokes of the pen— the social, economic, and indus- trial condition of the island before the occupation by the United States. Statement of amounts spent in the exchange of Mexican money (1895) . Sent in provincial pesos $8, 300, 000 Sent in small pieces 1, 060, 000 $9, 360, 000 Amount returned, not received into the Treasury 1, 200, 000 Amount returned, in excess 1, 733, 607 2,933,607 Making a total investment in silver 6, 426, 393 Sent in gold 480,000 Sent in bronze 70, 000 Total spent 6,976,393 Note. — From the amount sent in gold, namely 480, 000 the following were returned to Spain during Mr. Jose Severo QuifLones's term as general intendant of finances: On January 14, 1898, warrant of payment No. 14 $342, 444 On February 3, 1898, warrant of payment No. 1 68, 472 y ' 410, 916 Then, the^ amount spent in the island was only 69, 084 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 235 Statement of amounts spent in the exchange of the "macuquina" coin (1857) . DEBIT. For remittance made by the treasury of the Peninsula, on Juan Sanchez Toledo's account, for the exchange of "macuquina" coin, $1, 350, 000. 00 For addition made by the treasury of Puerto Rico, to cover a deficit thereto 215, 466. 40 1, 565, 466. 40 General, expenses: Transportation of $1,350,000 to the port of Cadiz... $10,880.63 Expenses incurred upon in the island (Puerto Rico) while putting into circulation the official coin and withdrawing the ' ' macuquina ' ' for shipment 25, 863. 64 Transportation to the Peninsula of $1,761,149.70 "ma- cuquinos ' ' pesos withdrawn, and recoinage of same . 93 r 892. 80 130, 637. 07 1, 696, 103. 47 CREDIT. For the benefit obtained on the recoinage of 1,761,149.70 "macuqui- nas " pesos at the mints of Madrid and Sevilla $1, 240, 938. 39 4 per cent profit obtained on the drafts in favor of the treasury of the Peninsula for 213,835.04 pesos, for reimbursement made to the treas- ury of Puerto Rico 8 > 22 4. 42 Collections for various duties on exportation, made by the custom-houses of the island, from August 1, 1857, to April 31, 1859 $341,815.36 . Collected for discount of 3 per cent on all salaries and pensions paid by the State during the same time 99, 107. 35 F l J 440,922.71 Collected by the custom-houses for duties, from the 1st to the 5th, both included, of May, 1860, to be received into the treasury 6, 684. 45 1, 696, 769. 97 RECAPITULATION. Amount of debits of this statement - - $1, 696, 103. 47 Amount of credits of this statement 1, 696, 769. 97 Excess, at His Maiesty's Government's order . 666. 50 Agrarian measures of Puerto Rico. The cuerda.. , 75 varas per side. 5,625 square varas. 39, 30, 30 areas (formerly) . 40, 79, 789 areas (at present) , 4,079.888 square meters. The caballeria 200 cuerdas. The acre 43,560 English square feet. 47,698 Spanish square feet. 4,840 yards square. 4,046 square meters. Note. — The acre has about 20 square varas more than the cuerda. San Juan, P. R., October 6, 1899. Sir: The slaves liberated by the law of March 22, 1873, were 'a trifle over 31,000, whose greater part was estimated at the value of 200 pesos each. The debt for which appropriation was made in the budget amounted to 700,000 pesos per year, to pay out 7,000,000, with interest, up to the fiscal year 1889-90, when the total debt amounted 236 REPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. to 11,018,020 pesos. Out of this amount 10,996,219 have already been paid, and a balance of 21,801 is still outstanding. Very respectfully, Cayetano Coll y Toste, Jr., Chil Secretary. Brig. Gen. George W. Davis, Commanding the Department, San Juan, P. R. GOBERNADORES DE LA ISLA DE PUERTO RICO. 1. Juan Ponce de Leon, nombrado por SS. AA., en 2 de Marzo de 1510, capitan de la isla en propriedad, entrego el mando, por prescription regia, el ano 1511 a 2. Juan Ceron y Miguel Diaz, nombrados por el Almirante Don Diego Colon en uso de derechos reconocidos por el Consejo de Indias. Gobernaron hasta 1514, en que el propio Almirante los reemplazo por 3. El Comendador Moscoso, cuyo gobierno fue muy corto, resignando la autoridad en el niismo ano, en 4. Cristobal de Mendoza, quien practico la expedition contra los indios de Vieques y se marcho a Sevilla, sustituido a su vez por 5. Juan Ponce de Leon, nombrado por segunda vez, el 27 de Septiembre de 1514, capitan de la isla con jurisdiction civil y criminal en mar y tierra. Goberno siete anos, y preparandose en 1520 para su segunda expedicion a Florida, conflo el mando a 6. Antonio de la Gama, que en Septiembre de 1519 habia venido a San Juan con el -caracter de juez residenciador, contrayendo matrimonio con una hija de Ponce de Leon. Gama conservo la autoridad superior hasta principiar el ano 1521, resignan- vdola, por mandato del Emperador, en D. Diego Colon, quien eligio por teniente suyo & 7. Pedro Moreno, alcalde municipal, procurador que habia sido de la ciudad, quien conservo el mando hasta 1529, en cuyo ano fue designado para sustituirle y residenciarle 8. Anyonio de la Gama, el yerno de Ponce de Leon, cuyas gestiones no debieron de ser muy satisfactorias, pues en 1531 se nombro a 9. Lucas Vazquez de Ayloon, oidor del audiencia de Santo Domingo, para que, asumiendo la autoridad general, procediese a residential" a Moreno y a Gama a la vez. Este ultimo rnarchose a Venezuela, y terminada la residencia regreso Ayllon a la Espafiola, en el propio ano, confiandose el gobierno a 10. Francisco Manuel de Lando, alcalde municipal ordinario, como Moreno, y como aquel, nombrado su teniente por el almirante. Las funciones de Lando se prolonga- ron hasta 1537, en cuyo ano reivindico la Corona su derecho a designar los capitanes y justicias de San Juan. Esta determination fue muy celebrada en la isla, pero como transcurrieron siete anos sin ponerlo en practica, continuaron gobernando en ese periodo los alcaldes ordinarios, con gran disgusto de los vecinos que se quejaban en U541 de que faltaba cabeza. Por fin, en 1544 nombrose por S. M. capitan a 11. Geronimo Lebron, que llego a Puerto Bico en 1545 y fallecio de muerte natural quince dias despues de posesionarse del mando. Sustituyole en el mismo ano. 12. El Licenciado Cervantes de Loaysa, magistrado que residfa en la Espahola, y cuyo nombramiento recayo a petition de los vecinos de San Juan. Sus rigideces le ;atrajeron tal desafeccion que en 1547 pedia el ayuntamiento al Monarca que no le dejasen a perpetuidad en el mando, porque seria perder la isla. 13. El Doctor Luis de Vallejo ocupo el gobierno en junio de 1550 y lo conservo hasta abril de 1554, reemplazandole. 14. El Licenciado Caraza, nombrado en 1555 y que goberno hasta 1561 sucediole 15. El Doctor Don Antonio de la Llama Vallejo, quien caso con Dona Leonor Ponce, hija del conquistador, y goberno hasta 1564. En este ano ceso el nombra- miento de funcionarios civiles en la gobernacion del pais, designandose a 16. Don Francisco Bahamonde Lugo, capitan de caballos en Flandes, quien hubo de acudir en persona a hacer frente a nueva invasion de caribes por la bafiada de San German, donde recibio un flechazo en un muslo que puso su vida en peligro. Ter- rnino su gobierno en 1569 y se marcho a la metropoli, de donde vino a sustituirle, a principios de 1570. 17. D. Francisco de Solis, natural de Salamanca, nombrado por cuatro anos con 775,000 maravedis de salario. El lugar de Solis lo ocupo en 1575. 18. D. Francisco de Obando, quien continuo ejerciendolo hasta 1580, sucediendole. 19. D. Juan de Cespedes, que murio el mismo ano. En diciembre de 1581 llego a la isla el nuevo gobernador. 20. D. Juan Melgarejo, natural de Sevilla, que tuvo encargo de formar la description geografica del pais, y hubo de entregar el mando en 1583 al 21. D. Diego Melendez, que cita el padre abad y que goberno la isla once anos, de 1583 a 1594. ' REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 237' 22. Pedro Xuarez, coronel, goberno interinamente en 1593 y en 1595. 23. D. Alonso Mereado, en 1599, capitan. 24. D. Sancho Ochoa de Castro, en 1602. 25. D. Gabriel de Rojas, en 1603. 26. D. Felipe Beaumont y Navarra, en 1614. 27. D. Juan de Vargas, en 1620. 28. D. Juan de Haro, en 1625. • 29. D. Enrique Henriquez, en 1630. 30. D. Ifiigo de la Mota (este murallo la ciudad de Puerto Rico) , 1635. 31. D. Agustin de Silva, en 1656. 32. El Maestre de Campo D. Juan Perez de Guzman, en 1661. 33. El Maestre de Campo D. Geronimo de Velasco, en 1664. 34. El Maestre de Campo D. Gaspar de Arteaga, en 1670. Murid en. 7 de marzo de 1674. 35. El Sargento Mayor D. Diego de Robladillo, en 1674, interino. 36. El Capitan D. Baltasar Figueroa, en 1674, interino. 37. El Maestre de Campo D. Alonso Campo, en 1675. 38. El Maestre de Campo D. Juan Robles, en 1678. 39. El Maestre de Campo D. Gaspar de Andino, en 1683. 40. El Maestre de Campo D. Gaspar de Arredondo, en 1690 hasta 1695. 41. El Sargento Mayor D. Tomas Franco, hasta 1698. 42. El Sargento Mayor D. Antonio Robles, hasta 1699, interino. 43. El Maestre de Campo D. Gaspar de Arredondo, goberno el ano 1699. 44. El Maestre de Campo D. Gabriel Gutierrez de Rivas, en 1700. 45. El Sargento Mayor D. Diego Villaran, en 1703, interino. 46. El Capitan Francisco Sanchez, en 1703, interino. 47. El Capitan Pedro de Arroyo, hasta 1705. 48. El Maestre de Campo D. Juan Morla, interino. 49. El Sargento Mayor D. Francisco Granados, hasta 1708. 50. El Coronel D. Juan Rivera, hasta 1713. 51. Don Jose Carreno, en 1716, interino. 52. El Sargento Mayor de Alonso Bertodano, en 1716. 53. El Sargento Mayor D. Francisco Granados, hasta 1720. 54. El Capitan de Caballos D. Jose Mendizabal, hasta 1724. 55. El Teniente Coronel D. Matfas Abadia, hasta 1731. 56. El Sargento Mayor D. Domingo Nanglares, hasta 1743. 57. El Coronel D. Juan Colomo, en 1743. 58. El Coronel D. Agustin Pareja, hasta 1751. 59. El Teniente Coronel D. Matfas Bravo, hasta 1755. 60. D. Mateo de Guazo. 61. D. Felipe Ramirez. 62. El Coronel D. Marcos de Vergara, 1766. 63. El Teniente Coronel D. Jose Tentor, interino. 64. El Coronel D. Miguel de Muesas, hasta 1775. 65. El Brigadier D. Jose Dufresne, hasta 1783. 66. El Brigadier D. Juan Daban, hasta 1789. 67. El Brigadier D. Miguel Ustariz, hasta 1792. 68. El Brigadier D. Francisco Torralbo, hasta 1795. 69. El Mariscal de Campo D. Ramon de Castro, hasta 1804. 70. El Mariscal de Campo D. Xoribio de Montes, hasta 1809. 71. El Mariscal de Campo D. Salvador Melendez, hasta 1820. 72. El Brigadier D. Juan Vasco y Pascual, en 1820. 73. El Brigadier D. Gonzalo Aostegui, hasta 1822. 74. El Coronel D. Jose Navarro, en 1822, interino. 75. El TeDiente General D. Miguel de la Torre, Conde de Torrepando, hasta 1837. 76. El Mariscal de Campo D. Francisco Moreda, hasta 1837. 77. El Mariscal de Campo D. Miguel Lopez Banos, hasta 1840. 78. El Teniente General D. Santiago Mendez Vigo, hasta 1844. 79. El Teniente General Conde de Mirasol, hasta 1847. 80. El Mariscal de Campo D. Juan Prim, Conde de Reus, hasta 1848. 81. El Teniente General D. Juan de la Pezuela, hasta 1851. 82. El Mariscal de Campo Marques de Espafia, hasta 1852, interino. 83. El Teniente General D. Fernando de Nbrzagaray, hasta 1855. 84. El Teniente General D. Andres Garcia Camba, en 1855. 85. El Teniente General D. Jose Lemery, hasta 1857. 86. El Teniente General D. Fernando Cotoner, hasta 1860. 87. El Teniente General D. Rafael Echague, hasta 1862. 88. El Brigadier D. Rafael Izquierdo, en"l862, interino. 89. El Teniente General D. Felix Maria de Messina, hasta 1865. 238 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 90. El Teniente General D. Jose Maria Marchesi, en 1867. 91. El Teniente General D. Julian Juan Pavia, en 1869. 92. D.- Jose Laureano Sanz, Teniente General, en 1870. 93. D. Gabriel Baldrich, Teniente General, en 1872. 94. D. Ramon Gomez Pulido, Teniente General, en 1872. 95. D. Simon cle la Torre, Teniente General, en 1872. 96. D. J. Martinez Plower, Teniente General, en 1873. 97. D. Rafael Primo de Rivera, Teniente General, en 1873. 98. D. Jose Laureano Sanz, Teniente General, en 1875. 99. D. Segundo de la Portilla, Teniente General, en 1877. 100. D. Manuel de la Serna, Teniente General, en 1878. 101. D. Eulogio Despujols, Teniente General, en 1881. 102. D. Segundo de la Portilla, Teniente General, en 1884. 103. D. Miguel de la Vega Inclan, Teniente General, en 1884. 104. D. Ramon Fajardo, Teniente General, en 1884. 105. D. Luis Daban, en 1885, Teniente General. 106. D. Romualdo Palacio, Teniente General, 1887. 107. D. Juan Contreras, interino, Mariscal de Campo, 1887. 108. D. Pedro Ruiz Dana, Teniente General, 1888. 109. D. Jose Lasso Perez, Teniente General, 1892. 110. D. Antonio Daban, Teniente General, 1893. 111. D. Jose Gamir, Teniente General, 1895. 112. D. Manuel Delgado Zulueta, interino, General de Division, hasta el 15 de Febrero de 1896. 113. D. Sabas Marin, Teniente General, hasta el 4 de Enero de 1898. 114. D. Ricardo Ortega, General de Division, 4 de Enero 1898, hasta el 11 del mismo rnes, interino. 115. D. Andres Gonzalez Mufioz, Teniente General, 11 de Enero de 1898 (Murio el mismo dia.) 116. D. Ricardo Ortega, General de Division, 12 de Enero 1898, interino, hasta 2 de Febrero de 1898. 117. D. Manuel Macias y Casado, Teniente General, desde 2 de Febrero de 1898, hasta 16 de Octubre de 1898. 118. D. Ricardo Ortega, General de Divison, interino, desde el 16 de Octubre de 1898, hasta el 18 del mismo, en que hizo entrega del Gobierno General de la Isla al Major-General John R. Brooke. HUEACANES DE LA ISLA DE PUERTO RICO. Julio de 1515. — Los Oficiales Reales de Caparra dan cuenta al Monarca de este hurAcan que causo la muerte de muehos indios. 4 de Octubre de 1526. — Juan de Vadillo da cuenta al Monarca de esta tormenta, que derribo la mayor parte de esta Ciudad. Tenia la Capital entonces cinco afios de fundada. 26 de Julio de 1530. — El Gobernador Olando, da cuenta de ella al Gobierno. 23 de Agosto de 1530.— M. 31 de Agosto de 1530.— -Id. Julio y Agosto de 1537. — En estos dos meses hubieron tres tormentas sin poder pre- cisar los dias. Datos de la biblioteca de Tapia. 21 de Setiembre de 1615. — La refiere el Padre Vargas. El Monarca concedio 3,000 ducados para componer la Iglesia Catedral. 1740 (Sin precisar mes) . — La describen Nogaret y Ledrii, dice destruyo un bosque de palmeras que estaba eerea de Ponce. 28 de Agosto de 1772. — La describe Fray Ifiigo Abad. 4 de Setiembre de 1804- — Lo describe Moread de Jonnes. 23 de Julio de 1813.—L& describe el Intendente Ramirez en el Diario economico. 23 de Julio de 1814- — La describe tambien el Intendente Ramirez. 21 de Setiembre de 1819. — (San Mateo) La describe D. Pedro Tom&s de Cordova, Secretario de Gobierno. 26 de Julio de 1825. — (Santa Ana) Id. 2 de Agosto de 1837. — (Los Angeles) la cita D. Jose Julian Acosta. 18 de Agosto de 1851. — (San Agapito) la cita Acosta. 12 de Octubre de 1867. — (San Narciso) la describe D. Vicente Fontdn, Oficial de Hacienda. 13 de Setiembre de 1876.— (San Felipe). 16 de Agosto de 1893. — (San Roque). 8de Agosto de 1899. — (San Ciriaco). REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 239 ' Appendix J. Banco Espanol de Puerto Kico, Central Office at San Juan. Statement of cash on the 30th of September, 1899. In American gold , $27,040.00 In American silver, nickel, and bronze 997. 37 In American bank notes 7, 299. 00 In foreign gold (Spanish, English, etc.) 3, 781. 00 In provincial silver (provincial pesos) 1, 525, 184. 75 In bank notes (Banco Espanol de Puerto Rico) 678, 570. 00 Bank notes of Banco Espanol de Puerto Rico in circulation on the 30th of September, 1899 (without making deduction of these that may now be in our branch office at Mayaguez) (provincial pesos) 1, 015, 470. 00 Statement of cash in our branch office at Mayaguez on the 28th of September, 1899. In provincial coin (pesos) $209, 766. 87 Bank notes (Banco Espanol de Puerto Rico) 6, 870. 00 As we have not yet received the statement of cash in our branch office at Mayaguez corresponding to the 30th of September ultimo we can not fix it now, and it is also very difficult, if not impossible, for us to fix those of other bank establishments, as they have not yet published their statements, and therefore they are unknown to us. San Juan, P. R., October 2, 1899. Carlos M. Soler, Subdirector. San Juan, August 10, 1899. Brig. Gen. Geo. W. Davis, Governor of Puerto Rico. Honorable Sir: I have the honor to answer your letter of the 7th instant, which 1 have just received. The emission of bills of this bank reached its maximum in April, 1898, going as high as $2,587,445, money of Puerto Rico, and which was in circulation almost in its totality. The bills issued amount to-day to $1,794,040 of the said money, but yesterday, the 9th August, at 3.30 p. m. (hour of striking the cash balance) , there were only in cir- culation bills for $907,645, we having in our safes the remaining $886,395. The special silver money which Spain put in circulation on account of the exchange for the Mexican money owing to the orders of the 6th December, 1895, and 27th February, 1896, amounted as under: In money of one silver peso $5, 561, 000 In fractional money 1, 015, 000 In copper 70, 000 It can be calculated that of the copper coin there does not remain in the island above 45,000 pesos. At the return of the Spanish troops to their homes they carried away with them about $600,000 in 1-peso pieces, and estimating in $100,000 the drawing of money for private individuals, we are not far out of the truth in giving the following calculation of the stock of the special money in the island: Money in 1 silver peso $4, 875, 000. 00 Money in fractional peso 1, 000, 000. 00 Money in copper ... 45, 000. 00 Total 5,920,000.00 Of this sum the Spanish Bank had in the evening of yesterday in the safes: Of the Central $1, 576, 500. 09 In the Branch at Mayaguez 240, 000. 00 Total ■. 1,816,500.09 The Banco Territorial, about 175, 000. 00 The Credito and Ahorro Ponceno 700, 000. 00 2-40 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAD GEO. W. DAVIS. Without being able to ascertain the stock of the Colonial Bank in Puerto Rico money, as we have never seen any of their balance sheets. The remaining $3,228,500 to complete the calculated stock is distributed between the treasury of the State and a very small portion in the hands of the corporation and private individuals. Before finishing allow me to state also that the currency suffers greatly the lack of coin, because, according to. our judgment, it is far from being exact the idea noted down by the commission and imported to the honorable President that since September and October have come into the country $5,000,000 in American money. This bank has a special pleasure in acquainting you that it shall always be at your orders to furnish you all the information you may deem necessary, having a great honor in giving you whatever datums you may require and consider of utility. I have the honor to remain, honorable sir, yours, most respectfully, Carlos M. Soler, Subdirector. Appendix K. Classification, extension, location, and valuation of government lands in Puerto Rico. [Compiled from information furnished by Dr. Cayetano Coll y Toste, civil secretary.] Names of towns and barrios. Names of properties. Number of cuer- das. Class. Value.. Aibonito: Cuyon Bayamon: Guaraguao Arriba. Do Catano Babo Rojo: Boqueron Llanos Costa (Maritime zone) . Carolina. Cayey: Guabate . Ceiba . Los Oficiales Ensenada de Pueblo Viejo. Sienega de la Mar Ciales: Alto Viejo Cordilleras Fronton Cialitos Toro Negro Fozas Fajardo: Guayacan , Rio Arriba Quebrada Vuelta Sabana Pitahaya and Rio Abajo. Rio Arriba Guayama Placeres El Molino pitahaya Ucarillo Mangrove lands of Laguna San Jose up to the outskirts of San Juan. Mangrove lands of Laguna Torre- cillas and Cano Hojo Mulas. Santana Mangrove lands of Laguna Pinones Cano Hoyo Mula. Mangrove lands of Laguna Mata Redonda and Cano San Jose. Mangrove lands of Canuelos and Aguas Claras. Mangrove lands of Puerto and Playa Macho. Mangrove lands of Ensenada Honda. Sierra de Luquillo Arroyo Simarronas .. Sumideros ... Vega-Grande Sierra Zanjones On the coast . Caoba, Cabezas, etc. Luquillo Guayanilla: Boca Do.... Do.... Pasto Do.... Juana Diaz: Guayabal. Do.... Do.... Lajas Palo quemado Mangrove lands of Jobos, Las Ma- reas, Cano Grande, and Punta Caribe. Cerro Barraco Cerro Criollo Ballena Sierra Guillarte Mangrove lands of port and bay. Las Cuevas Mangrove lands of coast. Barberia Island Palgueras Palmare jo Pto. Pasaje 615 70 352-. 704; 150 295 356 500* 890± 112 400 120 230 35,561 891 534J 891} 613} 1, 249£ 891} 150. 4,170 Brush Inferior Brush Mangrove . . . do. do. do. Brush . .do. Woodland Brush .do .do .do .do Mangrove . ....do ....do Woodland . 713} 399} do Brush 700 800 713} 1,527 175 Rocky do Woodland do Brush 200 150£ Calcareous 42J 692 70i Brush do $369.00' 42.00 211. 50 211.35 45.00 Woodland .do, .do. .do. .do. .do. .do. 213. 60 300.45 534.15 67,2© 240'.. 00 72.00 138. 00 21, 336. 6Q> 534.60 320. 85 534.75 367. 95 749. 85 534. 75 45.15 2, 502. 00 427. 95 239. 55 420. 00 480. 00 428. 25' 916. 20' 105. 00 120. 00 90.30 25. 65 415. 20 42. 30 / KEPOKT OF BKIGADIEK-GENEKAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 241" Classification, extension, location, and valuation of government lands, etc. — Continued. Names of towns and barrios. Las Piedras. Loiza Names of properties. Luquillo Cubuy Luquillo Pinones, Hoyomula, Yaboilita Mata Redonda, Hoyo Mulas. and Cano Cangrejos . .'. Pitahava. Luquillo: Pitahaya Sabana [ Sabana" Mameyes Mameyes Mte. de Luquillo ! Luquillo Maricao j Mte. Maricao afuera Coamo: Cuyon Aguabo: Santa Luisa Pena Poise Rio Blanco Do Algondones. Do. Penuelas: Rucio. . Luquillo Algodones, Cano Prieto, Quebrada Palma, and Botija. Boea de Daguao Cenote . Do Luquillo _,. _ D ° ! Mangrove lands of the coast Rio Grande | Miquillas and Boca de Rio Grande Guzman Do j Canovanas Do i Lazaro Do Ynnque Zarzar Gimenez .... P° ! Miquillas and Boca Rio Grande. . Rio Piedras . Bay of San Juan, Cano de M. Pena and Laguna San Jose. B. Anon Las Peladas and Saco Sabana Grande Salinas: Lapa Quebrada Yegua Qda. Yegua . . Do : Cerro Aponte San Juan i Mangrove lands on the north of the" bay, Cano Galo. San Antonio, La Regadera, D. Bartolo, Mira- flores. Martin Pena, up to the bridge. Mangrove lands on the north shore of Cano Martin Pena and Laguna San Jose from bridge up to the jurisdiction of Carolina. Qda. Peces Costa Guanica Santa Isabel : pta. de Yauca. . Utuado: Sta Rosa El Yauco Cerro Morales. Morrillos Alto Seco Palmar Cordilleras Sumideros Las Nueces Los Oficiales de Milicia . Franceses , Yivi Arriba Paso Palma Jaguey Arriba Mameyes Don Alonso Caguanas Angeles Do Yega Baja: Pugnado Afuera Do Vieques: Puerto Real Do Puerta Diablo Puerta Ferre Do Cavo Manuarqui. Do : cavo Real Do I Cerro Pirata Yauco: Fraile ) Rancheras I Las Piedras Almacigo Alto A ! Mte. bo Guanica Susua, Barinas bajas and Boca Guanica. Cabeza del este Cavo de tierra.. Cayo de fuera.. Cayo Carenero . Number of cuer- das. 4.579 600 1.272 763 1,272 891* 723i 445*. 5,088 699J 110 Class. Woodland . Brush Woodland . Value. Brush Woodland . ....do ....do ....do ....do .do 2| Broken. 7134 do . 983? do. 160 Second and third. Woodland Brush Mangrove do Woodland 2,463 I do 3,307 ! do 2,970 do 2491 Mangrove 737J do 3, 661* 22 250 200 2.463 1,160* 2, 790* Woodland do do 310| 3574. 200 703| Brush .do. 100* Woodland. 780 I Mangrove . 119 ; Brush 1,000 534 3574 1,783| 534* 891' 2,143 257f 178* 200 600 1,776* 7f 12 4311 Woodland . do do ....do ....do Very poor Barren ... Woodland . Sandy Brush Sandy 12 Rocky '*, 891*1 , 747. 40 360.00 763. 20 457. 80 763. 20 534. 75 434. 10 267. 30 3, 052. 80 419.85 140.00 1.65 428.10 590. 25 107. 80 36.00 96.00 2, 916. 90 13. 20 75.00 , 120. 00 1,477.80 1,477.80 1,984,20 1, 782. 00 149. 8b 221. 32 696. 30 1,674.15 186.45 214. as 120.00 422. 25 60. 15 478. 00 71.40 600.00 325. 5o 214. 35 1.070.25 320. 70 534. 60 1,285.80 154.65 107. 25 120.00 360.00 1,065.95 4.60 7.25 258. 70 7.20 4.65 534. 75 3,999 Rocks Brush and woodland. 2, 399. 40 12558 16 242 EEPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. W I % 5 * c „; S9 £PhP 00 hpo 00 tjh o OCO O CN OS CO CO rH CO r-H OS OS to -* OS Oi as OS os OS OS OS Ol 3a OS OJ Oi OS osoa 0001 3 CO 10 OS lO o> 01 OSI> CN cn os X CM CN o> CN Tf 010 CO H -* ■* to m 10 ri CNiO 10 10 rH ■* 10 to .-HCO Tjl i-H § c ci CC Ph cc Cm S S go ^ I O cS PHI-? 3 S s ^ << << Ebbo Tl ,Q CD O 0,0 rd O floS §0* .u CI) 3 N W OQ O O O a P c S- cu pq Oi a: ©CO CO r IS os OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS OS ■OS OS OS 00 OS r- H CN X CN to CO CN l>t> CO L~ l^ •*" r~ Th to 00 OS to 1-1 ■4 O CN -* H t- CNCN CN d -5 -a cSO (SO tfO tS £ £ £ £ t-3 CO HPh =3 ■HOn to .2 °g£s3 w£ Ph!= qS£ > =3 ; B ^ ci 3 b 2 «3 32 f3 eg J2 P-l l-s -h CO , as as com as t~ CO 00 as as as as 00 to as as 00 oo oo as as CO as as 00 © i> r-o 1> 00 o CIO 1—1 CO l£>C0 COCO CO X o CO OO o om " CO CO (Mas BH as CO as CO to o OS CO to lO as to ■3S -* tO t^ to toco C0I> OS CO 00 CO = cT U r« *H dS'd O O 244 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Appendix M. Office of the Auditor, San Juan, P. P., October £, 1899. Brig. Gen. Geo. W. Davis, Governor- General of Puerto Pico. Sir: I have the honor to inclose herewith statement of receipts and expenditures of the United States military government of Puerto Rico from July 1, 1899, to Sep- tember 30, 1899, inclusive, based upon the actual deposits with the treasurer and the amounts paid out as advances to disbursing officers upon accountable warrants, and payments by settlement warrants in satisfaction of claims audited and allowed: RECEIPTS. I. — Customs receipts. 1899. July. Deposits by collectors of customs $137, 956. 81 Aug. Deposits by collectors of customs 139, 682. 16 Sept. Deposits by collectors of customs 101 , 212. 42 Total deposits by collectors of customs $378, 851. 39 Repayments: • July. Balances refunded by officers $17, 432. 07 Aug. Balances refunded by officers 15, 990. 32 Sept. Balances refunded by officers 11, 412. 90 Total repayments by officers 44, 835. 29 Deposits of funds in trust: July. Deposit by contractor $250. 00 Aug. Deposit by contractor None. Sept. Deposit by contractor None. Total deposits of funds in trust 250. 00 Total amount deposited to customs receipts $423, 936. 68 II. — Postal receipts. July. Deposits by acting postmasters None. Aug. Deposits by acting postmasters $6, 018. 12 Sept. Deposits by acting postmasters 5, 177. 56 Total deposits by acting postmasters $11, 195. 68 Transfers: July. Transfer from customs receipts to meet deficiency in postal revenues $9, 345. 11 Aug. Transfer from customs receipts to meet deficiency in postal revenues 4, 256. 44 Sept. Transfer from customs receipts to meet deficiency in postal revenues 3, 632. 09 Total transfers from customs receipts 17, 234. 64 Total deposits (including transfers) to postal receipts 28, 430. 32 III. — Internal-revenue receipts. Balances turned over by secretary of finance: July 6. General balance in central treasury . . $23,764.39 July 6. Balance of trust funds in central treas- ury 4,070.06 Total balance deposited $27, 834, 45 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 245 Deposits of internal-revenue re- ceipts: July. Deposits by collectors of internal reve- nue $11,770.20 July. Deposit, matriculation fee by teacher. . . 12. 00 Aug. Deposits by collectors of internal reve- nue 8,079.92 Sept. Deposits by collectors of internal reve- nue 12,480.56 Total deposits of internal-revenue collections. $32, 342. 68 Repayments: July. Balances refunded by ofrk ers $587. 68 Aug. Balances refunded by officers 1, 260. 34 Sept. Balances refunded by officers 377. 50 Total repayments by officers 2, 225. 52 Deposits of funds in trust: July. Deposits of funds in trust by sundry persons $411. 71 Aug. Deposits of funds in trust by sundry persons 72. 00 Sept. Deposits of funds in trust by sundry persons None. Total deposits of funds in trust 483. 71 Transfers: Sept. Transfer from customs receipts to meet deficiency in internal-revenue receipts 5, 000. 00 Total deposits (including transfer) to internal-revenue receipts $67, 886. 36 IV. — Miscellaneous receipts. July. Deposits for trade-mark fee $7. 50 Aug. Deposits from sundry sources 1, 079. 35 Sept. Deposits from sundry sources 763. 50 Total from sundry sources $1, 850. 35 Deposits by clerk United States pro- visional court : Aug. Deposits of fees and fines United States provisional court $1, 598. 15 Sept. Deposits of fees and fines United States provisional court 1, 038. 80 Total fees and fines United States provisional court 2, 636. 95 Total deposits of collections from miscellaneous receipts 4, 487. 30 July. Deposits of funds in trust None. Aug. Deposits of funds in trust None. Sept. Sundry deposits of funds in trust $1, 901. 00 Total deposits of funds in trust $1, 901. 00 Total deposits account of miscellaneous receipts 6, 388. 30 Total receipts from July 1, 1899, to September 30, 1899 526, 641. 66 246 KEPOET OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. EXPENDITUEES. I. — From customs receipts. Amounts advanced to disbursing officers on accountable warrants. To the treasurer of Puerto Eico as special disbursing officer : July. Salaries, civil employees, department headquarters .' §2, 560. 49 Aug. Salaries, civil employees, department headquarters 2, 631. 31 Sept. Salaries, civil employees, department headquarters 2, 761. 33 July. Contingent expenses, auditor's office, prior to July 1 July. Salaries and expenses, auditor's office . . Aug. Salaries and expenses, auditor's office . . Sept. Salaries and expenses, auditor's office . . 6,216.32 $y, 953. 13 301. 60 1, 684. 58 2, 192. 32 2, 037. 82 July. Salaries and expenses, treasurer's office. 540. 88 Aug. Salaries and expenses, treasurer's office. 160. 00 Sept. Salaries and expenses, treasurer's office. 210. 00 July. Cable remittance to Secretary of War (salaries insular commission, July and August) _ 3, 543. 60 Aug. Cable remittance to Secretary of War (translating laws of Puerto Eico) 235. 25 910. 88 3, 778. 85 Aug. Expenses special committee to Ponce and return 148. 53 Sept. Seal for United States provisional court 60. 00 Total amount advanced treasurer as special dis- bursing officer. §19, 067. 71 To special disbursing officer: Aug. Incidental expenses, department headquarters 118. 36 To collectors of customs acting as disbursing agents: July. Salaries and expenses, customs sendee. . $9, 744. 18 Aug. Salaries and expenses, customs sendee.. 7,853.50 Sept. Salaries and expenses, customs service. . 8, 199. 74 19, 186. 07 Total for salaries and expenses, customs service 25, 797. 42 Board of public works, roads, buildings, etc. : July. To director of public works §27, 227. 62 Aug. To director of public works 27, 316. 33 Sept. Disbursing officer, board of public works. 47,342.06 Total for roads, buildings, etc 101, 886. 01 Harbor works: July. To engineer in charge harbor works S3, 068. 00 Aug. To engineer in charge harbor works None. Sept. To president board of public works 6, 585. 65 Total for harbor works 9, 603. 65 EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GEJSTEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 247 Light-houses : July. To inspector light-houses ... S3, 997. 14 Aug. To inspector light-houses ... 7, 941. 67 Sept. To inspector light-houses ... 2, 938. 14 Total for light-houses 814, 876. 95 Total advanced for public works $126, 366. 61 Quarantine office: July. To surgeon in chief, Marine -Hospital Sendee SI, 989. 30 Aug. To surgeon in chief, Marine-Hospital Sendee _ 1, 982. 72 Sept. To surgeon in chief, Marine-Hospital Service 1, 512. 26 Total for quarantine office 5, 484. 28 Superior board of health : July. To secretary and treasurer $1, 585. 13 Aug. To secretary and treasurer 577. 00 Sept. To secretary and treasurer 765. 00 Total for superior board of health .... . 2, 927. 13 Insular police: July. To inspector and disbursing officer S13, 850. 00 Aug. To inspector and disbursing officer 12, 936. 11 Sept. To inspector and disbursing officer 12, 668. 66 Total for insular police 39, 454. 77 Board of education: July. To disbursing officer for the board S9, 915.52 Aug. To disbursing officer for the board 8, 804. 72 Sept. To disbursing officer for the board 14, 752. 79 Total for board of education 33, 473. 03 Board of prison control: July. To treasurer of the board $11, 814. 00 Aug. To treasurer of the board 6, 053. 78 Sept. To treasurer of the board 7, 309. 61 Total for board of prison control 25, 177. 39 Board of charities: Aug. To secretary and disbursing agent S3, 580. 19 Sept. To secretary and disbursing agent 3, 907. 96 Total for board of charities . 7, 488. 15 Judicial expenses, insular courts in San Juan: Sept. To disbursing officer, salaries substitute judges 150. 00 Special expenditures: July. To special disbursing officer at Ponce, pay of jail guards for June, 1899 300. 00 Expenses of municipalities: Aug. To special disbursing officer at Adjuntas, expenses of that municipality 1, 000. 00 Aug. To special disbursing officers at sundry places, for relief of hurricane sufferers 12, 150. 00 Total advanced from customs receipts S298, 954. 85 Settlements. July. Amount paid on settlement of claims SI, 995. 95 Aug. Amount paid on settlement of claims 2,188.96 Sept, Amount paid on settlement of claims. . . 1, 499. 54 Total settlements paid from customs receipts. . S5, 684. 45 248 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Transfers. To postal receipts: July. To meet deficiency in postal revenues. . $9, 346. 11 Aug. To meet deficiency in postal revenues. . 4, 256. 44 Sept. To meet deficiency in postal revenues. . 3, 632. 09 Total for deficiency in postal reve- nues 17,234.64 Sept. To meet deficiency in internal-revenue receipts 5, 000. 00 Total amount of transfers $22, 234. 64 $27,919.09 Total amount paid from customs receipts 326, 873. 94 II. — From postal receipts. Expenses postal service in Puerto Rico. July. To director-general of posts . . : $9, 346. 11 Aug. To acting director-general of posts 9, 859. 79 Sept. To acting director-general of posts 9, 158. 19 Total for expenses postal service .' 28, 364. 09 III. — From internal-revenue receipts. To collectors of internal revenue. Collectors' offices: July. Salaries and expenses $1, 864. 47 Aug. Salaries and expenses 2, 331. 22 Sept. Salaries and expenses 1, 891. 11 Total salaries and expenses col- lectors' offices $6, 086. 80 Insular courts outside San Juan: July. Salaries and 'expenses $4, 283. 70 Aug. Salaries and expenses 11, 065. 27 Sept. Salaries and expenses 7, 984. 28 Total for salaries and expenses 23, 333. 25 Office civil secretary: July. Salaries and expenses (of- fices secretary of state, secretary of finance, sec- retary of interior, director of agriculture, and dis- continued employees) ... $5, 800. 44 Aug. Salaries and expenses (in- cluding offices secretary of state, finance and inte- rior, to date of discon- tinuance) 4,182.22 Sept. Salaries and expenses 4, 211. 36 Total office civil secretary 14, 194. 02 Advisory board: Aug. Salaries $63.87 Sept. Salaries 200.00 263. 87 Total advanced to collectors of internal revenue . 43, 877. 94 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 249 To disbursing officer, solicitor-general's office, and insular courts ■in San Juan. Solicitor-general's office: July. Salaries and expenses $1, 017. 98 Aug. Salaries and expenses 988. 00 Sept. Salaries and expenses 1, 018. 02 Total for solicitor-general' s office . $3, 024. 00 ■ Insular courts in San Juan: July. Judicial salaries and expenses. $4,807.92 Aug. Judicial salaries and expenses. 3,959.19 Sept. Judicial salaries and expenses. 4,535.98 Total for insular courts in San Juan 13, 303. 09 Total to disbursing officer, solicitor-general's office, and insular courts in San Juan $16, 327. 09 United States provisional court: July. To clerk, for salaries and expenses $1, 000. 00 Aug. To clerk, for salaries and expenses 1, 965. 33 Sept. To clerk, for salaries and expenses 1, 856. 33 Total for United States provisional court 4, 821. 66 Total advanced from internal-revenue receipts . 65, 026. 69 Settlements. July. Amount paid on settlement of claims . . $135. 83 Aug. Amount paid on settlement of claims . . 889. 55 Sept. Amount paid on settlement of claims . . 255. 37 Total settlements paid from internal-revenue receipts 1,280.75 Total amount paid from internal-revenue receipts $66, 307. 44 IV. — From Miscellaneous Receipts. Settlements. Sept. Paid on settlements for refunding amounts deposited as guaranty with proposals for contracts $1, 060. 00 Total amount paid from miscellaneous receipts 1 , 060. 00 Total payments from July 1, 1899, to September 30, 1899. . 422, 605. 47 RECAPITULATION. Balance in hands of the treasurer of Puerto Rico, July 1, 1899 $450, 452. 83 Total deposits (including transfers) , from July 1, 1899, to September 30, 1899 -. 526, 641. 66 Total 977, 094. 49 Total payments from the treasury (including transfers) from July 1, 1899, to September 30, 1899 422, 605. 47 Balance in treasurer's hands at close of business, September 30, 1899 554, 489. 02 Which agrees with the books of his office. Balance in treasurer's hands — September 1, 1899 578, 105. 27 September 30, 1899 554,489.02 Reduction of balance in September 23, 616. 25 250 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Receipts from ordinary sources from July 1, 1899, to September 30, 1899: Deposits by collectors of customs $378, 851. 39 Deposits by acting postmasters 11, 195. 68 Deposits by collectors internal revenues 32, 342. 68 Deposits to miscellaneous receipts, available 4, 487. 30 Total ordinary available receipts $426, 877. 05 Ordinary expenditures from July 1, 1899, to September 30, 1899: Advanced from customs receipts $298, 954. 85 Advanced from postal receipts 28, 364. 09 Advanced from internal-revenue receipts. 65, 026. 69 Total amount advanced $392, 345. 63 Paid on settlements: From customs receipts $5, 684. 45 From internal-revenue receipts 1, 280. 75 Total paid on settlements 6, 965. 20 Total ordinary expenditures July 1, 1899, to September 30, 1899. . 399, 310. 83 Excess of receipts from ordinary sources over ordinary expendi- tures 27, 566. 22 Receipts from all sources (including transfers) from July 1, 1899, to Sep- tember 30, 1899 526, 641. 66 Total expenditures (including transfers) from July 1, 1899, to Septem- ber 30, 1899 422, 605. 47 Excess of total receipts over total expenditures 104, 036. 19 The amounts advanced to disbursing officers on accountable warrants do not meas- ure the actual expenditures, which are always less. The disbursing officers usually have balances on hand at the close of each month varying in amounts from small sums to sums reaching from $10,000 to $15,000. The results of audited accounts can only show accurately the expenditures for any given period. A statement is herewith submitted, based upon the accounts received in the audit- or's office for July and August, 1899 (most of which have been audited) , showing the actual amounts of revenues collected in each month, respectively, and the actual dis- bursements allowed. Statement of Receipts and Expenditures for July and August, 1899, shown by Accounts Received in the Auditor's Office. The audited result is given in all cases where the accounts have been audited; and in a few cases in which the accounts have not been audited the receipts and expendi- tures, as taken from the officers' accounts, are given. Revenues collected, as shoivn by officers' accounts. CUSTOMS RECEIPTS. July. Customs revenues collected $136, 986. 42 Additional charged, per audit 1, 379. 87 $138, 366. 29 Aug. Customs revenues collected 134, 024. 27 Additional charged, per audit 1, 605. 29 135,629.56 Total for July and August $273, 995. 85 POSTAL RECEIPTS. July. From 50 post-offices, per audited accounts $5, 829. 92 Aug. From 45 post-offices, per audited accounts 5, 071. 24 Total for July and August 10, 901. 16 EEPOKT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 251 INTERNAL-REVENUE RECEIPTS. July. Internal-revenue and miscellaneous receipts, as re- ported in the accounts from the nine internal-rev- enue districts $17, 525. 75 Aug. Internal-revenue and miscellaneous receipts, as re- ported in the accounts from the nine internal-rev- enue districts 9, 334. 43 Total for July and August $26, 860. 18 MISCELLANEOUS RECEIPTS. July. Fees and fines, United States provisional court $1, 598. 15 Aug. Fees and fines, United States provisional court 1, 034. 80 Total for July and August (audited accounts) 2, 632. 95 Total revenues for July and August, as reported in accounts received - 314,390.14 Statement of Disbursements actually made for July and August, as shown by Accounts Received in Auditor's Office. from customs receipts. July. Salaries and expenses, custom-houses . . $7, 810. 39 Less amount included for May and June at Guanica 350. 00 7, 460. 39 Aug. Salaries and expenses 8, 824. 14 Total (audited accounts) $16, 284. 53 July. Public works (accounts audited) §15, 919. 12 Aug. Public works (accounts audited) 12, 544. 58 Aug. Public works (accounts not audited) ... 13, 837. 52 Total 42,301.22 July. Light-houses $3,032.94 Aug. Light-houses 4, 158. 45 Total (accounts audited) 7, 1 91. 39 July. Marine-Hospital Service (quarantine office) $1,672.52 Aug. Marine-Hospital Service (quarantine office) 1, 972. 63 Total (accounts audited) 3, 645. 15 July. Superior board of health $1, 419. 52 Aug. Superior board of health 548. 20 Total (accounts audited) 1, 967. 72 July. Insular police $13, 046. 94 Aug. Insular police 12, 775. 34 Total (accounts audited) 25, 822. 28 July. Board of education $4, 789. 42 Aug. Board of education 2, 788. 91 Total (accounts audited) 7, 578. 33 July and part Aug. Harbor works (accounts audited to Aug. 17) 2, 837. 29 July. Board of prison control $6, 059. 78 Aug. Board of prison control 8, 084. 61 Total (accounts audited) 14, 144. 39 252 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. July. Treasurer of Puerto Rico, as special dis- bursing officer, salaries and expenses, department headquarters, auditor and treasurer $5, 023. 18 Insular Commission, July and August. . 3, 543. 60 Aug. Salaries, department headquarters, au- ditor and treasurer 5, 400. 08 Total (accounts audited) $13, 966. 86 July. Special disbursing officer, Ponce, pay of jail guards, June (accounts audited) 300. 00 Aug. Special disbursing officer, incidental expenses, depart- ment headquarters (accounts audited) 118. 36 Aug. Relief of hurricane sufferers (accounts audited) 5, 337. 20 July. Miscellaneous claims settled $1, 995. 95 Aug. Miscellaneous claims settled 2, 188. 96 Total (accounts audited) 4, 184. 91 Total disbursements from customs receipts $145, 679. 63 DISBURSEMENTS FROM POSTAL RECEIPTS. July. Salaries and expenses, postal service $8, 815. 44 Aug. Salaries and expenses, postal service 9, 290. 03 Total disbursements from postal receipts (accounts audited) . 18, 105. 57 DISBURSEMENTS PROM INTERNAL-REVENUE RECEIPTS. July. Salaries and expenses, United States provisional court ". $999. 37 Aug. Salaries and expenses, United States provisional court 1, 589. 24 • _ Total $2, 588. 61 July. Salaries and expenses, insular courts in San Juan $3, 312. 89 Aug. Salaries and expenses, insular courts in San Juan 3, 912. 95 _ Total 7, 225. 84 July. Salaries and expenses, insular courts outside San Juan $1, 905. 98 Aug. Salaries and expenses, insular courts outside San Juan r-. . 8, 579. 12 _ Total 10,485.10 July. Salaries and expenses, collectors' offices. $1, 116. 78 Aug. Salaries and expenses, collectors' offices. 1,834.62 Total 2, 951. 40 July. Aug. Salaries and expenses, solicitor-general's office Salaries and expenses, solicitor-general's office $708. 32 988. 00 Total 1. 696. 32 July. Salaries and expenses, office secretary of state, secretary of finance, secretary of interior, and salaries of discontinued employees $5, 611. 71 Aug. Salaries and expenses, office civil secre- retary (including offices secretary of state, finance, and interior, to date of discontinuance) 4, 013. 84 Total 9, 625. 55 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 253 July. Miscellaneous claims settled. Aug. Miscellaneous claims settled. Total $135. 83 889. 55 025. 38 Total disbursements from internal-revenue receipts $35, 598. 20 Total disbursements, July and August, 1899 199, 383. 30 Total receipts for July and August, 1899, as shown by audited accounts 314, 390. 14 Total expenditures for July and August, 1899, per audited accounts. 199, 383. 30 Excess of receipts over expenditures 115, 006. 84 Money-order business. July. August. September. Total. Num- ber. Amount. Num- ber. Amount. Num- ber. Amount. Num- ber. Amount. Weekly statements ex- amined 66 1,427 653 844 71 109 2,394 770 1,691 94 11 16 109 3,617 1,006 2,720 114 4 15 284 7,438 2,429 5,255 279 15 31 Money orders issued Money orders paid International money or- ders on United States issued in Puerto Rico. . . International money or- ders on Puerto Rico is- sued in United States . . International money or- ders on Cuba issued in Puerto Rico $55, 494. 01 20, 949. 65 35,337.93 1, 350. 06 $129,157.88 19, 049. 09 106, 490. 58 2, 112. 53 228.92 420. 63 $229, 072. 68 32, 366. 60 205,042.34 3, 856. 42 27.34 348.69 $413, 724. 57 72, 365. 34 346, 870. 85 7,319.01 256. 26 International money or- ders on Puerto Rico is- sued in Cuba The detailed report for the month of September, 1899, required by regulations to be made to the Secretary of War, will be submitted within a few days. Very respectfully, J. R. Garrison, Auditor. Appendix N. October 21, 1899. The Adjutant-General, Department of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. JR. Sir: In obedience to instructions contained in communication from your office, dated August 21, 1899 (L. S., 2292, D. P. R.), directing me to prepare and submit a "financial statement of general receipts, showing sources and amounts of revenue and statement of expenditures for all purposes, itemized under the proper heads and subdivisions, showing objects and amounts," this in view of having been previously designated by the department commander, verbally, to examine and audit the money accounts of miltary officers and others having reference to the receipt and disburse- ment^ "insular" funds, I have the honor to submit the accompanying statements, showing amounts received, disbursed, and remaining on hand June "30, 1899, on account of "customs collections" and of the "central treasury," embracing "inter- nal revenues," showing sources from whence received of all insular revenues of the island of Puerto Rico since date of American occupation. At the time of first invasion of Puerto Rico and occupation by our troops of Ponce (July 28) , Arroyo (August 1) , and Guanica the custom-houses at the two first- named ports (no custom-house being at Guanica) were placed under charge of mili- tary officers, who assumed control and continued — in a semicivil capacity as col- lectors of the port — to administer and exercise the functions pertaining to that office. As inland invasion progressed the port of Mayaguez was next similarly taken charge of (August 12) , and so continued under military authority. Upon the final surren- der and entry of American troops into San Juan (October 18) the custom-house at that port and the custom-houses at the several remaining ports of Humacao, Fajardo, 254 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Arecibo, Naguabo, Vieques, and Aguadilla were also soon after placed under charge of military officers, who have since continued in their official capacity to act as col- lectors of the port, rendering account of receipt of collections and expenditures and performing all the duties required in the administration of their office. That such assignments were wise, and that the duties have been ably, intelligently, economically, and honestly performed, is attested by the figures shown in the result as compared with those of the "internal revenue," which latter department was wholly under charge of civil (native) functionaries. It will be observed by reference to the statement of "customs" that there are items enumerated in the expenditures under, viz: "Department of public works," "Department of public instruction," "Judicial department," "Post-office depart- ment, " " Maintenance of insular police, " " Representation of the island of Puerto Rico at Philadelphia Exposition," "Vaccination expenses," and "Pay of prison guards, inspectors," etc. , aggregating $481,757.28, which properly belong to and should be chargeable to departments coming under the control of the ' ' central treasury, ' ' and which ,_ if deducted, would greatly decrease the expenses proper of customs and correspondingly increase its balance shown on hand, as also increase the expendi- tures of the central treasury. In addition to these amounts charged as expenditures against customs there appears the sums advanced to the municipalities of San Juan, Mayaguez, and Aguadilla for certain city improvements, aggregating $29,079.75, which amount is treated as a loan, and is to be returned by said municipalities. This amount, also, if deducted from the expenses of customs, would still further decrease the expenditure shown. Of the amount of customs funds drawn on the orders of Generals Miles and Brooke during the early part of the invasion and used by the several staff departments of the army for military purposes, the records show the following sums distributed to staff departments: Quartermaster's department, $18,368; subsistence department, $8,455.42; medical department, $371.59; judge-advocate's department, $16.54; total, $27,211.55. The greater portion of this sum, and especially that received and disbursed by regu- lar officers, has been accounted for by proper accounts current with vouchers, while in a few instances, mostly in the cases of volunteer officers, there yet remains unsatisfied accountability. When the conditions of actual Avar are considered, the very limited facilities had for clerical work by troops campaigning, and the absolute lack of all papers, blanks for vouchers, etc., together with the inexperience of many, and entire ignorance of others among the volunteer officers as to the accountability of public funds, added to the general impression that was had by many officers that they would not be required to account for these funds, ' ' only expend it for the general benefit of the troops and best interests of the service, " it is not surprising that there remains a portion of the amount unaccounted for. No one unacquainted with the early conditions here following American occupation can form an idea of the difficulties and obstacles encountered in the efforts to obtain replies and information in connection with the task of auditing the customs account, and properly accounting for expenditures of that fund. Much time and labor have been spent in the preparation of this statement, and the amount of indefinite and unsatisfactory information received in answer to inquiries in this connection would fill a large volume. Only constant and persistent delving into the various ramifica- tions, of irregularly kept accounts, and research, groping in the dark as it were, through the abyss of successive mysterious intricacies and labyrinths of Spanish archives, has brought about the result. In the accompanying statement all expenditures shown can be verified by actual reference to records in this office, excepting the sum of $139.78, which is charged as ' ' amount unaccounted for. ' ' The total collections received on account of customs and balance in hands of customs collectors agree with the amounts shown by the auditor of the island. The balance in bank to the credit of the treasurer of Puerto Rico has been verified, and the balance shown in hands of military officers has since been all transferred to the credit of the treasurer of Puerto Rico. The statement of the central treasury is submitted as rendered by the civil secre- tary, excepting that the receipts and expenditures under the various heads have been arranged and classified with a view of making it more clear of understanding for higher authority; the figures, however, remain the same and are unchanged. This account has not been audited, and the monthly accounts, to be rendered in detail from February 1 to June 30, of internal revenues have not as yet been received. During the months of June and July Mr. William T. Kent, expert accountant, of the inspector-general's department, assisted me very materially in my duties in this direction, to whom my grateful acknowledgment and thanks for the valuable serv- ices rendered are due. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 255 Following is general summary and recapitulation of all insular funds received, disbursed, and remaining on hand June 30, 1899: Received: On account customs collections $1, 238, 535. 93 On account internal revenues 1, 089, 021. 94 $2, 327, 557. 87 Disbursed: On account customs collections 727, 096. 40 On account internal revenues 1, 033, 424. 45 1,760,520.85 Balance 567, 037. 02 Balance, customs collections 511, 439. 53 Balance, internal revenues 55, 597. 49 Balance, grand total, June 30, 1899, United States currency . . . 567, 037. 02 Respectfully submitted. C. H. Heyl, Lieutenant-Colonel, Inspector-General, II. S. V. [First indorsement.] Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, San Juan, October 25, 1899. Respectfully forwarded to the Adjutant-General of the Army for file with other appendixes to my report on civil affairs of Puerto Rico, dated September 30, 1899. The work of audit of civil expenditures is in progress, but can not be completed until all the voluminous records in Spanish are collected and arranged. Under Spanish domination there never was made an audit of accounts that would respond to the requirements of United States standards. The culling out of the dates is very laborious, and as the civil force is small, it takes much time. It will hardly be possible to complete this work before the close of the present calendar year. I think that the result of the audit of customs receipts and expenditures which has been thorough, is eminently satisfactory. When it was taken up, shortly after my arrival, I despaired of ever having an intelligent exposition of all the financial transactions, but by dint of most laborious effort every cent has been properly accounted for save about $37 of a total income of over a million and a quarter dollars. Geo. W. Davis, Brigadier- General, Commanding. Insular Fund op Puerto Rico. Total amount received, disbursed, and remaining on hand on. account of customs collections from August, 1898, to June 30, 1899, and from what source received. San J nan . Ponce Mayaguez Arecibo Aguadilla . Arroyo Humacao. . Fajardo ... Naguabo . . Vieques . . . Total Date of Ameri- can occupa- tion. Oct. July Aug. Oct. Sept. Aug. Sept. Oct. Sept. Oct. 18, 1898 28, 1898 13, 1898 14, 1898 19, 1898 1, 1898 22, 1898 1,1898 22, 1898 1,1898 Import du- ties. $457, 037. 49 424,762.13 130, 462. 26 53, 103. 80 33, 250. 17 18, 882. 60 6, 488. 85 3, 599. 61 1, 298. 90 1,128,885.81 Export du- ties. $4, 829. 63 13, 777. 76 7, 344. 69 3, 649. 48 2, 007. 40 Tonnage. 118, 932. 97 10, 213. 87 3, 800. 96 1,608.24 851.52 275. 44 428. 35 335. 30 91.10 186. 96 36, 724. 71 Passenger head money. S«45. 00 429. 62 71.00 20.15 5.00 25.00 1,470.77 256 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Total amount received, disbursed, and remaining on hand on account of customs collections from August, 1898, to June 30, 1899, and from what source received — Continued. Miscellan- eous. WSJ? Consumption tax. mx> Found in vaults. Total United States cur- rency. San Juan . Ponce Mayaguez Arecibo . . , Aguadilla Arroyo Humacao. Fajardo . . Naguabo . Vieques . . Total $202. 51 41.50 38.44 160. 00 .83 $735. 95 195. 78 9.85 1.40 .03 1.39 . 93 39.49 943. 94 $21,387.37 12, 527. 72 $2,618.43 969. 32 574. 19 139. 54 140. 33 38. 69 15.40 6.59 34, 829. 83 3, 587. 75 $503, 464, 142, 59, 36, 19, 6, 3, 1, 970. 92 566. 81 696. 52 097. 11 269. 64 303. 37 983. 21 950. 31 91.10 606. 94 1,238,535.93 FOR WHAT PURPOSE EXPENDED. Custom-house expenses of Puerto Rico Quarantine expenses of Puerto Rico ($3, 675. 60) a Light-house expenses of Puerto Rico (815. 52) a Auditor's office expenses ($135. 89) a Post-office expenses, Mayaguez r Duties refunded Sanitary expenses, San Juan .' Harbor work, San Juan Vaccination expenses of island inhabitants Feeding poor and indigent Puerto Ricans Department of public works, construction and repair of roads, bridges, etc Department of public instruction and public schools Expense of maintenance of insular police Drawn for United States Army on orders of Generals Miles and Brooke for military purposes ($3, 186. 55) a Clerks' salaries, department and district headquarters of Puerto Rico Witness fees, etc. , in connection with military commissions Advanced for repairs to district jail, Aguadilla (loan) Judicial department, service, etc Consumption tax money paid "Diputacion provincial" Advanced for city water system, San Juan (loan) For representation of island of Puerto Rico at Philadelphia Exposition, 1899. . $1, 100. 00 Advanced for sewerage system, Mayaguez (loan) 597. 07 Entertainment expenses, palace, authority of Secretary of War 300. 00 Printing, binding, stationery, etc 2, 905. 89 Pay of prison inspector, guards, and prison clothing 1, 676. 70 Expenses of commission and official investigations 454. 97 Incidental expenses of insular and municipal police 435. 44 Pay of captain of port at Fajardo 107. 35 Miscellaneous incidental expenses 1, 000. 51 Amount unaccounted for, no vouchers 139. 74 April 24, less amount refunded on account of clerks' salaries, department head- quarters, by Maj. Gen. G. V. Henry 15. 28 March 27, less amount refunded on account of clerks' salaries, district of Ponce, by Capt. E. B. Cassatt 22. 00 $74, 695. 61 6, 457. 82 14, 286. 97 1,888.62 a 103. 84 a 2, 180. 18 15, 360. 85 3. 901. 34 28, 413. 21 8. 539. 35 397, 243. 31 2, 727. 18 50, 372. 74 27,211.55 12,319.09 678. 35 1, 413. 08 120. 30 43, 434. 82 27, 069. 60 727, 133. ( 37.28 June 30, balance in hands military officers 30, 508. 66 June 30, balance in hands customs collectors 30, 478. 04 June 30, balance, treasurer of Puerto Rico: On deposit with De Ford & Co., San Juan $271, 401. 66 On deposit with De Ford & Co., Ponce 179, 051. 17 450, 452. 83 511,439.53 Total United States currency 1, 238, 535. 93 Respectfully submitted. C. H. Heyl, Lieutenant- Colonel, Inspector- General, U. S. V. Headquarters Drpartment of Puerto Rico, Inspector-General's Office, San Juan, P. E., October 17, 1899. a These amounts are reported as, and included in, ''Custom-house expenses" proper by the auditor for Puerto Rico, and were paid by customs collectors. Total custom-house expenses, as shown by auditor's figures, $84,793.19. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 257 RECEIPTS. Statement of the central treasury, showing total amounts received on account of insular collections, distributed under the heads of the various departments, from the time of American occupation, October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899. Department of state. From reimbursements Department of finance. Taxes and imposts: Rural, urban, and cattle taxes Industrial and commer- cial taxes Fees on property transfer Impost on mines Certificates of personal taxes Oct. 18.J.898, to Mar. 11, 1899. Amount. Pesos. From stamp duties: Pope's bull stamps Stamped paper Stamped paper for fines and other payments to the state Postage stamps Receipts and accounts stamps Bill of exchange stamps , Drafts for the press Stamps for custom-house documents From insular properties: Rent on insular property. Rent on unclaimed prop- erty " Canons " rent on build- ing-grounds Proceeds on insular for- ests Rent on buildings, census Sales of insular property . previous to the law July 7,1882 Sales of insular property following aforesaid law . Sales of unclaimed prop- erty 128, 298. 80 84, 693. 65 27, 534. 79 153. 60 1, 628. 59 163. 95 5, 606. 95 396. 85 1, 926. 61 123. 10 . 41.45 281. 11 93.15 Total. Pesos. 242, 309. 43 24.08 506. 94 14.25 14.25 From taxes in arrears: Taxes and imposts . Stamp duties Insular properties . . From reimbursements . . . Department of interior. From reimbursements . . . Department of justice. From reimbursements . . . From taxes in arrears Treasury transactions. Deposits: Gubemative deposits consigned Judicial deposits con- signed 379. 59 1,585.25 342. 92 13, 534. 98 452. 64 123. 53 8, 633. 17 559.52 2,307.76 14, 111. 15 62.49 Grand to- tal. Pesos. 9, 845. 98 Mar. 12 to June 30, 1899. Amount (U. S. cur- rency) . 216, 284. 19 7, 344. 63 12558- 223, 628. 82 267, 983. 52 593. 62 31, 989. 99 4, 931. 88, 85. 80 88.83 29.07 .60 307. 80 397. 90 198. 13 128. 53 834. 08 2, 119. 19 21.50 391,897.56 464. 62 -17 Total. 3,210.74i 48.04 Grand to- tal. 3, 612. 1,032.36 834. 08 2, 230. 55 81.72 5.40 22.37 392, 362. 18 130,437.49i 8,057.45 27.77 258 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Statement of the central treasury, shouting total amounts received on account of insular collections, distributed under the heads of the various departments, etc. — Continued. Oct, 18, 1898, to Mar. 11, 1899. Mar. 12 to June 30, 1899. Amount. Total. Grand to- tal. Amount (U. S. cur- rency) . Total. Grand to- tal. Treasury transactions— Cont'd. Sureties: Employees' sureties con- Pesos. 37, 694. 33 1,000.00 Pesos. 38, 694. 33 99, 560. 23 1, 957. 34 PfSOS. 363, 840. 72 13. 02 5, 828. 49 837, 597. 57 36.00 $37, 633. 57 74, 166. 82 3, 310. 90 46, 746. 93 Private sureties consigned Transfer of funds: From internal revenue collectors Refunded; Advances refunded Consumption imposts: Consumption impost on 1554, 220. 40 12.82 General engagements. Miscellaneous. 4.71 147. 18 760. 87 26.00 4, 889. 73 6.78' 210. 34 721. 50i 45.50 2, 805. 68 From outstanding debts' From 6 per cent interest on From sale of unclaimed From proceeds from miscel- 3,789.80i Total 648, 105. 35 700, 158. 73 Receipts embraced in period October 18, 1898, to March 11, 1899, converted into United States currency at official rate, $0.60., $388,863.21 DISBURSEMENTS. Statement of the central treasury, shoiving total amounts disbursed on account of insular collections, distribided under the heads of the various departments, from the time of Amer- ican occupation, October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899. From Oct. 18, 1898, to Mar. 11, 1899. From Mar. 12, 1899, to June 30, 1899. Amount. Total. Grand to- tal. Amount (U. S. cur- rency) . Total. Grand to- tal. Department of state. Salaries and office expenses of the cabinet council's Pesos. 1, 669. 67 8, 736. 69 Pesos. 10, 406. 36 1, 043. 03 172. 60 591. 65 33.20 Pesos. $8,566.35 86.64 9.60 Salaries and office expenses of the secretary of state 18, 566. 35 Salaries and office expenses of the local court of corn- 166. 66 876. 37 Salaries and office expenses of post and telegraph offices . San German's hospital sub- 86.64 Salaries of medicine and pharmacy's subdelegation . Salaries of board of health. . . 125. 62 466. 03 Material expenses of board EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 259 Statement of the central treasury, showing total amounts disbursed on account of insular collections, distributed under the heads of the various departments, etc.— Continued. Department of state— Cont'd. Salaries at lazaret, island of Culebra Salaries and expenses of the police force Rent of buildings Purchase of a disinfecting apparatus for the lazaret, island of Culebra Expenses on the increasing of the police force Salaries of the commission intrusted to clear accounts of the diputacion provin- cial Vaccination service Expenses on daily supplies of food to those protected at beneficencia and luna- tic asylum From Oct. 18, 1898, to Mar. 11, : Amount. Department of finance. Salaries of office of secretary of finance Salaries of office of supervisor Salaries of office of central treasury Salaries of office of subsecre- tary of finance Office expenses, conveyance of money, printing works, and allowances Salaries of collectors. Salaries of custom-house of- ficers Rent of buildings, stationery for collectors, and expenses on stamped paper and stamps Typewriting machines Postage stamps for official correspondence Loss on conversion of money. Salaries and expenses of of- fice of secretary of interior. Schools, inspectors and per- sonnel . . Salaries of the secondary in-' stitute Salaries of normal schools... Material expenses of the sec- ondary institute Material expenses of normal schools Puerto Rican Athenaeum's subvention Salaries in connection with public works Expenses of secretaries, pub- lic works Traveling expenses, public works Sundry expenses of public" works Salaries of post and telegraph offices Expenses of post and tele"-' graph offices 200. 00 1, 073. 14 1, 261. 30 400. 00 22, 466. 18 Total. Pesos. 211. 64 5, 604. 91 1, 350. 90 2, 828. 79 4, 232. 66 2, 103. 67 5, 666. 15 1,326.29 55.40 Grand to- tal. Pesos. From Mar. 12, 1899, to June 30, 1899. 25, 400. 62 2, 538. 99 465. 20 9, 632. 42 2, 701. 48 275. 00 2, 426. 22 1, 166. 66 49.66 2, 389. 90 14, 831. 27 1, 299. 95 1, 381. 69 85.33 3, 004. 19 44,814.91 9, 746. 49 12, 333. 90 3, 867. 88 14, 986. 07 2,439.56 226. 25 523. 93 20, 602. 43 Amount (U. S. cur- rency) . Total. $120. 00 11. 157. 66 2, 000. 00 2, 333. 24 1, 169. 99 6, 106. 90 7, 495. 18 1, 484. 93 1, 770. 81 6, 601. 59 1, 433. 28 112. 50 243. 00 210. 00 200. 00 $43. 20 Grand to- tal. 11, 277. 66 11, 610. 13 1, 280. 42 7, 495. 18 326. 72 1, 484. 93 2, 105. 16 7,121.95 9, 805. 68 565. 50 15, 422. 80 200. 00 $19,983.45 24, 322. 54 260 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Statement of the central treasury, showing total amounts disbursed on account of insular collections, distributed under the heads of the various departments, etc. — Continued. From Oct. 18, 1898, to Mar. 11, 1899. Total. Grand to- tal. From Mar. 12, 1899, to June 30, 1899. Amount (U. S. cur- rency) . Total. Department of finance — Cont'd. Highroads, public works Salaries in connection with light-houses Acquisitions, rent, and re- wards for light-houses Personnel of colonization (salaries) Material expenses of same . . Subvention to the economi- cal society named Amigos del Pais Board of agreement and sale of unclaimed property Subvention to a student at the conservatory To salaries and material ex- penses of the mechanical arts and works school To salaries and material ex- penses of the insular coun- cil of education, secretary's office Department of justice. To salaries of the office of the secretary of justice Office expenses, secretary of justice Salaries of the court of San Juan, audience Salaries of the court of Ponce, audience Salaries of the court of Maya- guez, audience Material expenses of the court of San Juan , audience . Material expenses of the courts of Ponce and Maya- guez, audience Indemnifications Salaries of the courts of the first instance Material expenses of the courts of the first instance. . Judicial visits and allow- ances to judges Subvention to Vieques, notary Rent of buildings Salaries of cathedral clergy.. Salaries of parochial clergy. . Worship and clergy, for ma- terial expenses Salaries of departmental pen- itentiary Allowances to prisoners at penitentiary Vaccination service Treasury transactions. Deposits: Judicial deposits returned Gubernative deposits re- turned Pesos. 640. 90 54.00 5,206.03 203. 32 19, 205. 66 8, 896. 76 5,976.32 1, 120. 45 787. 41 1,037.46 202. 00 216. 66 640. 00 1,453.61 319. 53 157, 472. 01 Pesos. 5, 082. 80 4, 902. 63 109. 90 694. 90 5,409.35 34,078.74 2, 945. 32 10,617.89 281. 37 1,058.66 1,453.61 154.16 10,104.55 6, 535. 87 186. 33 Pesos. 54, 914. 31 72,825.85 $83.32 92.12 630. 00 180. 00 126. 00 726.49 514. 90 4, 699. 96 114. 99 16, 620. 14 6, 272. 66 7,458.77 664. 52 475. 43 830. 10 460. 03 150. 00 1,248.00 19.79 61.75 157,791.54 3,652.50 414, 881. 78 $175. 44 810. 00 1, 367. 39 4,814.95 30,351.57 1,970.05 11, 277. 84 199. 14 1,858.03 81.54 ,236.05 759. 71 418, 534. 28 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 261 Statement of the central treasury, showing total amounts disbursed on account of insular collections, distributed under the heads of the various departments, etc. — Continued. From Oct. 18, 1898, to Mar. 11, 1899. Total. Grand to- tal. From Mar. 12, 1899, to June 30, 1899. Amount (U. S. cur- rency) . Total. Grand to- tal. Treasury transactions— Cont'd. Salaries: Salaries paid to civil em- ployees, at major-gen- eral's orders Salaries paid on account of expenses to be in- cluded in the budget . . Salary paid to a civil messenger, at major- general's orders Salary paid to inspector of Society for the Pre- vention of Cruelty to Animals Pesos. 3, 200. 72 415. 62 Sureties: Employees' sureties re- turned Private sureties returned. Transfer of funds: Collectors' payments Advances to refund: Refunded Consumption imposts: Proceeds of consumption impost on liquors re- turned . 51, 200. 00 3, 800. 00 General engagements. Interest and discount on promissory notes returned. Civil pensioners Military pensioners Pensions conferred by special grants War and navy half-pay offi- cers .. Emerited officers and em- ployees Dismissed officers and em- ployees Immigrants from South America 1, 486. 02 1, 856. 35 1, 033. 07 1, 652. 82 176. 32 130. 62 6.27 Commission and condonation. Commission to subcollectors and condonation of various imposts Returning of notes. State promissory notes re- turned Total Disbursements embraced in period Oct. 18, 1898, to Mar. 11, 1899, converted into United States currency at official rate (10.60) Pesos. 3, 616. 34 Pesos. §140. 00 81.00 14, 373. 60 600. 00 55, 000. 00 76, 566. 20 1, 957. 34 294, 931. 42 $221. 00 14, 973. 60 72, 994. 94 20, 963. 91 50,013.52 1577, 701. 25 163. 00 3, 832. 178. 51 158. 24 6, 341. 47 6, 504. 47 11, 335. 18 1,965.01 441.22 4,274.02 7, 3S9. 40 507, 893. 58 728,688.30 304, 736. 15 Total disbursements . 1,033,424.45 262 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Statement of the central treasury, shoiving total amounts disbursed on account of insular collections, distributed under the heads of the various departments, etc. — Continued. SUMMARY. Receipts: Total amount of receipts from Oct. 18, 1898, to Mar. 11, 1899, 648,105.35 pesos, converted into United States currency at official rate (10.60) . . Total amount of receipts from Mar. 12, 1899, to June 30, 1899, in United States currency Disbursements: Total amount of disbursements from Oct. 18, 1898, to Mar. 11, 1899, 507,893.58 pesos, converted into United States currency at official rate ($ 0. 60) Total amount of disbursements from Mar. 12, 1899, to June 30, 1899, in United States currency , Balance. $388, 863. 21 700, 158. 73 304, 736. 15 728, 688. 30 , 089, 021. 94 1,033,424.45 55,597.49 Of the balance above shown $36,036.01 is in United States currency and $19,561.48 is represented by debentures, bonds, and securities in the hands of the civil secretary. RECAPITULATION OF ALL INSULAR FUNDS RECEIVED, DISBURSED, AND REMAINING ON HAND JUNE 30, 1899. Received: 11,238,535.93 1,089,021.94 $2,327,557.87 Disbursed: 727, 096. 40 1,033,424.45 1, 760, 520. 85 567, 037. 02 511,439.53 55, 597. 49 567, 037. 02 Respectfully submitted. Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, Inspector-General's Office, San Juan, P. B., October 1, 1899. C. H. Heyl, Major, Inspector- General, U. S. A. Appendix O. [Indorsement.] Auditing of the old accounts has been greatly delayed for a variety of causes, one of which was the diversion of the force to the establishment of the new auditing sys- tem. Another delay was due to the fact that all subordinate employees were inexperienced. There were some cases of deferred collections of customs, which, awaiting decision as to correctness of action of customs officers, resulted in statements of differences which are more technical than real. All these differences are being adjusted and a clean balance will soon be made. Geo. W. Davis, Brigadier- General, U. S. V. Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, September SO, 1899. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 263 Report of the assistant auditor, department of customs, showing the condition of the audit of cdl the custom-houses under the jurisdiction of the military government of Puerto Rico from date of American occupation to June 30, 1899. RECEIPTS FROM ALL SOURCES— DEBIT. Port of— From date of American occupa- tion to June 30, 1899. Import duty on mer- chandise. Export duty on mer- chandise. Tonnage dues. Passen- ger tax. Oct. 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899 . July 28, 1898, to June 30, 1899 Aug. 13, 1898, to June 30, 1899 Oct. 14, 1898, to June 30, 1899 Sept. 19, 1898, to June 30, 1899. . . . Aug. 1, 1898, to June 30, 1899 , . Sept. 22, 1898, to June 30, 1899 Oct. 1, 1898, to Feb. 1, 1899 Sept. 22, 1898, to Feb. 15, 1899. . . 3457, 037. 49 424, 762. 13 130, 462. 26 53, 103. 80 33, 250. 17 18, 882. 60 6, 488. 85 1, 290. 63 U, 829. 63 13, 777. 76 7, 344. 69 3, 649. 48 2, 007. 40 $18, 932. 97 10, 213. 87 3, 800. 96 1, 608. 24 851. 52 275.44 428.35 7.30 91.10 328. 00 186. 96 $845. 00 429. 62 71.00 20.15 5.00 25.00 Fajardo Feb. 1, 1899, to June 30, 1899 Oct. 1, 1898, to June 30, 1899 May 3, 1899, to June 30, 1899 . . . 2, 308. 98 1,298.90 75.00 Total 1, 128, 885. 81 31,608.96 36, 724. 71 1,470.77 Port of— Miscella- neous fines, night service, etc. 10 per cent special tax. Consump- tion tax. Receipts from transfer of funds. Amount found in vault at date of American occupation. Total from all sources. $202. 51 41.50 38.44 160. 00 .83 $735. 95 195. 78 9.85 1.40 .03 $21, 387. 37 12, 527. 72 a$l,691.69 $505, 662. 61 $2, 618. 43 969. 32 464, 566. 81 142, 696. 52 574. 19 139.54 140. 33 38.69 15.40 59, 097. 11 36,269.64 19, 303. 37 1.39 .93 6 2,761.71 1 \ 11,149.35 c 285. 50 2, 922. 48 39.49 6.59 1, 606. 94 d 350. 00 350. 00 Total 484. 16 943. 94 34, 829. 83 5, 088. 90 3, 587. 75 1,243,624.83 a Check from Governor-General Henry for salaries. 6 Check from Governor-General Henry for salaries and. expenses. c Transfer from Humacao. d$50 transfer from collector of Puerto Rico ; $300 transferred from treasurer of Puerto Rico. DISBURSEMENTS AND DEPOSITS— CREDIT. Port of— Salaries paid. Expenses paid. Miscel- laneous pay- ments. Transfer of funds. Deposits with bank and treasurer of Puerto Rico. Total. Balances due United States military govern- ment of Puerto Rico, June 30. $21, 635. 85 13,239.11 . 9,263.39 3, 911. 75 4, 576. 10 2, 157. 98 3, 372. 20 843.50 909. 84 1,179.08 834.58 173. 06 $3, 191. 39 5, 145. 38 864. 50 450. 37 414. 44 359.09 325.29 19.38 87.54 32.14 235. 85 83.04 $2, 463. 83 6, 534. 59 873. 36 946. 14 543.65 69.98 1 $478, 371. 54 420, 139. 73 109, 532. 86 53, 716. 92 25, 017. 51 11, 205. 49 4, 682. 39 784.55 465. 20 93.90 $505, 662. 61 462, 083. 81 127, 534. 11 59,025.18 30, 551. 70 13, 792. 54 10, 525. 64 1,995.77 1,592.43 350. 00 a«17,025.00 a 7, 000. 00 $2, 483. 00 15, 162. 41 71.93 5, 717. 94 5, 510. 83 6285.50 623.71 J 926. 71 56.80 14.51 Total 62,096.44 11, 208. 41 11,488.35 24, 310. 50 1,104,010.09 1,213,113.79 30,511.04 a To United States Army. 6 Transferred to Fajardo for salary and expense. 264 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Report of the assistant auditor, department of customs, etc. — Continued. AUDITOR'S DIFFERENCES. Port of— Addi- tional found due per audit. Amount of differ- ences col- lected. Amount of differ- ences ex- plained. Amount in proc- ess of adjust- ment. Remarks and explanations. $7, 854. 68 6,497.28 2,315.66 71.93 62.90 86.91 85.16 $1,092.31 946.98 $774.47 $5, 987. 90 5, 550. 30 2,315.66 Accounts of S. Brau, collector to Dec. 31, 1898, fully settled and balanced. Accounts of Capt. J. A. Buchanan, collector from Jan. 1 to June 30, 1899, fully examined, and complete settlement will be made when col- lection or explanation of auditor's differences, amounting to .$5,987.90, now in process of collection and adjustment, has been made. July 28, 1898, to Mar. 14, 1899, fully examined; auditor's differences, amounting to $5,406.92 (uncollected import and tonnage dues) , of which amount $946.98 was collected and deposited by collector for Puerto Rico, when collection of balance was suspended by Governor-Gen- eral Henry, and has not been re- sumed pending appeal. The $946.98 is not shown in this account in either receipts or deposits pending final settlement. The $1,030.36 au- ditor's differences from Apr. 1, to June 30, 1899, will be settled when accounts and vouchers for March are received and audited. Complete audit made and will be re- ported Nov. 1, 1899. Complete audit. The balance due June 30,1899 (auditor's difference), has been fully accounted for. Complete audit. Auditor's differ- ences fullv settled. Do. 68.78 62.90 86.91 76.40 3.15 8.76 Do. Complete audit. Complete audit. Auditor's differ- ences fully settled. Complete audit. No customs reve- nues collected. 14.51 13.67 .84 Total 16, 989. 03 2, 347. 95 787. 22 13, 853. 86 Note. — Special port charges collected by the collector of customs at San Juan, amounting to $4,175.44, was paid over to the treasurer of the board of harbor works. Special port charges collected by the collector of customs at Mayaguez amounted to $1,168.51. Of this amount $56.50 was paid out for light- ing the dock at Mayaguez. The balance amounting to $1,112.01 is reported to be now in the vault of the collector of customs at Mayaguez. These port charges were not reported in the accounts of cus- toms receipts. Consumption tax collected by the collector of customs at Mayaguez, amounting $1,651.60, was fully paid over and accounted to the secretary of finance. This consumption tax was not reported in the account of customs receipts. The receipts from transfer of funds ($5,088.90) deducted from total leaves the actual amount of receipts from customs $1,238,535.93. Respectfully submitted. Office of the Assistant Auditor, Department of Customs, San Juan, P. B., October 25, W. W. Barre, Assistant Auditor, Department of Customs. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 265 Appendix P. Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, Office of the Collector for Puerto Rico, San Juan, September 15, 1899. Adjutant-General, Department of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of operations of the customs department since American occupation of the island of Puerto Rico. The first landing of United States troops was effected at Guanica on July 25, 1898, but there was no custom-house there at that time. Immediately upon the occupa- tion of the ports where there were custom-houses they were at once taken possession of and officers of the Army were, in most cases, placed in charge as collectors of ■customs. The dates of American occupation of these custom-houses were as follows Ponce, July 28, 1898; Mayaguez, August 13, 1898; Humacao, September 22, 1898 Fajardo, September 30, 1898; Arecibo, October 11, 1898; Arroyo, August 1, 1898 Aguadilla, September 19, 1898; Naguabo, September 22, 1898; Vieques, October 1, 1898; San Juan, October 18, 1898. The custom-house at Naguabo was discontinued February 10, 1899, and one was •opened at Guanica May 4, 1899. Until the receipt of the President's order of August 19, 1898, customs duties con- tinued to be assessed under the Spanish tariff, and the tariff prescribed by the President was, with some modifications, the same as that enforced by Spanish law, collections being continued in the provincial currency which, by order of General Miles, was received at half the value of American currency, but the accounts were kept in provincial currency until February 1, 1899, when, under proclamation of the President of January 20, 1899, the value of Puerto Rican currency was fixed at 60 per cent of the American currency, and a new tariff was adopted, the accounts of which were thenceforward kept in American currency. This new schedule of duties dispensed with export duties. It was the result of several months' experience and, with occasional modifications since adoption, the rates established seem to answer the purpose of securing about the same amount of customs revenue as that collected under Spanish regime. Many changes have, however, taken place in the force employed in collecting the customs revenues, and that service is now performed with a force less in numbers and cost than under Spanish control. The collections and disbursements that were made up to February 1, 1899, included some taxes and expenditures that have been transferred to other departments, and they are not included in the tabular statement inclosed herewith. By the President's order of December 9, 1898, published in tariff circular No. 29, War Department, December 13, 1898, the island of Puerto Rico and all islands in the West Indies east of the seventy -fourth degree of west longitude were constituted a collection district, and Capt. J. A. Buchanan, U. S. A., was, on December 22, 1898,_ appointed collector of the district, as well as of the port of San Juan, the duties of which he assumed early in January, 1899. Until April 17, 1899, all collections, after paying the necessary expenses, were deposited with De Ford & Co. to the credit of the department commander, but from that date, under authority of a communication from the Acting Secretary of War, dated March 28, 1899, all deposits were made to the credit of the collector of Puerto Rico. Under authority of the President's proclamation of May 8, 1899, Maj. J. A. Buchanan, U. S. A., was, on May 9, 1899, appointed treasurer of the island of Puerto Rico and all islands in the West Indies east of the seventy-fourth degree of west longitude evacuated by Spain, and thereafter these funds were deposited to the credit of said treasurer. Major Buchanan remained on these duties until July 1', 1899, when the undersigned, under authority of Special Orders, No. 129, current series, headquar- ters Department of Puerto Rico, entered upon the duties of collector of customs for the port of San Juan and island of Puerto Rico. The various stages through which the present condition of customs affairs has been reached is not fully known to me, but as established by General Orders, No. 87, current series, headquarters Depart- ment of Puerto Rico, the customs department is now organized on good business principles and its affairs are gradually assuming the systematic form in which they should be conducted. It could only be expected that, in the transition state through which these affairs have passed, some confusion would have occurred, rendering it difficult to keep the systematic accounts that may be found in the custom-houses of the United States, but with the retention of most of the principal assistants found in 266 EEPOErT OF BRIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. the offices, the work has been fairly accomplished, yet in a few cases the loss of records, caused by the hurricane and floods of the 8th ultimo, has removed beyond recovery some of the sources of information for a full and accurate compilation of statistics, excepting as they may be obtained through the auditor's office, whence, in a great measure, the financial statement of receipts and expenditures herewith inclosed has been procured. The very complete reports of exports and imports required by the Secretary of War from the collectors at the various ports in Puerto Rico, commencing with dates of American occupation, are now being carefully compiled as rapidly as facilities will permit. They are completed at some of the smaller ports, and it is expected that they will be finished at all ports by the 1st of November next. These will furnish very complete information as to exports and imports with the duties collected thereon and the countries with which the traffic was conducted. Meantime the inclosed tables, showing as follows, will doubtless furnish all the information required with this report: First. Report of vessels entered and cleared, with customs receipt and expenditures from February 1, 1899, to August 31, 1899, being a consolidation of monthly reports for that period. Second. A financial statement of general receipts, showing sources and amounts of revenue and expenditures from date of American occupation to July 31, 1899* Third. A statement of value of exports and imports of the principal ports of Puerto Rico for the months of April, May, June, July, and August, 1899. The report named first commences February 1, 1899, that being the date when such reports were first required. The second report covers two periods, one being from date of American occupation at each port to January 31, 1899, the account being in provincial currency and the other being from February 1, 1899, w r hen the present tariff took effect, to July 31, 1899, stated in American currency. The third is com- piled for only the five months (April to August, 1899, inclusive) , for which the neces- sary data has as yet reached this office. The following is a list of the present collectors of customs at ports in this collection district, but by recent orders the ports of Guanica, Vieques, and Fajardo are to be discontinued as of this date: Maj. Charles L. Davis, Eleventh Infantry, collector of Puerto Rico and at port of San Juan; Maj. F. W. Mansfield, Eleventh Infantry, col- lector at Ponce and Guanica; Capt. F. W. Foster, Fifth Cavalry, collector at Arroyo; Capt, P. M. B. Travis, Eleventh Infantry, collector at Mayaguez; Capt. A. C. Macomb, Fifth Cavalry, collector at Arecibo ; Capt. C. E. Dentler, Eleventh Infantry, collector at Humacao; First Lieut. S. G. Chiles, Eleventh Infantry, collector at Aguadilla; Second Lieut. W. Hocker, Eleventh Infantry, collector at Vieques; Eduardo Alonso, deputy collector at Fajardo. The army officers who have been detailed on customs duties have taken to this new class of service with a zeal and efficiency peculiar to the Government's mili- tary servants, who seem to readily and cheerfully adapt themselves to any situation in which they may be placed, and they have found in their native assistants a cheer- ful, willing, and zealous compliance with the changed conditions that have come to them. Very respectfully, Chas. L. Davis, Major, Eleventh U. S. Infantry, Collector of Customs for Puerto Rico. EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GElSrEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 267 5- S 8 o> Is 5 1-5 O iz; O 1H <1 Ph & o Q o & «J O i— i « O Eh lO CO CD O O CM CD CM lO X CO CO CM rH lO QNH^OiOD CD t}< rH iC ? I — ? 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W. DAVIS. ■c o iz; a Q o S 00 CO lO U3 O O cn Tt< ■* CO o CO "3 tJ< T) 3 CO o i-h cn 00 o o LO t> 00 -r o -* o o e to o CO r- r-T i> o »=« cn o o CO co T Tt< CD OrQ CN CD o O [- CO cn ^ 5 tH ^ co o3 o~ «? CO flSwfl . c I> CO CN • o CM <# CO CD t~ en eposite bank redit o mman ng gen eral or easure 00 CO lO -tf cs ON • • CO cn CO 6© CO t> CO CO cn -* LO CM O <:i C4 CO o CO oo cn o Misce laneoi pay- ment! 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" ^3 CO ^ C CO co c3 g3 CS co - "^ m — . *-■ 3 ■/ CO -^ cci >> cj 35 Pi d i-s >."C +^ P p s o H -; 'pp P CD 9 o 4,383 336 $661, 775 195, 996 $504, 851 194, 316 144, 676 133, 991 56, 307 291 6,119 $162, 670 15, 511 16, 767 50,062 77,676 $209,104 100, 939 72, 098 109, 947 9,456 England 127, 680 431,389 France Belgium Holland 10, 020 4,698 5,571 165, 089 315, 960 2,676 4,094 90 98, 957 1,076 2,049 Venezuela 2,468 Austria 1,130 62, 733 37, 326 38, 790 3,162 Cuba 378,923 Italy 18,843 7,345 103 Denmark 42 925 4,770 St. Thomas Santo Domingo 44 100 Canada 37, 353 154, 322 Sweden Bermuda 3,234 4,811 4,469 5,044 200 40 860 Mexico Netherlands Trinidad Guadalupe Colombia Total 1,510,847 2, 099, 687 2, 025, 071 1,222,294 466, 790 504, 112 Country. Arecibo. Aguadilla. Total. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. $149, 316 $57, 811 23, 725 39, 004 52, 491 1,728 $33, 988 $29, 251 $1, 519, 764 537,755 18, 541 220, 799 1,010,924 2,000 12, 149 5,532 68,304 598, 604 356, 891 5,880 5,019 4,904 98, 957 1,076 3,234 $1,533,384 910, 177 739, 006 497,871 132, 617 1,963 17 739 England 16, 909 40, 315 9,452 193,525 10, 634 51, 303 France Belgium Holland 1,951 Venezuela 4,971 2,699 3,489 25, 996 11, 728 439 Austria 10, 663 6,603 2,141 Italy Denmark St. Thomas Santo Domingo 100 19, 910 211,585 Sweden 4,811 4 469 Mexico Netherlands 5,044 200 Trinidad Guadalupe 40 Colombia 860 Total 362, 956 196, 620 104, 669 86,475 4, 470, 333 4 109 188 Respectfully submitted. Chas. L. Davis, Major Eleventh U. S. Infantry, Collector of Customs for Puerto Rico. EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAYIS. 271 Statement of exports and imports of the principal ports in Puerto Rico, 1899. Countries— 1899. San Juan. Ponce. Mayaguez. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. United States: May Dollars. 153,485 160, 063 32, 697 88, 627 96, 632 41,154 624 Dollars. 166, 521 179, 692 137, 276 124, 395 116,110 148, 479 91, 273 86, 776 77,083 25,426 32, 402 28, 332 15, 363 12, 118 12,123 683 958 31 2,212 1,739 1,522 985 1,038 Dollars. 212,290 88, 305 38, 021 77,984 37, 519 42,248 Dollars. 97, 787 108, 691 100,048 41, 176 37, 623 21,419 25, 067 19,172 36, 736 14,857 35, 144 25, 765 13,465 5,504 6,714 Dollars. 31,426 808 167 5,351 1, 033 6,585 1,213 5,131 Dollars. 36,744 40, 930 39, 593 22, 790 July Spain: May 19 617 July 32 894 England: May 7 796 22, 389 July 17, 110 Germany: 6,313 3,221 2,695 144, 499 3,821 8,668 60, 943 9,082 10, 505 106, 123 72, 179 74, 897 8,950 13, 795 5,536 21, 110 10, 100 15, 621 12, 737 36 371 Julv 19 530 France: 1 357 9 263 July Belgium: May 291 July 2,000 Holland: May 492 508 June 80 5,734 July 2,475 Venezuela: May 1,122 June Julv 676 4,398 1,346 Austria: May 10, 322 24, 830 June 1,569 July 208 Cuba: 219, 113 44,215 48,086 1,413 1,242 186 3,261 553 1,406 1,164 1,056 82 45 105 36, 293 27, 510 54, 216 132, 627 108, 976 51,547 2,676 1,757 13, 949 14, 280 1,762 20, 065 3,293 June July Italy: 602 15, 235 1,307 474 Julv Denmark: May June July. 4,710 103 1,038 St. Thomas: May 350 200 499 1,881 466 90 June July Santo Domingo: 44 June 4,061 100 Julv Nova Scotia: 4,204 12, 568 17, 700 28,535 45, 156 463 61, 775 June Julv 5,361 Prince Edward Island: May July 3,652 1,076 Sweden: May June Julv Bermuda: May 3,234 June July Total 1,064,514 1, 284, 184 218, 674 316, 295 272 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Statement of exports and imports of the principal ports in Puerto Rico, 1899 — Continued. Countries— 1899. Arecibo. Aguadilla. Total. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. Exports. Imports. United States: Dollars. 45, 822 47,895 26, 704 Dollars. 14, 709 12, 514 17,428 Dollars. 13, 699 20, 289 Dollars. 3,250 12, 364 Dollars. 456, 722 317, 360 97, 589 171, 962 135, 184 89, 987 1,837 5,131 Dollars. 319, 011 354, 191 300, 345 Spain: 188, 361 13, 873 9,112 5,712 9,403 4,727 9,836 13, 672 1,959 187,223 July 211,904 134, 820 England: 4,972 3,318 3,369 5,302 10,275 6,772 141,058 July 139, 025 Germany: 76, 206 26,098 33, 098 359, 485 114, 696 111, 431 68, 158 127, 864 7,544 68, 907 22, 454 12, 245 6,818 18, 846 6, 142 82,357 France: 30, 185 19, 885 554 20, 997 Belgium: 683 1,249 July 2,000 508- 5,814 31 Holland: 415 235 3,119 1,974 July 3,997 "Venezuela: 2,107 1,038 July 5,074 10, 322 24, 830 1,346 Austria: 1,569 July 208 Cuba: 257,163 92, 277 127, 245 134, 389 129, 041 56,981 2,676 1,413 6,603 1,242 July 10, 663 186 Italy: 3,863 15, 788 July 2,141 2,713 Denmark: 1,638 1,056 July 1,038 849 2,081 466 134 4,061 4,792 St. Thomas: 148 105 July Santo Domingo: 100 July Nova Scotia: 10, 889 12, 568 17, 700 28, 535 60, 249 463 July 9,021 76, 157 Prince Edward Island: 3,652 1,076 Sweden: Bermuda: 3,234 Total 242, 234 134, 059 74,538 49, 622 2, 920, 500 2,512,618 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GEKERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 273 Statement of exports and imports of the principal ports in Puerto Rico, 1899 — Continued. RECAPITULATION. United States Spain England Germany France Belgium , Holland "Venezuela Austria Cuba Italy Denmark St. Thomas , Santo Domingo Nova Scotia Prince Edwards Island . Sweden Bermuda Aggregate. Export. $871, 671 397, 133 6,968 135, 402 585, 612 2,000 6,322 5,074 35, 152 a 476, 685 320, 411 3,714 3,396 4,195 58,803 3,652 1,076 3,234 2, 920, 500 Import. $973, 547 587, 488 414,903 278, 379 71,067 1,963 9,090 4,491 1,777 2,841 22,364 7,486 253 100 136, 869 2,512,618 a Exports to Cuba: Animals $333, 000. 00 Coffee 120,000.00 Miscellaneous •. 23,685.00 Total 476,685.00 Statement of receipts from customs and expenses of the ports of San Juan, Ponce, Maya- guez, Arecibo, Aguadilla, Arroyo, Humacao, Fajardo, Vieques, and Guanica from July 1, 1899, to September 30, 1899. [In American currency.] Ports. Receipts. Expenses. Per cent. San Juan . . Ponce Mayaguez . Arecibo... Aguadilla Arroyo ... Humacao. Fajardo .. Vieques .. Guanica . . $195, 626. 51 111,873.40 47, 013. 38 17,354.72 9, 427. 79 6, 679. 86 5,030.75 1, 347. 21 35.76 $8, 171. 32 5, 696. 22 3, 493. 13 1, 502. 37 1,915.63 867. 18 1, 134. 15 505. 50 85.12 365. 00 5ft 7ft 8ft 13 22i 37A Total 394, 389. 38 23, 735. 62 Appendix Q. preliminary report of the board *of charities of puerto rico. Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, Office of the Board of Charities of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R., September 25, 1899. Military Governor of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R. General: In compliance with verbal instructions from you, I have the honor to submit the following preliminary report of the relief work in Puerto Rico intrusted to this board: statistics. Cash received to date $13, 650. 00 Expended 907. 29 Balance on hand 12, 742. 61 12558 18 274 EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. SUPPLIES. Provisions. Lumber. Nails. Iron roofing. Received Tons. 5,041 3,061 Pieces. 2,566 2,566 Kegs. 301 219 Rolls. Issued Remaining' 1,980 82 59 Indigent to date of last report 252, 750 HISTORY. At 12 m. on August 7, 1899, the following message was received at the adjutant- general's office: "Hurricane signals 11 a. m. center east of Dominica." By that hour on the following day the island had been devastated by tempest and flood. Hundreds of lives had been annihilated, thousands of people rendered home- less, millions of property lost, and, worst of all, the fruit and food crop destroyed. The most'important problem that thrust itself upon you on the 8th day of August was not economic, but humanitarian. It was a question of saving human lives, not for a day or a week, but for months. ORGANIZATION OF THE BOARD OF CHARITIES OF PUERTO RICO. To meet this an instrument and immediate organization were necessary. The instrument which you created for the purpose was this board, over which I have the honor to preside, and which was organized in compliance with the following order (received by this board on August 9, 1899, and promulgated in paragraph 9, General Orders, No. 116, from these headquarters) : General Orders, ) Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 116. San Juan, August 12, 1899. IX. All matters respecting charitable institutions, including homes and asylums for succor of the poor, sick, or incurables who are supported by insular expenditures, together with matters relating to assistance for the sufferers by the recent hurricane, are committed to a board of charities. Detail for the board: Maj. John Van R. Hoff, ehief surgeon, president; Surg., F. W. F. Wieber, IT. S. N.; Dr. Francisco del Valle Ati'les; Capt. G. M. Wells, assistant surgeon, U. S. A.; Capt. F. P. Reynolds, assistant surgeon, U. S. A.; Rev. J. de J. Nin, Catholic priest; Rev. Henry A. Brown, chaplain, IJ. S. A. ; Harold W. Cowper, acting assistant surgeon, U. S. A. , secretary and disbursing officer. To this board will be transferred the executive 1 " and administrative control of the insane asylum, the orphan asylum, and the leper colony. The board will report direct to the military governor. The funds available for expenditure for the branches of the public service above indicated are those carried by the budget for the current year and will be disbursed and accounted for by the disbursing officer under the direction of the board of charities. LOCAL BOARDS OF CHARITY. On the same day the following letter was addressed to each alcalde: Sr. Alcalde Municipal de Junta de Caridad de Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R., Agosto 9 de 1899. SeSor: El gobernador general ordena que por esa alcaldia se remitan a esta junta los nombres detres caballeros, caritativos, de esa municipalidad, con los cuales se con- stituira una junta local de caridad para entender en todos aquellos casos de necesidad 6 miseria de mayor importancia que ocurrieren en su jurisdicci6n dando a esta junta el informe correspondiente. REPOKT OF BRIGADIER-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 275 Se les encargara asi mismo, en caso'de necesidad, de la distribution del material que fuere necesario para aliviar la miseria. _ Se entiende, desde luego, que solamente aquellos casos de desastres de considera- tion que las autoridades locales no pudieran remediar, se pondran bajo la action de la junta insular pero cualquier information que sobre asuntos de su competencia se le faciliten seran recibidos con gusto. Convendria asi mismo, la organization de comisiones locales, compuestas de senoras, para prestar su auxilio a los enfermos de su inmediata comunidad. Las personas a quienes se ha de confiar esta humanitaria labor, seran elegidas cui- dadosamente pues su unica recompensa sera el convencimiento de haber ayudado a nuestros projimos. John van E. Hofp, Major and Surgeon, U. S. A., Chief Surgeon, Presidente de la Junta de Caridad. A thousand dollars was sent to each post commander to meet the immediate demands, and food was directed to be issued from the public stores. August 12 1899 the following estimate was submitted: Estimate. Population • 1,000,000 Indigent 250,000 Districts 7q Each ration for one week will consist of 3 pounds of rice, 3 pounds of beans 1 pound of codfish or bacon, which will require, for 250,000 for one week 750 000 pounds of rice, 750,000 pounds of beans, 250,000 pounds of codfish; total, 1,750'000 pounds. This is an average of 12J tons per week to each district, to transport which to each district will require 10 carts, 20 men, and 40 oxen— a total for 70 districts of 700 carts, 1,400 men, and 2,800 oxen. COST. The estimated cost for seventeen weeks, with an average weekly distribution as above, is: 12,750,000 pounds of rice, at 5 cents per pound $637 500 12,750,000 pounds of beans, at 3 cents per pound _ _ 382' 500 4,250,000 pounds of codfish, at 8 cents per pound 340' 000 Transportation— 700 carts, 17 weeks, at $10 per cart per week """ 119 000 Sundries ."." 10,' 000 Total 1,489,000 August 13, 1899, you sent the following cablegram: . Secretary of War, Washington, D. C: Further but incomplete returns confirm previous cable reports as conservative Suggest appointment officer in New York to receive relief funds and supplies, cabling kinds and quantities shipped each boat. Colonel Hoff, Medical Department in charge relief work here. Should be shipped this week not less than 2,500 tons of food. Best to be sent, beans, rice, and cheap grade codfish. Cotton clothing and coarse cotton goods in piece, needles, thread, also needed. Money will be applied in assisting rebuild houses and huts and hire of help. I recommend goods described in articles 184, 188, 189, 191, 192, 193 be placed on free list. I have authorized employment labor rebuildmg barracks at Cayey and Aibonito, wholly destroyed. Davis. On the same date the following instructions were issued to post commanders: Headquarters Department of Puerto Eico, ~ ^ San Juan, August 13, 1899. Commanding Officer, . Sir: The department commander directs that you at once organize a depot at your post for the receipt and distribution of supplies intended for the sufferers from the recent hurricane. This depot should be under your personal charge. You will also organize at the chief city in each of the municipalities in your division a subdepot, which will be under the command of a reliable noncommissioned 276 EEPOET OF BRIGADIER-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. officer, with one or more privates to assist in the distribution of food and other mate- rial. Strict account will be kept of receipts and issue, and the latter will be made in accordance with regulations which will be published in orders. You should at once arrange for the most satisfactory transportation obtainable within your division for the transportation of material from your depot to the subdepots. No delay should be permitted, and no failure to get the material to the needy. The department commander relies upon your zeal and intelligence in carrying this work through, and no failure which human intelligence and effort can overcome should be allowed to interfere with it. You are authorized to use your entire personnel if nec- essary in this work, as well as public transportation, etc., and you will hire such transportation and labor as may be necessary, observing due economy, the object being to get the material to the points of distribution, and for this you are wholly responsible. Issues will be facilitated by the use of measures. The soldiers' tin cup will hold pounds of rice, or pounds of beans. You will also urge the alcaldes of your division to submit the names of three repu- table and active citizens in each district to act as local boards of charities, and you will give them a provisional appointment until their nominations can be acted upon by the board of charities of Puerto Rico at San Juan, P. R. Committees of charitable women should also be organized in the municipal dis- tricts, and every effort made to bring speedy relief to the needy. Organization is a military specialty, and no unusual difficulty should be experienced in making such a one here that the results will be almost perfect. Very respectfully, W. P. Hall, Adjutant- General, REGULATIONS OF THE BOARD OF CHARITIES OF PUERTO RICO. August 14, the distribution of food was placed in the hands of this board, in compliance with the following order: RATION REQUEST. The following ration request was devised: Num. . Nombre . Numero de familia, . Adultos, . Ninos, 1899. Residencia. Certifico: Que los arriba nombrados son indigentes y necesitaran comidapara- Adultos, ; ninos, por semanas. El peso de una ration semanal es de 7 libras. Presidente de la Junta de Caridad. Fecha. Hat>., kilos. Arroz., kilos. Kilos. Expedido l a semana . 4a Esta tarjeta es intrasmisible y solo sirve en este distrito. Debe presentarse antes de ser despachada y constara en la ultima emision. Si fuere necesario se expedird una nueva tarjeta por el presidente de la junta de caridad. Cada emision debe anotarse en un libro. Identiflcaci6n del pulgar. REPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 277 From the foregoing it will be observed that hardly an hour's delay was permitted in meeting an emergency which at noon on August 7 was totally unexpected, and which involved the feeding of an army of 250,000 indigents, with a base 1,500 miles over the sea. SCHEME OF ORGANIZATION. The scheme of organization is simple enough. A central depot at San Juan under the immediate charge of this board; 17 depots at convenient points, each under charge of an officer, and 58 subdepots, located in each municipal city, under charge of a non- commissioned officer. At each of these depots two or more private soldiers are stationed. Food from home is landed from the transports into the central depot here and dis- tributed by wagon or boat to the 17 depots, from which it is carried by the municipal authorities to their districts and distributed to the people. The responsibility of determining who is indigent is placed upon the local boards of charities, organized in accordance with the letter of August 9, above quoted. WEAK POINT IN THE ORGANIZATION. Herein lies the weak point of the organization, and an explanation of its cause would nvolve a discussion of the sociological conditions obtaining here, which are not per- tinent to this report. Suffice it to say that these people are not accustomed to organ- ize for any purpose, particularly charity; that a gift from the charitable people of our country to preserve the natives here from starvation is not regarded as a sacred charge to be honestly administered, but as a public contribution in which all are entitled to share; and, finally, a large proportion of the people are chronically indi- gent and always on the verge of starvation, so that it is no easy matter to discriminate between degrees of indigency. INSTRUCTIONS TO LOCAL BOARDS OF CHARITY. August 19 the following circular was issued to the local boards of charities, which indicated the lines upon which this board expected them to work: Board of Charities for Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. B., August 19, 1899. Municipal Boards of Charities in Puerto Bico. Gentlemen: Your attention is invited to General Orders, No. 117, of August 14, 1899, from Headquarters, Department of Puerto Bico, and particularly to paragraph 10, which requires all issues of food to be made on ration cards, certified to by the chairman of the local board of charities, as follows: I hereby certify that the above-mentioned are indigent and will require food for adults, children, for weeks. President Board of Charities. In executing this important work you are expected to investigate each case and assure yourselves that the applicant is actually in need of assistance. The object of your organization is to assist those who really require it, and to see that no worthy person goes hungry. But for the sake of the country, your utmost endeavor should be exerted to prevent pauperizing the people by feeding those who are able to pro- cure food for themselves. When women apply for food it will be your duty to ascertain not only if they are needy, but also if they belong to families in which there are present able-bodied men. In the latter event the men will be required to work as directed. Your attention is also invited to the requirements of General Orders, No. 124, Headquarters, Department of Puerto Rico, August 19, 1899, particularly that para- graph in which it is set forth that able-bodied men who are given food must render a return in labor. This labor may at present be most advantageously used in clean- ing up the towns and repairing local damages, but will also be employed upon any service in the interest of the public welfare. The board of charities for Puerto Rico relies upon your zeal and good judgment in carrying out these instructions. Very respectfully John Van R. Hoff, President Board of Charities, Puerto Bico. 278 EEPOET OF BRIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. ~W. DAVIS. It was not deemed wise to lay down a too detailed scheme of organization. All the division inspectors (commanding officers) were experienced soldiers, and it was believed that it would be better to let them work out their interior organization within certain general lines laid down by this board. We recognized the great danger of pauperizing a people whose every tendency is in the direction of indolence, and the motto of the board of charities of Puerto Rico has been from the beginning "No one shall die of starvation and no able-bodied man shall eat the bread of idleness. ' ' But it is much easier to suggest rules than it is to accomplish results. After several weeks' trial the board promulgated the following plan, which is now in operation: Board op Charities of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R., September 2, 1899. To military commanders, alcaldes, boards of charities, and all interested in Puerto Rico and its people: It has been found that a more extended organization and closer inspection are necessary to prevent distress because of lack of food, and at the same time to avoid the possibility of pauperizing the laboring classes by feeding those who are unworthy. This board therefore makes the following recommendations: (1) That an investigating committee (partly of charitable women) be organized in each barrio, whose duty it will be to investigate all cases which may require assist- ance. This committee will report to the local board of charities and will furnish each worthy indigent family or individual, if there be no family, with an inspection card (A) , giving the date, name, residence, number in family, and especially the number of able-bodied adult males. This inspection card (A) will be taken to the board of charities by the beneficiary, and exchanged for a ration request (B) and as many work tickets (C) as there are able-bodied adult males in the family. The ration request will then be taken to the depot and the first week's rations will be drawn. All of the above-mentioned tickets will have the same number, which will be put on them at the office of the board of charities. Upon receiving his work ticket (which he must always carry with him) the able-bodied man will report as directed on the back of the ticket, and on completing his day's work will receive from the overseer a time check (D) , upon which is written the same number as that on the work ticket (C) . These time checks (D) are vouchers to the ration requests (B) , and without them or a certificate from the barrio committee that the man is legitimately absent or ill, no rations will be issued after the first week. If, however, the man be present with his family or the people with whom he lives, and in good health, but refuses to report and work as directed, he will be arrested and required to work under guard, and a certificate that he has so worked will be a sufficient voucher for the issue of food to his indigent family. The board realizes that no plan of relief that human ingenuity can devise will be perfect, but it believes that with the assistance of the people who have the best inter- est of the country at heart the plan here outlined will feed the worthy hungry and make the lazy, indigent man work for his food. Trusting that such assistance will be freely given, and realizing that much of what-, ever success we may have depends upon the good women of the island, I remain, Very respectfully, John Van R. Hofp, Major and Surgeon, U. S. A., President of Board. A. % Niim . TARJETA DE INVESTIGACT6N. Distrito de , barrio de . A la Junta de Caridad. Senores : , de este barrio, y cuya familia consiste de adultos y ninoSj de los cuales hay varones adultos, habiles para el trabajo segun investigaci6n hecha, resultando ser indigentes y que necesitan provisiones para semanas. Por el Comite del Barrio. EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 279 B. [Llevese esta solicited con la boleta de jornal al Deposito de provisiones.] Num. . Nombre . Eesid a — de los cuales son honibres habiles . Num. de familia — — . Adultos — , 1899. Nifios — Certifico: que los arriba nombrados son indigentes y necesitan provisiones para . Adultos . Ninos, por semana. Las provisiones se despacharan sema- nalmente y por medio de esta orden. Presidente de la Junta de Caridad. Despu^s de la primera racion, esta solicitud debera ir acompafiada por el corre- spondiente numero de boletas de jornal, una por cada dia para cada hombre habil. El peso de una racion semanal es de 7 libras. Fecha. Expedido, l a semana. 2 a " . " 3* " . 4a «. . Hab., libras. Arroz, libras. Libras. Esta tarjeta es intrasmisible y solo sirve en este distrito. Debe presentarse en el deposito de provisiones con el correspondiente niimero de boletas de jornal, antes de ser despachada y constara en la ultima emision. Si fuere necesario se expedira una nueva tarjeta por el presidente de la junta. Cada emision se anotara en un libro. Identiflcaci6n del pulgar. BOLETA DE TKABAJO. Fabrica de Num. El portador de esta boleta se presentara en la Alcaldfa manana a las siete de la misma para trabajar. Si esta orden no se cumple, sera arrestado. Por orden: Fecha: - INSTRUCCTONES. Las boletas de trabajo se expediran juntas con las tarjetas racion, para los varones indigentes, aptos para el trabajo que en ellas se expresan, debiendo corresponder el numero de una y otra. _ Los hombres se presentaran con sus boletas (que debera conservar) segun instruc- ciones al respaldo. Al concluir el trabajo del dia se les expedira una boleta de jor- nal con su numero correspondiente a cada hombre. Estas tarjetas de jornal deberan acompanar la boleta de racion 6 de lo contrario no se expediran raciones. 280 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. D. Boleta de jornal num. , junta de Caridad. Inspector. INSTRUCCIONES. El inspector hara constar en esta tar j eta el numero del jornalero, entregandosela firmada a este al terminar el trabajo del dia. Esta tar j eta debe acompanar d la boleta de raciones, sin cuyo requisito no se pue- den percibir estas. Board of Charities for Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R., September 20, 1899. instructions to noncommissioned officers in charge of subposts of the board of charities of puerto rico. (1) Food is issued to prevent starvation. It is intended for the worthy poor, and no able-bodied man shall receive any unless he gives a full day's work in return. (2) A day's ration consists of 1 pound of food. For convenience, food will gen- erally be issued weekly. Three pounds of rice, 3 pounds of beans, and 1 pound of codfish or bacon constitute the usual allowance for one person for one week. The regulation tin cup holds about 1\ pounds. (3) A receipt and issue book must be kept at each depot, in which will be entered in detail all the material received and all the rations issued. (4) The local board of charities will furnish the noncommissioned officer in charge of the subdepot with an alphabetical list of indigents, by barrios; and, as a rule, issues to the indigents in each barrio will be made on a specific day, in the pres- ence of the commissario of that barrio. (5) Issues will be made on a ration "request" signed by the chairman of the local board of charities, and the exact amount given will be noted on the "request." After the first week the "request" must be accompanied by six time checks, or a certificate from the barrio committee of absence or sickness, for each able-bodied man mentioned on the "request." Without these checks or certificates no rations will be issued. (6) No food will be issued on a "request" if the noncommissioned officer in charge has reason to believe that the applicant is unworthy, and the ' 'request' ' will be taken up. (7) Noncommissioned officers on this duty will take pains to inform themselves of the condition of the poor in their districts; will see that the boards of charities and the barrio committees perform their duty, and will at once report to their immediate commanders any irregularities observed. (8) They will observe the organization and work of the indigent laborers and refuse food to those who fail to work, reporting such cases to the alcaldes and their imme- diate commanders, who will cause the men to be arrested and put to work under guard. (9) They will, under General Orders, No. 124, Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, dated August 19, 1899, at once cause the arrest of anyone who misapplies the supplies furnished by this board and report the fact to higher authority. (10) They will submit to their immediate commanders a weekly report on blanks furnished by this board, and will sign receipts and account for all property received by them. (11) Noncommissioned officers and privates on relief duty are officials of this board; they are in no sense under the control of the municipal authorities, and in the performance of their duties will take no orders from them. They will watch over the interests of the board in every way, and will carry out to the best of their ability its rule of action, which is that — ' 'No person shall die of starvation, and no able-bodied man shall eat the bread of idleness." By order of the board of charties of Puerto Rico: John Van R. Hoff, President of Board. DIFFICULTY IN MAKING THE ABLE-BODIED WORK. The greatest difficulty is found in making the able-bodied men work for food, if they can, as they usually do, get it without work. It requires rather too fine reason- ing for these people, and indeed much higher orders of intellect, to appreciate the REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 281 fact that they are not working for food, but life; that the food is given them to prevent their starving to death, and that if there is no danger of such a result the charity of our people is misapplied. Five cents' worth of food is a small wage for a day's work, but as the only means to an end — the preserving of one's life — who would not work for that sum? PUERTO RICANS HAVE NO ORGANIZING ABILITY. The Puerto Rican authorities have no organizing power to utilize this enormous working force, which if properly applied would rebuild the towns, remake the roads, and recultivate the fields, and our own people can hardly be expected to do this in addition to already arduous duties. The result is that there is an immense amount of idleness among the laboring classes, which threatens disaster to the island. Headquarters Department op Puerto Rico, San Juan, August 29, 1899. The attention of the able-bodied is called to the fact that idleness will not be tolerated in Puerto Rico. All men dependent upon the wages of labor for a livelihood must work for wages or for food, and if any such man refuses to labor his name will be reported to the inspector of his division, who will investigate the case, and if the facts are found to be as alleged will place his name on a blank list and will thereafter permit no food to be issued to him or his family until he returns to work. Geo. W. Davis, Brigadier-General, Commanding, AGREEMENT WITH THE PLANTERS. The board is now considering the question of an arrangement with the planters which will be mutually beneficial to all concerned, and the details of which are as follows: Board op Charities of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. P., September 16, 1899. The following letter, addressed to the reputable planters of Puerto Rico who are in financial stress, is transmitted for the information of division inspectors: Sir: With a view to the mutual benefit of the proprietors and the peons, and to enable this board to so distribute its supplies that no person shall be permitted to die of starvation and no able-bodied man receive food without working for it, the following is submitted for your consideration : (1) The board of charities of Puerto Rico will furnish to reputable proprietors whose lands have been devastated and who are in financial stress enough food to feed a stated number of peons, now destitute, and their lawful families, the number of laborers on any plantation to be determined by the amount of work to be done. This food will continue to be supplied so long as such is at the disposal of the board or until sufficient time has elapsed for the production of a new crop of the usual food. One ration of 1 pound of food will be given the laborer for each day's work, and his family shall receive like rations gratuitously, but not unless the man works when he is able to. Under no circumstances will the donated food be regarded as wages to pay for labor, but simply as material to prevent starvation, and it must not be sold by the proprietors to anyone for any purpose or at any price. In return for this, the proprietors must agree to require of the able-bodied laborers employed under these terms a full day's work for the usual number of working days every week. They must also agree — First. To furnish such assistance as they may be able in the way of material to help their workmen to restore their dwellings. Second. They must assign to each of their laborers a small parcel of ground in ' which to plant seed of food plants, to be supplied by them (or this board) and will see that such seed is properly planted and cultivated. Third. They will render such assistance as in their power lies to enable their laborers and their families to live at least as comfortably as they did before the hurricane. Fourth. For their own protection and that of their laborers and this board, they must agree, so far as in their power lies, to prevent the misapplication of relief sup- plies and their issue to any able-bodied man who fails to render an equivalent in work, either on their plantations or elsewhere in their neighborhood. Fifth. They will report to this board at the end of each month the number of peons employed, the number in their families, and the total amount of food received and issued. 282 EEPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Sixth. And finally they will be required to transport the food issued to them for the above purpose at their own expense from the most convenient official depot of this board to their plantations. Nothing hereinbefore written will be considered as preventing proprietors from entering into any proper agreement with their laborers which may be to their mutual interests, such as future payments in money at usual rates for present work, etc. Should the foregoing meet your approval, and should you desire to avail yourself of the privilege herein set forth, you will please advise this board accordingly, giving the following information: (1) Name. (2^ Address. (3) Number of acres cultivated. (4) Character of crop. '(5) Percentage of loss from hurricane. (6) Number of laborers required. (7) Most accessible food depot. (8) Probable time assistance will be required. (9) Reference in the city of San Juan. Very respectfully, John Van R. Hoff, Major and Surgeon, U. S. A., President of Board. , 1899. Yo — (Propietario, administrador) de cuerdas de terreno cultivado en el barrio de , termino municipal de , Puerto Rico, por cuanto a lo que a continuation se expresa me comprometo, por medio de la presente, a lo siguiente: 1°. A facilitar trabajo en mi finca a hombres habiles por semanas, exi- giendole a estos trabajen cuando menos, ocho (8) horas diarias durante los seis dias de cada semana. 2°. A auxiliar a estos trabajadores en la reconstruction de sus casas y proporcio- narles, tanto a ellos como a sus respectivas familias, cuando menos, tanta comodidad como la que disfrutaban antes del huracan del dfa 8 de agosto de 1899. 3°. A asignar a cada uno un pequefio lote de terreno, que no baje de diez mil (10,000) pies cuadrados, para sembrar en el las semillas de plantas frutales, cuidando de que dichas semillas se faciliten, siembren y cultiven debidamente. Siendo el producto de dicho cultivo de la propiedad del peon, a quien se ha asignado el men- cionado lote. 4°. A proveer a cada persona asf empleada, con tantas libras de provisiones como individuos haya en sus respectivas familias, por todos y cada uno de los dfas que tra- baje. Los varones adultos que no estuvieren trabajando en mi finca quedan excluidos. 5°. A hacer una cuidadosa investigation, hasta convencerme de que ninguna de las personas, por mf empleadas, recibe provisiones por otro conducto que el mio, y de que no se despachen estas a personas que de otro modo reciben medios de subsistencia. 6°. A llevar extricta contabilidad de las provisiones recibidas y despachadas sin que se faciliten mas de la cantidad prefijada en el parrafo 4°. 7°. A informar mensualmente a la Junta de Caridad del numero de personas empleadas por mi; del numero total que compone sus familias; de las provisiones recibidas y despachadas, y de cualquier malversation de las mismas que llegara a mi conocimiento. 8°. A conducir las provisiones que fueren necesarias, desde a mi finca todas las semanas. En consideration de lo que antecede, la Junta de Caridades de Puerto Rico, conviene en facilitar a barrio de termino municipal de como le convenga y por el tiempo que esten a su disposition, una cantidad de provisiones, compuesta, proximamente, de una libra diaria para cada peon empleado por el, en los trabajos de su finca, e igual cantidad para cada uno de los individuos de la familia de dichas personas. Pero nada de lo expuesto en este contrato debera interpretarse haciendo a la Junta de Caridades de Puerto Rico, responsable de danos, 6 perjuicios que pudieran sobrevenir por cualquier falta en el envio ya sea de todas 6 parte de las provisiones ante mencionadas. Debe entenderse, ademas, que cualquier malversation de provisiones de parte del propietario 6 su agente sera motivo para la inmediata anulacion de este contrato, procesandosele de acuerdo con lo prescrito en la Orden General No. 134 Cuartel Ge- neral, Departamento de Puerto Rico, fecha 19 de agosto de 1899. Firma del Propietario 6 Administrador. Testigo: REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 283 [Duplicado.] _ Instrucciones. — Este contrata deberd ser firmado y testificado por duplicado, remi- tiendo ambas copias a la Junta de Caridad de Puerto Rico, en San Juan. Una vez aprobado se devolvera al interesada una de las copias. MISAPPLICATION OF SUPPLIES. The probable misapplication of relief supplies early received consideration, and to meet such cases the following order was issued: Board of Charities of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. E., September 14, 1899. The board of charities of Puerto Rico offers $10 reward for the arrest and convic- tion of anyone who violates the provisions of paragraph 2, General Orders, No. 124, Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, dated August 19, 1899, which reads: "Any person who misapplies any material furnished for the relief of the destitute by fraudulently obtaining or by selling or otherwise disposing of the same will be punished by a fine not exceeding $500 for each offense or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding one year. " By order of the board of charities of Puerto Rico: John Van R. Hoff, Major and Surgeon U. S. A., President. Several reports of misapplication have been received which are being investigated. Many rumors of the selling of aid supplies are rife, but thus far no notice of any convic- tions under this order has reached this office. ADMINISTRATION. The organization of the administrative work of this board involved no difficulty; it followed army methods, which are being carried out by men who understand them. We hear much about "red tape," a contemptuous definition of a system grown out of a thousand years' experience, but which not being understood by the tyro in our trade, is derided as cumbersome and useless. Weekly reports are submitted by each divi- sion inspector, giving all the details necessary to enable this board to keep his divi- sion supplied and to form some idea of future requirements. A strict accountability for all property is demanded for which invoices, receipts, and returns are made. TRANSPORTATION. The question of transportation is of vital importance, and is rendered more difficult by the destruction of roads and railways. Upon the recommendation of this board the tug Borenquen was chartered by the quartermaster's department, to work in con- nection with the Slocum, and the following letter was sent: Board of Charities of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R., August S3, 1899. Adjutant-General, Department of Puerto Rico: Sir:" The hurricane has so seriously interfered with communication by usual routes of travel that in distributing relief material this board finds it necessary to recom- mend that additional wheel and water transportation be provided for its work. There should be two wagon trains organized, of thirty wagons each, and pack trains at Arecibo, Manati, Mayaguez, and Adjuntas, if such are not now there. There should also be two schooners chartered, one for use at San Juan and the other on the eastern coast. The former can presently be dispensed with, but the latter will probably have to be continued m service for some time. The board respectfully recommends that senders of cablegrams be requested to specify the amount of each kind of material sent, so that orders for its distribution can be made before the arrival of the ship, and the material loaded directly from her into the distributing boats. Very respectfully, John Van R. Hoff, Major and Surgeon, U. S. A., President of Board. 284 EEPOET OF BRIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. TRANSPORTATION WITHIN THE DIVISION. The United States Government delivers the food at the depots, and within the divisions the local authorities are required to provide their own transportation, so far as they are able to do so, the distance to be covered at no place exceeding 20 miles. Occasional reports reach this office of a disinclination on the part of the local authorities to do this work, but it certainly is very little to ask of them. THE U. S. S. PANTHER. The U. S. S. Panther arrived with relief supplies from Philadelphia on the 28th ultimo, and went around the island, from port to port, distributing her supplies in accordance with the schedule of this board, and taking receipts for her issues. By this plan we were enabled to stock all our depots with the least practicable delay, and at the same time avoid repeated handling of cargo. In all other cases the distribu- tion has been made from the central depot of the board here. CHARACTER OF SUPPLIES. The board has asked for the simplest, most acceptable, and least ration with which to carry on its work, viz, beans, rice, and codfish or bacon — one pound of food per day for each individual. Generally this has been furnished, but unfortunately much flour, canned and other foods, together with various things necessary to our good people at home, have been sent, of which very little use can be made. When prac- ticable, arrangements have been entered into with local bakers to make bread from the flour, but the people themselves can not do it, and I fear that much of the flour sent has been wasted or misapplied. I am endeavoring to exchange that in stock now for rice and beans. MEDICINES. Besides food, clothing and medicine come under the purview of this board. To meet immediate contingencies the following circular letter was sent to the surgeons of the various posts: Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. P. , August 28, 1899. Surgeon . Sir: Such remedies as may be supplied for the treatment of the indigent Puerto Ricans will be issued to you, and from these requisitions made by the inspector of the division in which you are located or from neighboring divisions in which there is no military hospital will be filled. Until these supplies arrive you are authorized to furnish such simple remedies from your hospital as can be spared without immediate detriment to the service, resupplying yourself, when necessary, by special requisition, and ultimately replacing the issue from the relief medicines furnished you as above set forth. You will keep an accurate account of all material received and issues made, giving and taking receipts for the same, in duplicate, on the regular form, and rendering a return to the board of charities of Puerto Rico upon the completion of the relief work. Very respectfully, John Van R. Hoff, Major and Surgeon, U. S. A., Chief Surgeon. A considerable amount of quinine, arsenic, and calomel have been received in the aid supplies and distributed, and these have been supplemented from the military hospitals. A large requisition for medicines and dressings was some time since for- warded. Two physicians were employed by the board. WOMAN'S AID SOCIETY OF SAN JUAN. A supply of clothing, new and old, was sent from home, and the Woman's Aid Society of San Juan gives nearly a thousand dresses every week to clothe the indi- gent. Too much appreciation can not be shown this association of ladies for the earnest and admirable work they are doing for the poor everywhere in Puerto Rico. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 285 PLANTING. Realizing that the aid from home must be limited to the shortest practicable time, this board has insisted upon the necessity for immediate planting of food-producing seeds. Your own order and the circulars of this board are as follows: General Orders, \ Headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, No. 126. J San Juan, August 22, 1899. The attention of alcaldes and others concerned is called to the fact that the people in the country districts and in the open parts of towns should be required to at once plant corn, potatoes, beans, and such other vegetables of rapid growth as will, at the earliest possible moment, resupply the country with .the requisite food. No excuse should be accepted for failure to comply v ith this order, the requirements of which will receive the personal attention of the alcaldes as well as that of the comisarios de barrios. By command of Brigadier-General Davis: W. P. Hall, Adjutant-General. Board op Charities of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R. , August 24, 1899. Sir: I have the honor to request that you will instruct your subpost commanders and alcaldes and boards of charities in your division to see that all vegetables issued in your division which are suitable for this purpose be used as seed and at once planted. The importance of this is emphasized when it is realized that only through a hew crop can this people become self-supporting in the near future, and there can be no crop without planting. Very respectfully, John Van R. Hoff, / Major and Surgeon, U. S. A., President of Board. Commanding Officer, Board of Charities of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. P., September 6, 1899, Sir: I have the honor to invite especial attention to the recommendation recently sent you in regard to the necessity for immediate replanting for a new crop. Should you find any scarcity of seed — such as native rice, beans, corn, etc. — in the hands of the people for this purpose, you are authorized to purchase them in small quantities from the local dealers, for seeding, taking care that they are used for no other pur- pose. The beans from the United States will not germinate, and are useless as seed. Bills for material purchased for seeding will be sent to this board in duplicate, with vouchers receipted. Very respectfully, - John Van R. Hoff, Major and Surgeon, U. S. A., President of Board. Some planting is being done, but not so much as desirable, and it is not likely in any event that the issue of food can be wholly stopped before the end of this year. No one who has not had such work as has fallen to us here to do among such a people can form any idea of its difficulties. There is not a single point in common between ourselves and the Puerto Ricans. Language, customs, moral and business standards all differ so radically that it is quite as impossible for us to understand them as they us. Consequently what we do for these people is done not from sympathy but largely from a sense of duty, and is received by them not as the outpouring of a charitable nation but as a right for which no equivalent should be expected. We have accepted these people as our share of the burden that the strong must bear for the weak. We will keep them alive; we will lead them slowly, gently toward the light, and finally, in half a hundred years, they will catch the first glim- mering ray which will show them what our standards are and what we wish theirs to be. Respectfully submitted. John Van R. Hoff, Major and Surgeon, U. S. A., President of Board. 286 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Appendix R. Statement showing amount of mortgages on country and city property in Puerto Rico from 1880 to 1898. Without interest. 1 to 6 per cent interest. 6 to 12 per cent interest. No. of loans. Amount loaned. No. of loans. Amount loaned. No. of loans. Amount loaned. COUNTRY PROPERTY. Pesos. 520, 244. 66 1,685,273.20 1,440,172.76 3, 190, 679. 76 1,441,773.77 1,040,599.35 192, 144. 73 361,676.57 295, 192; 12 3 2 31 18 48 5 12 11 Pesos. 443,357.15 4, 298. 43 16, 778. 00 308, 716. 60 87,320.30 332, 679. 21 9, 846. 91 92,721.63 30, 649. 04 363 11 236 80 173 206 68 36 Pesos. 1,081,000.97 423 370 595 279 289 67 79 123 2, 602, 597. 06 53, 635. 06 1, 344, 770. 00 778, 980. 48 1,825,579.09 1,036,126.08 897, 536. 24 204, 574. 06 Total 10, 167, 756. 66 1,326,367.27 9, 824, 799. 84 CITY PROPERTY. 93,480.73 79, 851. 01 106. 118. 22 476,326.27 67, 515. 15 119, 688. 42 9,029.11 77, 193. 46 6, 775. 49 7 388,504.22 27, 136. 32 49 5 100 5 107 35 24 4 1,091,451.64 36 46 356 28 63 11 31 11 123, 058. 70 16, 303. 77 8 1 13 5 4 1 9, 184. 00 4, 525. 59 138,065.95 13, 000. 00 3, 405. 00 550.00 153,164.45 11, 543. 00 480, 808. 39 47,197.00 68, 785. 96 5, 475. 00 Total 1,035,977.86 584,371.08 1,997,787.91 11,203,734.52 1, 910, 738. 35 11, 822, 587. 75 12 to 18 per cent interest. 18 to 24 per cent interest. Over 24 per cent interest. Total. No. of loans. Amount loaned. No. of loans. Amount loaned. No. of loans. Amount loaned. No. of loans. Amount loaned. COUNTRY PROPERTY. Pesos. 838, 080. 46 880, 110. 49 268, 563. 93 241,660.80 39, 654. 05 1, 245, 630. 70 14, 777. 00 278, 775. 08 96, 290. 49 66 33 5 2 23 1 26 7 Pesos. 345, 518. 65 105, 694. 98 125,422.48 8, 610. 00 1, 265. 90 65,840.37 2, 000. 00 95,658.65 6, 234. 88 7 Pesos. 123,301.00 4,037.00 1,247 474 938 394 753 288 247 223 Pesos. 3, 351, 502. 89 365 58 71 15 220 9 58 45 5, 282, 011. 25 1, 904, 573. 03 5, 094, 436. 90 2, 348, 994. 50 4, 510, 328. 72 1, 254, 894. 72 4 1 2, 135. 38 100. 00 1,728,503.55 633,040.59 Total 3, 903, 543. 00 756, 245. 91 129, 573. 47 26,108,286.15 CITY PROPERTY. San Juan 611, 382. 15 81, 628. 75 34, 069. 26 59, 883. 00 3,000.00 195, 969. 00 1,400.00 27, 643. 00 19, 107. 00 20 2 8 226, 477. 15 12, 263. 24 2, 000. 00 4, 800. 00 i 17,819.74 1,200.00 172 64 524 35 300 54 88 30 2, 429, 115. 63 59 11 52 1 104 3 21 9 325, 138. 02 158, 491. 25 703, 357. 72 86,583.74 13 16, 010. 00 950, 541. 76 70, 626. 11 7 3 3, 900. 00 985.00 l 2 150. 00 700. 00 181, 077. 42 33, 592. 49 Total 1, 034, 082. 16 266, 435. 39 19, 869. 74 4, 938, 524. 14 4, 937, 625. 16 1,022,681.30 149,443.21 31, 046, 810. 29 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 287 Appendix S. PLATFOKM OP. THE FEDERAL PARTY. (1) The members of the Puerto Rican Federal party, believing that the time has come for the reorganization of their party with a name that may embrace their ideas, and a platform that may give them a definite and concrete form, have decided to incorporate themselves in a political party that will be called the Federal Party, in order to cooperate in the good administration of the country. (2) The Federal party declares that it accepts and congratulates itself upon the annexation of the island to the United States, believing that Puerto Rico will be a prosperous and happy land under the protection of the American flag and insti- tutions. (3) The. principles of the Federal party are condensed in the following formula: To influence in a direct and efficacious way the development* of the interests of the island through an honest and intelligent administration, and a firm and decided tend- ency toward the absolute assimilation of the island with the United States, both in laws and in form of government. (4) The Federal party asks for Puerto Rico that it be made a Territory of the Union, with all the privileges of a State except the right to send Senators and Repre- sentatives_ to Congress, to which the island could send, like any other Territory, a Delegate with voice but without a vote. (5) The Federal party hopes that Puerto Rico in the future will be made a State without any restriction, like any other State in the Union. (6) The Federal party will work to maintain the complete autonomy of the municipalities, so that the ayuntamientos may resolve all their local affairs, such as municipal accounts, budgets, public instruction, police, public health, charity, pub- lic works, etc. , without the intervention of the central authority. (7) The Federal party will also work to maintain the rights of individuals, and will advocate the most ample system of suffrage, without opposing, however, any limitations that may be thought prudent by the United States, but representing always their desire that all resident citizens of the island be permitted to vote. (8) The Federal party understands the necessity of abolishing all customs duties between Puerto Rico and the rest of the Union, and will advocate the establishment of free trade and a uniform currency, the American dollar to be made the legal- tender standard with the least possible loss to the insular currency. (9) The Federal party realizes also that the development of the country requires that franchises be given to banking institutions with the greatest possible urgency; that the insular industries be effectively protected; that an impulse be given without delay to public works; and that direct imposts for the general expenses of the Terri- tory be gradually suppressed. (10) The Fedei-al party has at heart the interests of the laborers and farmers; it watches with interest their progress in public life; it works to harmonize the interest of capital and labor, and will persist in giving a place in elective bodies to virtuous and intelligent men, independently of race and occupation. (11) The Federal party will leave the creation and maintenance of schools to the municipalities, committing the primary tuition in all its various degrees to the representatives of the people, subject to the general plan that may be adopted by the legislature of the Territory. (12) Respecting the higher instruction, both university and professional, the Federal party will propose the installation of all necessary centers to arrive at a good standard in arts and sciences, giving special attention to those that are of practical application; and will incessantly advocate the establishment of a university. (13) The Federal party will keep apart from obsolete methods, and will institute colleges where women may receive serious instruction that may make it possible for them to practice the different professions to which they already dedicate themselves in more advanced countries. (14) In general we believe that our legislation ought to tend to an identification of methods of the American and Puerto Rican schools; this end may be reached by a gradual and scientific adaptation. (15) In reference to the organization of courts, the Federal party believes in the advisability of electing judicial officers by popular suffrage, by the vote of the legis- lature, or of appointing them "by opposition," according to the nature of their duties, independently of any political interest, thus placing the judges in a position of wholesome independence. (16) The Federal party places among its most important principles the establish- ment of trial by jury. 288 REPORT OF BRIG ADIEE- GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. (17) The Federal party proposes to undertake the reform of our civil, penal, and administrative legislation, upholding the moral and material interests of our society, but with decided democratic tendency. (18) The Federal party, finally, has faith in the traditions and characteristics of the American people, and has also much confidence in the power of the people of this island to make Puerto Eico, under the United States flag, a land of wealth and culture. San Juan, P. E., October 1, 1899. Jose H. Amadeo, Eafael Arrillaga, Mariano Acosta, Juan E. Baiz, Antonio E. Barcelo, Acisclo Bou de la Torre, Felipe B. Cordero, Jose Cordoves Berrios, Guillermo Colon Atilano, Antonio Colon, Salvador Carbonell, Miguel Chiques, Manuel Camunas, Jose B. Cintron, Jose Cobian Ei- vera, Eamon Cestero, Francisco de Celis Alquia, Luis de Celis, Her- minio Diaz Navarro, Jose Gonzalo Diaz, Eamon H. Delgado, Julio Diaz, Jose Elzaburro, Laurentino Estrella, Tomas N. Fradera, Nepomuceno Flores, Agustin Nevara, Manuel Gorbea Guzman, Fernando Gonza- les, Julio Grau, Julio Gandia, Juan Hernandez Lopez, Eamon Hoyos Delgado, Jose Janer Soler, Alfredo de la Cruz, Luis Munoz Eivera, Eamon Mendez Cardona, Luis Munoz Morales, Jose Munoz Eivera, Antonio Marque Diaz, Marcos A. Manzano, Vicente Muno Barrios, Felix Matos Bernier, Francisco Marxuach, Francisco I. Nater, Santi- ago Openhiemer, Manuel Perez Aviles, Feliz Perez Eivera, Jose Ga- briel Palacio Slazar, Eamon H. Patron, Santiago E. Palmer, Gregorio Eodriguez Escribano, Manuel Eoman, Luis Eodriguez Cabrero, Anto- nio Eosell, Jacinto Seijo, Jose Serra, Jose Sosa, Eamon Siaca Pacheco, Francisco J. Sala, Modesto Sola, Ezequiel Tristane, Arturo Umpierre, Luis E. Velasquez, Arturo Vasquez Prada, Federico E. Virella, Jose G. del Valle. Appendix T. PLATFORM OP THE PUERTO-RICAN REPUBLICAN PARTY, 1899. To the people : The old political parties that struggled during the Spanish domination have disap- peared. It is urgent now to start a new party with new ideas, that all the residents of the country who wish may unite in the development of our island under the protection and principles of the American flag. Our principles in brief are as follows: Definite and sincere annexation to the United States. An organized Territory for Puerto Eico, as the way to become in time a State of the Federal Union. We are convinced that it would not be for the benefit of our country to be inde- pendent on account of its small area and on account of the bad political education we have received. We do not feel satisfied with the false advantages of an Antille confederation, as it is true that the old Spanish Antilles have the same origin; the language, history, and traditions are the same. Cuba is not yet organized. We could not find any assistance toward perfection in Santo Domingo, as it is rapidly retrograding under her form of government. Puerto Eico could not find in its surroundings any examples for self-government or of its local affairs, hence we seek the guarantees of a powerful and well-organized nation that promises us the free exercise of liberties. Puerto Eico, to-day a Territory and later a State of the Union, will realize the most perfect ideal of the Puerto Eican people. When we have effective local government and direct intercourse with the States of the Union in national and other affairs, with the good influence which such a union would bring to our island, it will be the means of guiding us to the highest culture in human destinies. The time has come when we must advance American principles and customs. With due care, knowing the needs of our people, we have arranged a platform for the ' ' Puerto Eican Eepublican party ' ' which we submit to the consideration of our people, trusting and hoping that every good and patriotic citizen will join us and support our just cause. EEPOET OF BEIGADIEE-GENEEAL GEO. W. DAVIS. . 289 A convention will soon be called to discuss and decide upon a programme and con- sider in detail the principles stated in our platform, which are as follows: It is the highest duty of every citizen to uphold the laws of the land and the integ- rity of his country. That we pledge ourselves as men, animated by a common cause, aiming at a com- mon object, to do all in our power to improve our government. We indorse and commend the able, patriotic, and true American spirit manifested by Hon. William McKinley, President of the United, States, in releasing us from the misrule of Spain, and we pledge our faithfulness to adhere to the new principles of our new country, and have for our aim harmony, unity, and good government, rely- ing with confidence upon the hope of a speedy settlement of our national affairs. 1. The name of our party shall be the Kepublican party of Puerto Eico. AMERICAN FLAG. 2. We declare our sincere loyalty to the American flag and American ideas, and hereby pledge ourselves to strive to become worthy of the great nation of which we now are a part. ANNEXATION. 3. We hail with pride our annexation to the United States. GOVERNMENT. 4. We believe that the people of Puerto Eico could be trusted with the civil govern- ment of the island, but as that authority only emanates from Congress of the United States, it is but our duty to wait their action. While under military government awaiting action by Congress, we desire that all civil offices should be filled by men capable, honest, and of unquestioned loyalty to the Government of the United States, and disposed to act singly for the best interest of this island and our common coun- try, without distinction, thereby affording us an opportunity to demonstrate our fitness for self-government, with all the burdens and responsibilities which it entails, and which will hasten the day when our island will have a place among the States of the Union. FREE SUFFRAGE. 5. We affirm our devotion to the national Constitution and. the autonomy reserved to our country thereunder; to the personal rights and liberties of all the citizens of our country, and especially to the supreme and sovereign right of every lawful citizen, rich or poor, native or foreign born, to cast one free ballot in public elections, and to have that ballot duly counted. We hold the free and honest popular ballot and the just and equal representation of all the people to be the foundation of our republican government, and demand effective legislation to secure the integrity and purity of elections, which are the fountains of all public authority. FREEDOM. 6. The reliance of free popular government and the maintenance of freedom among all men is upon the intelligence and integrity of the people. We therefore declare our devotion to liberty of thought and freedom of speech and of the press, and approve these agencies, which contribute to this end. We oppose any union of church and' state. LABOR. 7. We declare our hostility to the introduction into this island of foreign contract labor. EDUCATION. 8. In this new acquisition to the United States, in order to promote education throughout^ the island, we favor the establishment of free public and nonsectarian schools sufficient to afford to every child growing up in the land the opportunity of a good common school education. We believe that the English language, soon to be the official language, should be taught in all our schools, thus laying the foundation fitting our island for a place as a free State of the Union. 12558 19 290 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. TAXATION. 9. That the systems of taxation under which revenues are derived are vicious and insufficient, and it is necessary for the equalization of the burden of taxation that the law regulating the same be changed at once to American principles of taxation suitable to the conditions of Puerto Rico. <"'<>MMERCE. 10. We believe, as we are under the direct protection of the United States and a part of that great nation, that commerce should be free between the island of Puerto Rico and the United States, thereby giving us the same rights and privileges of any State or Territory of the Union. 11 . In order to divert the financial panic which now threatens us, and in order that the tiller of the soil and the tradesman of the land may be justly compensated for their toils and labors, we declare ourselves in favor of the exchange of the pro- vincial money of the island of Puerto Rico for the money of the United States. As it is right and proper that every dollar, paper or coin, issued by the government be as good as any other. And that the exchange take place immediately with free commerce between Puerto Rico and the United States. AGRICULTURE. 12. Puerto Rico is an agricultural country, and upon that portion of the island falls the greatest burden of taxation under the present system. The extremely oppressive taxation, the high tariff on agricultural implements, and the excessive customs duties on the products of the soil should be so regulated as to furnish relief to the agriculturist, who cannot now meet his daily obligations. JUDICIARY. 13. We are in favor of establishing American system of courts, which guarantees to every man justice and right and a trial freely without sale, fully without any denial, and speedily without delay according to the law of the land. 14. We congratulate ourselves and our country on being under the protection of the American flag, the recognized emblem of liberty, and will lend every effort to advance civilization, to teach loyalty, to love American institutions, and honor Wash- ington, Lincoln, and McKinley, whose names are household words throughout the land. • San Juan, March 25, 1899. Lcdo. Manuel F. Rossy, Dr. Jose C. Barbosa, Luis Sanchez Morales, Lcdo. Juan Ramon Ramos, Dr. Francisco del Valle, Lcdo. Federico Dege- ' tau, Lcdo. Fidel Guillermety, Cruz Castro, Dr. Fernando Nunez, Dr. Gabriel Ferrer, Dr. Pedro del Valle, Roberto H. Todd, Bartolome Llovet, Ramon Falcon, Jose Gordils, Jaime Sifre, Jose" Francisco Diaz, Salomon Dones, Dr. Salvador G. Ros, Geronimo Agrait, Vicente Gui- llot, Dr. Jose Carbonell, Dr. Fernandez Nater, Lcdo. Enrique Hernan- dez, Francisco Candela, Jose" M a . Candela, Luis Venegas, ArturoVega Morales, Dr. Manuel del Valle Atiles, Raimundo Palacios Salazar, Manuel Nussa Chiques, Jose" C. Rossy. Appendix U. San Juan, P. R., September 25, 1899. Adjutant-General Department of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R. Sir: In compliance with an indorsement from the adjutant-general's office, depart- ment of Puerto Rico, on a letter from the Secretary^of War dated August 9, 1899, 1 have the honor to make the following report: As regards steps taken in the formation of a civil government for this island, but few facts have come under the observation of the commander of this post, his duties having been almost entirely military. San Juan is the headquarters of the military REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 291 department of Puerto Rico and also of the various departments of insular govern- ment, and correspondence concerning matters as regards civil government in this district has been direct with and attended to by the military department staff, so that the post commander has little or no record in this office on which to base remarks concerning this subject except the general orders of the department that have been issued from time to time. At the time of the American occupation a greater part of the arable land was owned by wealthy men in the form of large estates, it being the exception for men of small means to own farms. On these estates live the greater part of the country population of the island in the capacity of tenants or peons, the tenant usually being allowed to cultivate a small plot of land for garden purposes, paying the landlord a portion of the product as rent. There was no system of peonage by which the laborer was bound in any way to remain with the landowner. This evil system of landholding still remains the same and can only be corrected by good government. In the city of San Juan the laboring classes worked for wages, there being no oppor- tunity, owing to the dense population, for gardening, so that the prosperity of the people depended entirely upon the supply and demand for labor, which seems to have been such as to make them comfortable, according to their standard of living, which is much lower and less ambitious than among the same class of people in the United States. The city of San Juan has a population of about 20,000, being about 5,000 or 6,000 overcrowded, according to American standards. The houses, especially those occupied by the poorer people, are devoid of any sanitary plumbing, and are without proper ventilation for the number who live in them. The industrial condi- tions are about the same since the American occupation as before. There is work for those who desire it in this district, and the indigent are not many, barring the victims of the recent hurricane. Some of the taxes have been removed from the necessaries of life. The enforcement of the marriage laws was slack under Spanish rule, a great many of the poorer population being born of parentage not legally married according to the Spanish laws, but who lived in a sort of concubinage, a custom developed by the expense attached to a legal marriage. Drivers and draymen were often cruel in the treatment of beasts of burden. Bull drivers universally carried a long pole with a steel spike in the end, which they used without mercy, and the native ponies were often driven to carts much overloaded; but the use of goads and the general abuse of animals has been materially checked. Schools, while well established by law, were very poor in practice, but have been materially improved within the last year. . • A Puerto Rican Battalion of 400 men was organized between March 28 and June 30, 1899, and they have proved to be good soldiers and a success for the purpose for which organized, that is, service in Puerto Rico. Very respectfully, I. D. De Russy, Colonel Eleventh Infantry, Commanding Post. Appendix U 2. Post of Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, . September 23, 1899. Adjutant-General Department op Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R. Sir: In obedience to the instructions contained in the reference, under date of August 21, 1899, to me of the letter of August 9, 1899, to the department commander, I have the honor to submit the following report: I arrived in Puerto Rico on November 16, 1898, and have been since that date sta- tioned m the city of Mayaguez. My personal experience of other cities and districts in the island is too limited to make any observations of mine upon them of any appre- ciable value. Confining myself, then, to Mayaguez, I may say of the industrial, economic, and social conditions existing in the island upon the assumption of control by the United States and of the results of American occupation: Of the former they were much less disturbed by the state of war and change of sovereignty, considering the origin, his- tory, and traditions of the inhabitants, than might have been reasonably expected. While the Puerto Ricans gladly welcomed the Americans as their deliverers from the oppression of a Government they had long learned to hate, the Spaniards who chose to remain in the island soon found that under the American flag they were amply 292 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. protected in their peaceful pursuits, and enjoyed an immunity from many arbitrary and vexatious legal and other annoyances to which they had been always subjected. While bnsiness has at no time taken on the character of a boom, as many hoped ^and believed it would when the island was taken under the protection of the United 'States, there has not been anything to justify serious complaint that could be charged to the change of government, while on the other hand the money which has been spent. for the maintenance of troops has largely helped to tide over a period which would soon have, as the natural. sequence of a long chain of events, overwhelmed the community with financial disaster. ]y[uch has been said about the supposed unhappy condition of the country being due to the fact that the war with Spain deprived this community, almost exclusively agricultural, of its best markets without substituting others, but from my point of view, under the corrupt methods of administering laws, generally admitted to be good in themselves, that formerly prevailed here the more markets and the more profit- able they proved to be, the more rapid and certain must have been the destruction of the proprietors of the coffee and sugar plantations, because for every addition to their wealth came new schemes for abstracting it from them and putting it into the treasure chests of the traditional and insatiable officials, so that in a short time the latter might have possessed the land of the country and had the former proprietors for peones. Under American rule offices have been abolished or reduced in numbers to such an extent as to produce consternation among the class who have heretofore been allowed to live in the belief that offices were created for the support of them and their kind, and not simply for the administration of the affairs of the country. So far as I have been able to discover from reading the papers, which are generally frankly and avowedly political journals, politics, as understood here, has no rela- tion whatever to the science or art of efficient government, but is solely concerned with the maintenance in office of those who have been so fortunate as to have already acquired their seats, either by appointment or by command of the recognized head and leader of the ' ' party. ' ' As to the present economic and industrial situation existing here, it seems to me that it is steadily improving, in spite of the croakings of those who are either born pessimists, careless observers, or urgent advocates of the remission of all taes now due and of relief from the imposition of any for some years to come. Notwithstanding the effects of the hurricane of August 8, the destruction of great plantations of coffee trees, and in some, even many cases, of the lands themselves by landslides, large quantities of supplies of all kinds required in the country are being shipped daily by the Avholesale merchants of the city, who apparently have no anxiety about receiving in due time the money for them. Since August 25, 1898, five of the large grocery houses have sold and shipped into the country about Maya- guez the following: Pounds. Beans . 38, 482 Rice 433, 825 Codfish 187, 275 Flour 299, 600 The manufacturing interests of the city are not great, although they are well sup- ported — a planing mill and steam coffee-cleaning mill combined ; a tannery ; an ice plant, capacity about 10 tons per day; an electric-light plant, furnishing lights for the streets as w T ell as residences and other buildings. There is a tramway which has its rails laid in nearly all the principal streets, but operates its cars steadily on only two or three of them. Boots, shoes, clothing, tinware, furniture, horseshoes, bricks, etc., are all made by hand, and furnish apparently a good support to a large number of industrious and, in many cases, skilled people. What would become of all these people should the doctrine of unlimited free trade with the United States become a reality is a question apparently demanding some consideration, for of course none of these people could hope for a moment to compete with the machine-made goods so easily and cheaply manufactured in the United States. Of course matters would adjust themselves after a while, as they always do, but while the people were accommodating themselves to the changed condition of affairs there might be some bewilderment and more dis- satisfaction in being told that the change was entirely for their own profit and good — a statement whose truth they might not be able to fully realize until later on. The municipal affairs of this city have been very well administered during the time I have been in command of Mayaguez. At the time of the American occupa- tion Mr. Santiago R. Palmer, now a notary public in San Juan, was made the mayor REPOET OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 293 of the city. He is a man of intelligence and honor, and left the impress of his char- acter on his assistant when he resigned the mayoralty, so that, as far as it has been possible for them to do, they have followed in the course he laid out. When they have attempted to depart from it, as they have only a few times, they have been recalled to the proper path by the military authorities, always yielding prompt obedi- ence. They have many of the faults common, apparently, to all the municipal bodies that I know anything of in tne island, one of which is that of endeavoring to help their social or political friends, even at the expense of the public good; but as this is the result of heredity there is little hope of correcting it in this generation. It can only be watched and measures taken to guard against its effects. They are proud of their city, as they have reason to be, as it is probably the neatest, most orderly, and best laid out city in the island. Although there is no sewerage system, the city is very healthy, and, as a rule, free from the most ordinary epidemics. With the introduc- tion of a sewer system, and an improvement and enlargement of the waterworks I see no reason why the place should not be as uniformly healthy as most of the cities m the United States. The streets are brilliantly illuminated by arc lamps. The police are governed by regulations modeled on those of the New York City police, are neatly uniformed, polite, and courteous, and perform their duties, as a rule, promptly, cheerfully, and efficiently. •" The city has no debt worth mentioning, and had, at last accounts, some 140, 000 pesos due for unpaid taxes. The fire department is not very effective, as the only engine in use is an old pne like a square box on wheels, into which the water is poured from buckets, and then forced out by means of the hand pumps worked by the firemen. As to the person- nel, if not beyond criticism, it is dangerous to criticise it in the presence of the people who seem to have an admiration for it incomprehensible to the average American, but which might possibly be understood by one who had not yet forgotten the glory surrounding the memories of the members of the old volunteer fire departments of the United States. The city of Mayaguez, with a reported population of 37,000, comprises 31 barrios or wards. Some of these wards are from 10 to 15 miles distant from the city hall and instead of forming regular villages, as might be supposed, consist of huts or ]acals scattered over the neighboring hills. Each has a commissary or mayor who is supposed, under the mayor of Mayaguez, to exercise some sort of supervision or con- trol over the people of his barrio ; but, as he receives no salary, he is very unlikely to give much attention to the duties of his office, especially when his own private affairs make equal or greater demands upon his time. Hormigueros which was annexed to Mayaguez some months ago was, up to that time, an independent town with its mayors, secretary, council, etc., and is the largest oi tne barrios. The town consists of a small hamlet, clustered about the church, which was once quite a famous place, pilgrimages being made to it from other islands of the West Indies. As the maintenance of a town organization cost the taxpayers who did not reside in the town, but on their coffee and sugar estates, $7,000 United States per year, they considered it too expensive a luxury, and, on their petition, approved by tbe council of Mayaguez, the department commander ordered an election held winch resulted m only two votes being cast for retaining the town organization As a barrio of Mayaguez it has done just as well as when an independent town with its own council, and the taxpayers have been relieved of an unnecessarv burden The towns of Afiasco, population 11,000; Las Morias, 7,000; Moricao 9 000 all be- longing to this military district, are, although the center of large coffee and sugar industries, m a wretched state, due, in my opinion, to years of maladministration, official corruption, and neglect. All have mayors, councils, and other officeholders, with all the official machinery supposed to be necessary for the effective administration of the municipalities but tiiey appear to have fallen into an almost hopeless state of apathy and decay It is possible that when the elections proposed to be ordered' by the department commander have been held, it may transpire that some better men have been chosen to hold the municipal offices than those who now occupy them, in which event these places may take a new lease of life and finally become prosperous communities, lhey were all considerably injured by the recent hurricane, but the damages done by that can be much more easily repaired than those resulting from years of mis- government, unequal taxation, and official neglect. San Guman, the remaining town immediately subject to the control of the military authorities of Mayaguez, had, some years ago, a population of nearly 20,000 souls. It is believed to be much less than that now. The town was founded in 1511 and is one ot the most picturesque places to be found in the island or elsewhere. The soil 294 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. is so fertile in the surrounding country that it produces, or would produce, a wonder- ful variety of cereals, fruits, etc. It is, however, suffering from the same faults in administration as the places already named, and the department commander has been already requested to order an election held there as soon as convenient. As, so far as I am aware, " all the measures and steps taken in the formation of civil government for the island and its several provinces and districts" are embraced in the general orders issued by the several commanders of the department of Puerto Elco, I presume that it is unnecessary to furnish them with this report to the depart- ment commander. My efforts to obtain certain statistics which I thought might be of value in con- nection with this report — although I am not sure that they would have been — have failed. Those of an official nature, I was informed, could only be obtained with the consent of the authorities in San Juan, and those I endeavored to procure from the civil authorities here are so incomplete that they would have little or no value. The newspapers of the country are so entirely devoted to the indefinable thing they call politics, that they seldom contain anything about the manufactures, resources of the country, their development, or suggestions to their readers as to the best means of utilizing them for the benefit of the country; that they are, unlike the great papers of the United States, practically worthless as sources of information. Very respectfully, C. C. C. Care, Lieutenant-Colonel Fifth Cavalry, Commanding Mayaguez.- Appendix U 3. Post of Ponce, P. R., September, 23, 1899. Adjutant-General Department of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. E. Sir: In compliance with indorsement, August 21, 1899, on letter from the Assistant Secretary of War to governor-general of Puerto Rico, I have the honor to submit here- with a brief report on the matters indicated therein, as far as is possible for me to do without more preparation. Prior to the occupation by the United States the industrial condition of the plan- tations and people were in a moderate state of prosperity. The farms in this vicinity were all in fair condition as regards the main buildings, but all others were, according to reports, in poor condition. The main trade was with Spain, Germany, France, and Italy; very little trade, except in sugar, with the United States. The people generally, in the municipalities, were burdened with heavy taxes to support a large number of high-salaried officials, whom, it is currently reported, appropriated some, at least, of the funds accrued to their own personal use and benefit. The running expenses of all the municipalities were very large, and as a consequence made a heavy burden on the planters, which, in turn, affected the labor by decreasing their wages and raising the price of food stuffs. Socially, the people were divided into four distinct classes: The "upper ten," offi- cials and professional men, who were almost entirely exclusive. Then another set, composed of professional men and large dealers, who, on certain occasions, met with the first. The third class comprised small owners, dealers, and artisans of all trades. This class of people kept almost entirely to themselves, making a very discordant element in most of the large towns, thus engendering severe political feeling. The fourth class was composed of the low order of blacks and native Puerto Ricans. These constitute most of the day laborers, and of them much good can not be said. Autonomy was granted a few months before the declaration of war, which, accord- ing to reports, inaugurated a better feeling toward Spain. As a result of the distinction in classes, the three lower classes were almost always arrayed against the first. The assumption of autonomy had not, at the time of the occupation, entirely filled the expectations of some of the political parties. As, naturally, the party out were arrayed against the party appointed to power at the time, an effort was made to con- solidate the two parties, without success. Educational facilities were not good, and only a minor number of the lower class received any schooling. Money generally was high and in great demand, and as a consequence the poorer people suffered a great deal for the actual necessities of life. REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 295 A detailed statement of the measures taken to form civil government under the military rule is not of course at hand here, for, generally speaking, these steps had their inception at the head of the government in San Juan, leaving part of the details to be carried out in the different municipalities. Legislation is confined in these places to the local ordinances necessary for the control of the police force, municipal boards, etc. The executive and judicial functions are vested almost entirely in the alcalde and council and the municipal judge, for all except criminal offenses, which were under the judge of instruction and the criminal court. The military power has not been used except in cases of extreme necessity, the only recent occasion being that of the storm of August 8, which somewhat demoralized the civil executive functions for about twenty-fours, rendering action necessary. Since the occupation and up to the date of the storm, August 8, the industrial con- ditions have, according to the best disinterested reports, improved, because the large owners, having been pecuniarily embarrassed by the heavy taxes and the want of money for current expenses, and a desire for that reason to dispose of their proper- ties at a good figure to capital from the United States, improved the farms as much as possible in appearance, and in many instances in fact. Another reason, the price of coffee was expected to go up, so that by common reports these conditions have somewhat improved and an increase of crops been planted. The increased lease of time in which to pay off indebtedness and recover from the effects of former condi- tions has also enabled the planters to make minor improvements. It can hardly be said that in such a short time the country has improved to the extent demanded by popular expectation, as a result of a war and occupation by the United States. There have been many necessary expenses taken off the budgets of most of the municipalities hi this district, and taxes, in some instances, removed on small dealers and somewhat increased in other ways, taking a small portion of the burden of taxation from people least able to stand it. The social conditions have not materially changed since July, 1898, according to common report. The tariff is some 12 to 13 per cent lower than under Spanish rule. The people generally feel more freedom of speech and action, amounting sometimes nearly to license, from an uneducated idea of freedom, but which is fast being dissi- pated. It is regretted that this office has been unable, since the storm, to give more atten- tion to minor details relating to civil matters, necessary for such a paper as this, and for this reason and the fact that my command here extends back only to July 1, this report is necessarily brief, nor do I know if it reaches exactly the points aimed at. I expect to have within a week *or two a paper from the town council on these subjects, which, if found of any intelligent use, will be forwarded. Very respectfully, Albert L. Myer, Major, Eleventh Infantry, Commanding Post. Appendix U 4. Ponce, P. R., September 15, 1899. Adjutant-General Department of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R. Sir: In accordance with indorsement of August 21, 1899, on a letter from the Assistant Secretary of War to the governor-general of Puerto Rico, dated Washing- ton, D. C, August 9, 1899, I have the honor to submit the following report, which, in order to show all points as far as possible, is more detailed and extended than I had intended: The conditions existing on the island of Puerto Rico previous to the American occupation, as is well known, were bad, and the government was by the few for the few. Trade with Spain was comparatively free (only 10 per cent duties being required) , and the importation of a few articles was prohibited and an export duty on some articles was charged. Everything was done to assist the Spanish element, and little was done to assist the natives. Wrong and sometimes cruel treatment of the natives by the Spaniards was common. Actual slavery had been abolished, but virtual slavery remained, and no man knew when he was likely to commit an offense against the Spanish Government, and when, as a result, he would be imprisoned. For all this there was no redress. It was only a few r months before the Spanish- American war began that autonomy was granted, and it may-be assumed that it was 296 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. only in consequence of prospective war that it was granted. Besides, there were many social and personal abuses of the people that were not corrected by autonomy, so that the people were ready for any sort of a change which might in some way afford relief from their long suffering. The American occupation began July 25, 1898, at Guanica, P. R., and was com- pleted at San Juan, P. R., October 18, 1899. The Americans Avere received with open arms by the Puerto Ricans, especially those of the laboring and lower classes. The Spanish and their sympathizers naturally kept aloof. To anyone who had a good acquaintance with the Mexicans, had traveled in France and Italy, and was an observing man, the frequent "Vivan los Americanos" meant little, and was simply the outburst of the moment; but beneath those "Vivans" there was in the case of Puerto Rico more, because the fame of the great Republic had long been known, and the desii-e for the freedom of that country was great as the wrongs of the people had been great, and these wrongs had remained unredressed, so the people expected much from the Americans, not in a year, or a few months, but at once, and great has been their disappointment when as months have passed most of the island's conditions have remained unchanged, due largely to the politicians of the island. Among the first changes expected was free trade with the United States, an increase in the wages of the laborers, and a definite settlement of the money question. It was expected, too, that a great market would be obtained for the island's products. None of these things have come about. It was also expected that previous taxes and laws would be at once abolished, and a more just and equitable system of both be adopted at once. There have been efforts already made in this direction, with as yet small effect. The money question is not settled, and that fact has prevented the proper transaction of business, because of the uncertainties connected with it in consequence of the rates of exchange. I can not say that industries of any kind have increased, and many enterprises are awaiting a definite settlement of the tariff question, and Others are held in abeyance because it is not possible to get franchises at present. I find that the acreage of coffee has not been increased, but that of sugar and to- bacco has increased some, and these are the chief crops of the island. The social conditions have remained about the same, though the people, especially those of the lower classes, enjoy a personal freedom unknown under the Spanish rule. Educa- tional facilities were, and are still, very few and rudimentary. The public schools are not such as would be recognized as such in the United States, while there seems to be a desire among many to learn; still, among others there is little desire or disposi- tion to spend money for education. Idleness has not increased, still I don't think it has diminished much. A great deal of the idleness is enforced, especially in the in- terior, where at some seasons of the year it is impossible for laborers to find employ- ment. This, of course, has a tendency to create disturbance, which might not other- wise occur. The work on the roads last spring was of immense benefit, because it gave employment to so many men, and so kept them occupied, and because they received in most instances their money directly, instead of through the medium of "bosses," Avho formerly made way with most of the money before the laborer received it, and because it distributed money throughout the island. Prices are higher than formerly, and the tendency is to charge in American money the same prices as were charged in Puerto Rican money. Such a change adds 60 per cent to the purchasing price, paid by the consumer, while the cost price to the seller remains the same. The duties noAV charged on goods imported are about 1 per cent lower than under the Spanish regime, as stated above; yet the amount of duties collected remains about the same, thus showing an increase in importations. In general it may be assumed that there has been a slight improvement in the industrial, economic, and social condition of the island, but not such an improA H O CO Establishments. d o H Fh o s ■a . £ is a o CO Sh~ I! aT'ci d d O a3 CO •a o o n CO Towns. 03 bo B CO 0) m o o o o o cS .O o d - 00 636. 42 250. 00 892. 95 803. 17 097. 00 945.00 281. 00 935. 31 285.48 497. 97 530.50 087. 75 817. 26 255. 51 486. 00 Residences Storehouses Sugar establishments Coffee establishments Tobacco establishments . . . Estates for other*purposes , Huts .. RECAPITULATION. 31, 866 1,043 362 875 14 3, 042 10, 939 Grand total of estates 4g 141 Total declared valuation ......"... 828 867 928.79 332 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Appendix U. 19. Receipts on account internal-revenue collections — Island of Puerto Rico — October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899. Taxes and imposts. Rural, ur- ban, and cattle. Industrial and com- mercial. Fees on property. Impost on mines. Personal taxes. SAN JUAN. November 13, 335. 20 18, 616. 87 15, 309. 72 8, 738. 18 2, 447. 25 19, 422. 43 10, 276. 58 9, 484. 97 3, 838. 66 603. 95 888. 82 609. 01 381. 35 307.56 296. 32 153. 60 74.20 .50 January 13.00 February 18.70 March 1-11 Total pesos 58, 447. 22 43, 626. 59 2, 483. 06 153. 60 106.40 March 12-31 4, 183. 65 2, 881. 38 2,506.16- 4, 658. 55 6, 391. 19 1, 200. 52 2, 449. 92 3, 889. 12 79.80 348. 57 130. 97 353. 76 April 13.80 50.88 30.15 May Total dollars 14, 229. 74 13, 930. 75 913. 10 64.68 30.15 PONCE. October 1, 398. 77 11, 156. 70 1, 667. 43 622. 17 9, 547. 38 4, 420. 67 2, 400. 47 894. 85 2, 131. 55 4, 649. 93 2, 746. 82 1, 566. 96 1, 505. 28 1, 367. 01 1, 042. 34 211. 07 152. 57 December 164.35 January 112. 65 March 1-11 Total pesos 24, 392. 45 14, 497. 47 8, 228. 41 640. 64 March 12-31 9, 468. 36 3, 109. 65 5, 637. 17 1, 904. 85 848. 77 2, 335. 47 1, 355. 19 1, 418. 59 215. 79 183. 07 124. 19 1, 034. 59 May June , Total dollars 20, 120. 03 5, 958. 02 1, 557. 64 MAYAGUEZ. October 174. 86 123. 70 388. 91 4, 016. 73 7, 409. 89 42.52 262. 07 4, 005. 81 5, 777. 63 3, 683. 02 798. 71 1, 476. 78 1,408.78 1, 895. 83 1, 485. 95 22.95 67.95 December 108. 30 22.55 March 1-11 12, 114. 09 13,771.05 7, 066. 05 221. 75 March 12-31 4, 268. 81 2, 898. 63 2, 598. 30 3, 983. 50 661. 98 1, 747. 13 644.77 639. 77 179. 58 98.69 139. 24 79.28 Total dollars 13, 749. 24 3, 693. 65 496. 79 AKECIBO. October 636. 76 1, 394. 68 2, 327. 32 2, 773. 23 3, 564. 85 339. 48 895. 11 1, 171. 85 572. 54 850. 40 1, 186. 96 673. 57 1, 250. 75 1, 357. 08 323. 30 13.95 160. 55 December 16.00 43.85 March 1-11 10, 696. 84 3, 829. 38 4, 791. 66 234. 35 March 12-31 4, 250. 22 4, 283. 06 4, 389. 70 2, 201. 74 1, 021. 05 597. 06 796. 99 504. 89 145. 51 322. 34 136. 67 43. 82i May 72.00 June 15, 124. 72 2, 919. 99 648. 34± 72. 00 AGUADILLA. 722. 00 1, 572. 36 584.96 3.24 1, 265. 57 602. 30 761. 06 727. 93 430. 77 1, 137. 69 61.12 314. 72 291. 02 141. 36 220. 10 362.00 6.65 « 3.10 March 1-11 4, 148. 13 3, 659. 75 1, 028. 32 371.75 ==^ REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 333 Receipts on account internal-revenue collections — Island of Puerto Rico — October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899— Continued. Taxes and imposts. Rural, ur- ban, and cattle. Industrial and com- mercial. Fees on property. Impost on mines. Personal taxes. aguadilla— continued. March 12-31 967. 31 1, 664. 11 938. 88 836. 62 97.39 316. IS 1,062.69 279.77 97.30 42.01 9.00 4, 406. 92 1, 756. 03 148.31 AEROYO. 67.01 220. 74 615. 67 454.74 56.80 235. 21 1, 320. 62 275. 45 433. 01 230. 45 270. 74 90 3.40 772. 68 646. 57 573. 86 2, 060. 12 1, 583. 16 2, 530. 27 4.30 HUMACAO. 400. 35 135. 25 246. 85 334. 24 213. 29 34.64 89.00 3, 247. 82 3, 200. 66 5, 150. 76 246. 77 1, 077. 49 686. 15 961. 62 24.00 15.05 2.50 11,688.24 2, 972. 03 1, 364. 62 41.55 March 12-31 1, 272. 39 1,289.08 2, 245. 37 1,451.70 414. 38 599. 05 477. 92 254. 63 244.26 19.48 175. 28 99.00 June 6, 258. 54 1, 745. 98 538. 02 VIEQUES. 461. 78 56.20 191. 90 41.06 3.28 , 7.85 2, 868. 78 344.76 1, 424. 23 113. 94 4, 751. 71 754. 22 7.85 March 12-31 272. 70 428.48 265. 58 267. 69 32.77 97.97 39.50 25.52 Total dollars 1, 234. 45 195. 76 GUAYAMA. 42.00 March 12-31 3, 089. 98 194. 78 3, 643. 71 1, 002. 69 307. 71 48.17 475. 69 107. 32 40.80 88.22 83.55 8.10 April May June Total dollars 7, 931. 16 938. 89 220. 67 CAGUAS. April 821. 5Q 1, 200. 18 4, 037. 74 74.51 216. 04 560. 38 266. 75 4.18 7.20 7.80 Total dollars 6. 059. 42 850. 93 278. 13 7.80 Total receipts in pesos Total receipts in dollars 128, 298. 80 89, 114. 22 84, 693. 65 31,990.00 27,534.39 1 153.60 4,801.00^ 136.68 1, 628. 59 37.95 334 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Receipts on account internal-revenue collections — Island of Puerto Rico — October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899— Continued. Stamps and stamped paper, etc. Insular property. Miscella- neous. Taxes in Rents. Sales. arrears. SAN JUAN. 2, 171. 61 123. 65 18.31 358. 25 14.25 168. 71 44.50 50.00 1, 540. 75 597. 43 1, 826. 73 1,447.07 724. 81 151. 27 207. 64 10, 562. 10 March 1 11 14.21 2, 502. 90 559. 52 1, 635. 25 4, 747. 31 10, 576. 37 March 12 31 23.46 86.03 946. 01 1, 111. 32 61.20 61.83 51.30 128. 53 7.40 220. 68 120. 00 412. 27 23.86 17.94 365. 61 17.94 241. 66 348. 08 2, 166. 82 862. 94 PONCE. 109. 50 97.20 101. 34 417. 29 361. 40 242. 82 253. 68 258. 55 132. 22 725. 33 1, 248. 67 x ■ March 12 31 154.68 213. 57 168. 03 158. 02 857. 44 606. 00 857.44 606. 00 694. 30 MAYAGUEZ. 1, 271. 55 497. 08 23.05 40.41 36.19 244.97 26.8. 10 21.51 . 255. 01 1, 768. 63 612. 72 276. 52 30.98 28. 59 41.88 24.47 289. 93 .60 1.71 78.45 69.01 2.31 ■ 125. 92 437. 39 ABECTBO. 6.50 103. 29 10.91 901. 83 15.99 1, 276. 37 392.72 314. 61 334. 60 322. 12 247. 54 2, 318. 30 1, 038. 52 569. 66 2.98 59.93 14.33 12. 80| 18.77 277. 90 93. 63 19.52 277. 90 90. 04i 7.91 9.63 68.81 210. 41 29.54 131.92 ==== AGUADILLA. 385. 02 438. 98 21.29 2.75 101. 73 Total pesos 845. 29 326. 30 104. 48 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 335 Receipts on account internal-revenue collections — Island of Puerto Rico — October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899 — Continued. Stamps and stamped paper, etc. Insular property. Miscella- neous. Taxes in Rents. Sales. arrears. aguadilla — continued. March 12-31 43.89 24.79 1.50 15.00 May 5 62 Total dollars 85. 18 5 62 AEEOYO. October 391. 12 81.60 238. 62 10.09 10.65 34.74 53.94 November 494. 73 • 177.78 December January February March 1-11 Total pesos 472. 72 672. 51 348. 04 HUMACAO. October 3.41 7.51 5.34 November December January 32.89 February 33.41 .03 March 1-11 82. 59 March 12-31 17.08 10.04 8.83 7.50 April 435 48 Mav June Total dollars 43.45 435 48 VIEQUES. November December Januarv Februarv March 1-11 Total pesos March 12-31 April 12. 30 7.20 May June Total dollars 19.50 GUAYAMA. March 1-11 pesos. . - 8.46 March 12-31 April 10.04 18.20 June Total dollars 39.00 | 90.22 CAGUAS. April 15.22 5.46 7.11 25.78 16.57 11.77 206. 31 86.58 3.24 May June '.. Total dollars 27.79 54.12 296 13 Total receipts in pesos Total receipts in dollars 8. 633. 17 48.04 559. 52 1, 099. 10 2, 307. 76 1, 231. 98 8, 412. 61 3, 318. 331 11,527.03 2, 259. 70 336 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Receipts on account internal-revenue collections — Island of Puerto Rico — October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899 — Continued. Reimbursements. Deposits. .Pen- sions. Depart- ment, of state. ■ Depart- ment of finance. Depart- ment of justice. Depart- ment of interior. Guberna- tive. Judicial SAN JUAN. 9, 272. 60 63, 474. 36 42, 578. 19 46,435.38 51, 028. 00 800. 00 2, 317. 56 1, 000. 00 6, 528. 42 209. 59 20.75 20.83 41.66 12.50 40.00 333. 33 12.50 62.49 9, 845. 98 582. 92 212, 788. 53 845. 76 12.99 1, 80o! 00 15.00 5.40 20, 083. 51 134, 604. 26 126, 131. 32 110, 513. 32 12.82 4.00 25. 16 12.50 1, 800. 00 66.72 8, 053. 45 9.68 12.82 3, 612. 99 81.72 5.40 8, 057. 45 391, 332. 71 47.34 PONCE. 1, 254. 60 67.63 5, 000. 00 67.63 6, 254. 60 March 12-31 36.00 69.36 105. 36 MAYAGUEZ. 318. 46 1, 058. 18 1, 541. 11 264. 57 234. 28 March 1-11 3, 182. 32 234. 28 March 12-31 64.33 150. 00 91.35 • ' 150. 00 155. 68 AEECIBO. 17.44 46.19 6.85 88.92 9.02 168. 42 March 12 31 3.58 21.56 18.70 6.39 195. 60 50.23 195.60 AGUADILLA. 13.02 10.00 13.02 10.00 1 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 337 Receipts on account internal-revenue collections — Island of Puerto Rico — October 18, 1898, to June SO, 1899— Continued. Reimbursements. Deposits. Pen- sions. Depart- ment of state. Depart- ment of finance. Depart- ment of justice. Depart- ment of interior. Guberna- tive. Judicial. aguadilla— continued. March 12-31 . . June AEEOYO. October 10.70 November 49.61 January February . . , March 1-11 10.70 49.61 HUMACAO. October November 10.18 17.50 February March 1-11 27.68 March 12-31 April May June 66 00 Total dollars 66.00 VIEQUES. November December March 1-11 Total pesos March 12-31 May t GUAYAMA. March 12-31 144. 16 May 151. 10 Total dollars 295. 26 CAGUAS. April Total dollars . . .". Total receipts in pesos 13.02 12.82 62.49 81.72 9, 845. 98 5.40 593. 62 8, 057. 45 216, 284. 19 391, 933. 56 7, 344. 63 464. 62 Total receipts in dollars 3, 612. 99 12558- -22 338 REPORT OF BRIOADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Receipts on account internal-revenue collections — Island of Puerto Rico — October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899— Continued. Bonds and sureties. Transfer of funds — re- ceived from internal rev- enue col- lectors. Advances to be refunded. Consump- tion impost on liquors. Monthly totals. SAN JUAN. 4, 200. 00 1, 300. 00 4, 856. 00 22, 305. 00 6,033.33 1, 957. 34 52, 936. 04 99, 183. 85 76, 658. 63 99, 929. 38 60, 907. 66 38, 694. 33 1, 957. 34 389, 615. 56 March 12-31 1, 800. 00 13, 440. 00 6, 280. 00 16,077.57 32, 656. 20 161, 549. 98 3, 310. 90 3, 310. 89 37, 853. 06 5,581.76 176, 656. 96 152,747.33 37, 597. 57 3, 310. 90 46, 745. 71 523, 610. 47 PONCE. 9, 248. 23 15, 654. 35 27,243.65 20,577.65 21,221.43 37.63 21,402.12 15, 600. 80 849. 56 37, 890. 11 93, 945. 31 March 12 31 6,230.90 12, 757. 44 5, 396. 21 1, 285. 77 16, 918. 50 19, 456. 64 13, 322. 79 5, 871. 18 25, 670. 32 55,569.11 MAYAGUEZ. 2, 652. 10 861. 75 4, 387. 92 7, 744. 89 326. 07 11, 037. 34 12, 548. 35 24, 139. 31 12, 225. 16 51, 472. 57 6, 015. 71 3, 763. 96 1,013.13 20. 06 11, 511. 32 8, 616. 05 4, 508. 04 4, 988. 43 10, 812. 86 29, 623. 84 ARECIBO. 2,201.09 4, 069. 10 6, 129. 42 4, 628. 08 814. 89 4, 185. 19 8, 618. 86 11, 627. 94 10, 680. 14 6. 160. 59 4, 185. 19 19, 826. 68 43, 473. 81 3, 022. 31 5, 263. 35 2, 081. 30 4, 001. 33 S, 445. 65 10, 761. 67 M » 7, 881. 22 TllTIP 6, 790. 50 14, 368. 29 33, 879. 04 AGUADILLA. 2, 025. 12 21.69 3, 988. 02 5, 128. 52 1,718.45 4, 776. 90 2, 764. 63 6, 034. 83 16, 541. 87 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 339 Receipts on account internal-revenue collections— Island of Puerto Rico — October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899— Continued. « Bonds and sureties. Transfer of funds — re- ceived from internal rev- enue col- lectors. Advances to be refunded. Consump- tion impost on liquors. Monthly totals. aguadilla — continued. March 12 31 1, 702. 00 1, 083. 53 2, 204. 81 465. 12 2, 907. 89 3, 130. 62 4, 216. 88 1, 602. 13 5,455.46 11, 857. 52 ARROYO. 2, 852. 66 5, 102. 37 1, 480. 94 4, 435. 45 2, 152. 99 609. 47 6, 333. 92 3, 121. 55 1,743.22 10,050.57 17, 782. 00 HUMACAO. 403. 76 502. 53 4, 602. 73 4, 605. 00 4, 748. 20 8, 876. 44 11, 109. 78 34.67 9, 353. 20 25, 529. 91 March 12-31 1, 948. 11 4, 968. 88 1, 376. 72 1, 968. 75 7, 322. 01 4, 284. 12 3, 847. 58 8, 314. 35 17, 401. 82 VIEQUES. 4.40 352. 06 2, 000. 00 474. 03 3, 277. 04 2, 536. 66 1,465.29 i, 823. 22 1, 940. 44 4, 179. 68 9, 693. 46 ^—= March 12-31 305. 47 370. 93 909. 68 312 28 89. 91 383. 12 Total dollars 460. 84 1 910 55 GUAYAMA. March 1-11 k pesos. . 50.46 March 12-31 3, 682. 33 3,731.94 4,221.15 4, 270. 51 April 3, 390. 73 May June 3, 000. 00 6, 390. 73 15, 905. 93 CAGUAS. 1.94 1,870.89 953. 25 1, 419. 81 3 399 90 5, 580. 69 Total dollars 2, 826. 08 10, 400. 40 Total receipts in pesos 38, 694. 33 37, 597. 57 99, 560. 23 74, 298. 93 1, 957. 34 3, 310. 90 648, 104. 95 Total receipts in dollars 46, 745. 71 700, 158. 68 340 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Disbursements on account internal-revenue collections, island of Puerto Rico, October 18, 1898, to June 30, 1899. Department of state. Period. Salaries and office expenses. Court of common pleas. Board of health. Beneficen- cia and lunatic asylum. Police of island. Monthly totals. 241.14 4, 313. 90 3, 662. 66 2, 256. 46 3, 342. 39 400. 00 100. 00 131. 66 379. 97 176. 04 100. 00 341.14 166. 66 1,580.36 1, 293. 00 2,441.31 1, 763. 18 6, 192. 58 2, 000. 00 4, 528. 42 12, 937. 76 3, 000. 00 7, 335. 63 9, 402. 23 18, 143. S3 March 1 to 11 3, 400. 00 14, 216. 55 166. 66 887. 67 22, 466. 18 7, 077. 85 44,814.91 March 12 to 31 $2, 272. 06 2, 470. 51 1,958.28 5, 360. 59 f 2, 272. 06 $6,464.23 8, 934. 74 1, 958. 28 1,457.78 6, 818. 37 12, 061. 44 7, 922. 01 19, 983. 45 Total disbursements, United States currency $19, 983. 45 Total disbursements, Puerto Rico currency, converted into dollars at official rate ($0. 60) . . . 26, 888. 95 Grand total 46,872.40 Period. Department of finance. Salaries and office expenses. Salaries and expenses of internal rev- enue col- lectors. Salaries paid to a custom- house officer. Monthly totals. November ... December January February March 1 to 11 Total pesos. March 12 to 31 April May June Total dollars . 5,411.97 7, 244. 64 2, 738. 02 2, 902. 47 188. S2 601. 29 516. 72 569. 76 302. 51 70.83 18, 485. 92 2, 061. 11 3, 379. 08 .3,556.21 3, 574. 84 3, 904. 25 1, 452. 37 2, 132. 83 2, 217. 72 1, 999. 96 14, 414. 38 7, 802. 88 55.40 6, 013. 26 7, 761. 36 3, 307. 78 3, 260. 38 259. 65 20, 602. 43 4, 831. 45 5, 689. 04 5, 792. 56 5, 904. 21 22, 217. 26 Total disbursements United States currency ■ Total disbursements Puerto Rico currency, converted into dollars at official rate ($0. 60) . $22,217.26 12,361.46 Grand .total 34,578.72 Department of justice. Period. Salaries and expenses. Salaries and expenses of clergy. Penitentiary. Monthly totals. 5, 919. 11 11, 923. 78 13, 946. 56 11, 622. 44 10, 959. 02 206. 75 5, 919. 11 1, 490. 40 1, 468. 66 5, 773. 72 3, 516. 37 5, 881. 67 14, 882. 84 19, 720. 2S 117. 37 15,256.18 16, 840. 69 206. 75 Total pesos 54,577.66 1,607.77 16, 640. 42 72, 825. 85 March 12 to 31 $11, 974. 04 10, 930. 68 14, 125. 14 13, 441. 72 $19. 79 $677.62 2, 267. 11 1, 532. 28 4, 518. 75 ~~ $12,671.45 13, 197. 79 15, 657. 42 61.75 18, 022. 22 50, 471. 58 81. 54 8, 995. 76 59, 548. 88 Total disbursements United States currency Total disbursements Puerto Rico currency, converted into dollars at official rate .60).... $59, 548. 88 43, 695. 51 Grand total 103 > 244 - 39 REPORT OF BRIGADIER- GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. 341 Disbursements on account internal-revenue collections, island of Puerto Rico, October IS, 1898, to June 30, 1899— Continued. October November December January February March 1 to 11 . Period. Total pesos . March 12 to 31. April May June Total dollars Department of interior. Salaries and office expenses. 3, 200. 24 2, 374. 47 2, 272. 92 2, 230. 43 30.00 10, 108. 06 $2, 280. 40 2, 181. 59 1, 745. 78 1,611.62 7, 819. 39 Education. Public works. 4, 665. 77 4, 083. 66 3, 149. 93 4, 635. 75 16, 535. 11 S3, 224. 78 2, 883. 12 210. 00 5, 708. 67 12, 026. 57 703. 70 8, 347. 54 5, 884. 43 8, 704. 72 3, 880. 57 27, 520. 96 $3, 644. 49 3, 944. 72 3, 952. 42 4, 081. 17 15, 622. 80 Post-office and tele- graph; 201. 37 262. 31 2S6. 50 Monthly totals. 703. 70 16, 213. 55 12, 543. 93 14, 389. 88 11, 033. 25 30.00 54, 914. 31 $9, 149. 67 9, 009. 43 5, 908. 20 11, 401. 46 35, 468. 76 Total disbursements United States currency Total disbursements Puerto Eico currency, converted into dollars at official rates ($0.60) . . 135, 468. 76 32, 948. 58 Grand total. Pensions. Loss, con- version of Puerto Rican currency. Commis- Period. Civil. Military. By special grant. Half-pay officers. subcolleet- ors, also overpaid taxes returned. October 1 697 41 November 3 084 36 December 1, 780. 46 12.50 1, 316. 22 540. 13 1,033.07 1,652.82 2 252 24 January 2 336 50 Februarv 2 957 67 March 1-11 Total pesos 1, 792. 96 1, 856. 35 1,033.07 1, 652. 82 11 335 18 March 12-31 $2, 105. 50 $1, 670. 35 April 2, 092. 30 1, 796. 05 June 1178. 51 $158. 24 190. 03 Total dollars 178. 51 158. 24 90.03 2, 105. 50 7, 389. 51 Transfers —Funds credited to various internal revenue collectors. Consump- tion impost on liquors returned. Salaries paid by special order. Immi- grants from South America. Advances refunded. Promissory notes. Period. Interest and discount. State notes returned. 415. 46 6, 595. 21 32, 340. 56 11, 100. 03 24, 291. 72 1,823.22 November 1, 631. 80 1, 547. 92 415. 62 35.00 35.00 539. 23 177. 78 1,248.00 December 6.27 1, 957. 34 January 114. 00 February March 1-11 Total pesos 76, 566. 20 3, 665. 34 6.27 1,957.34 114. 00 1, 965. 01 March 12-31 $17, 621. 11 28, 811. 56 14, 162. 09 12,400.18 $35. 00 35.00 86.00 65.00 April $6, 578. 70 37, 853. 06 5, 581. 76 $3, 310. 90 8, 721. 13 8, 931. 88 May June $3, 832. 80 Total dollars 72, 994. 94 50, 013. 52 221. 00 20, 963. 91 3, 832. 80 3-12 REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL GEO. W. DAVIS. Disbursements on account internal-revenue collections, island of Puerto Rico, October 18, 1898, to June SO, 1899— Continued. Deposits returned. Bonds and sureties returned. Monthly Gubernative. Judicial. totals. 1,112.87 8, 700. 00 51,669.12 40, 523. 09 56,479.80 100. 00 306. 33 13.20 1, 800. 00 5, 000. 00 19, 800. 00 25, 200. 00 3, 200. 00 22, 656. 93 100, 747. 00 76, 089. 87 108, 964. 19 March 1-11 5, 165. 22 157, 472. 01 319. 53 55, 000. 00 314, 736. 08 March 12-31 $49, 401. 72 95, 672. 20 162, 867. 04 106, 940. 82 $70. 833. 68 April May $3, 615. 00 $5, 880. 00 6, 810. 00 2, 283. 60 145, 734. 17 232, 606. 06 37.50 142, 296. 37 414,881.78 3, 652. 50 14, 973. 60 591,470.28 RECAPITULATION. Period. October November . December. . January February . March 1-11 . Total pesos. March 12-31 April May June Total dollars . Total in United States currency Total in Puerto Rico currency, converted into dollars at official rate ($0.60) Grand total Receipts. 21, 760. 92 89, 183. 19 161, 732. 47 139, 776. 32 168, 533. 63 67, 118. 42 648, 104. 95 $78, 375. 47 216, 898. 40 218,803.34 186, 081. 47 700, 158. 68 700, 158. 68 388, 862. 97 1,089,021.65 Disburse- ments. 8, 076. 82 65, 959. 16 148, 108. 20 118, 445. 94 158, 241. 84 9, 061. 62 507,893. 8 $99, 755. 30 182,565.17 261,922.52 184, 445. 64 728, 688. 63 728, 688. 63 304, 736. 15 1,033,424.78 Total receipts $1,089,021.65 Total disbursements 1,033,424.78 Balance. A 55,596.87 9,561.48 is represented by Of the balance above shown, $36,035.39 is in United States currency and ! Ventures, bonds, and securities. Respectfully submitted, C. H. Heyl, \ Lieutenant- Colonel, Inspector- General, U. S.V. ^headquarters Department of Puerto Rico, Inspector-General's Office, San Juan, December 29, 1S99. o JUL ^o raw