decree of May 28, 1838, in so far as these are not opposed to the sovereignty and Constitution of the United States, such provisions of the compilation" of January 5, 1891, as are contrary to said statutes being abolished. 66 The secretary of justice is entrusted with the details for the execution of this order. By command of Major-General Brooke: M. V. SHERIDAN, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Chief of Staff. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, San Juan, December 4, 1898. From and after this date the granting of exclusive fishing privileges in the streams, rivers, bays, inlets, and other waters of Porto Rico and its adjacent islands will be discontinued and the right of fishing in the said waters will be absolutely free; but all persons who enjoy said free privileges will be subject to the common and statute laws which govern fishing in said waters. By command of Major-General Brooke: M. V. SHERIDAN, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Chief of Staff. GENERAL ORDERS, 23. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, In compliance with orders from the War Department, the undersigned hereby assumes command of the Department of Porto Rico. GUY V. HENRY, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers. GENERAL ORDERS, 1 HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, It having become evident that the civil courts can not, owing to their slow process and the overcrowded state of their dockets, act with sufficient promptness against the bandits who are still committing crimes of arson and murder on the island, there not having been as yet a single conviction in such cases, and an immediate example being necessary, military commissions will be appointed for the trial of such cases as may be properly brought before them. By command of Brigadier-General Henry: W. V. RICHARDS, Assistant Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS, Į HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, No. 29. The municipal tax on fresh beef intended for use and issued to the Army of the United States, is hereby suspended. By command of Brigadier-General Henry: W. V. RICHARDS, Assistant Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, Until otherwise ordered no grants or concessions of public or corporate rights or franchises for the construction of public or quasi public works, such as tramways, railroads, telegraph and telephone lines, waterworks, gas works, electric light lines, etc., shall be made by any municipal or other local governmental authority or body in Porto Rico, except upon the approval of the major-general commanding the military forces of the United States in Porto Rico, who shall before approving any such grant or concession be so especially authorized by the Secretary of War. This order will be distributed to all alcaldes who will be governed by it in the several municipalities. Projected or intended improvements submitted by individuals or companies requiring franchise will be received by the councils and forwarded with recommendation to the headquarters for the action of the department commander. By command of Major-General Henry: GENERAL ORDERS, FRANK MCINTYRE, First Lieutenant, Nineteenth Infantry, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, I. A board of health is hereby constituted at San Juan, to be composed as follows: 1. Capt. L. P. Davison, Fifth Infantry, president of board, executive officer, and sanitary inspector of the island. 2. The health officer of the port. 3. The health officer of the city. 4 and 5. Two members of the city council, to be selected by that body, one member having special interest in and knowledge of street cleaning, policing, etc., the other member of public works, water supply, sewerage, etc. II. District commanders will have similar boards organized in their towns. In the absence of troops, the alcalde will be the head of the board, the number of councilmen can be reduced to one, and at towns not on the sea the health officer of the port will be omitted. These boards will gather vital statistics and other information and recommendations, which they will furnish to the board at San Juan. The later board will keep the department commander informed of all matters needing his attention. III. The board at San Juan will formulate regulations governing sanitary surroundings; overcrowding of buildings; policing of houses inside, front, and rear; throwing of refuse matter of any kind into the street or on the ground; proper clothing of men, women, and children, or exposure of person, and fix a fine for the violation of such regulations, said fine to be collected and turned into the municipal treasury for charitable purposes. In event of failure to pay this fine an imprisonment of a number of fixed days will be imposed and carried out by each alcalde. The regulations fixed by the board at San Juan, to govern at other places as well, will be complied with, and any failure to carry out its orders will be reported so that other action may be taken. By command of Major-General Henry: FRANK MCINTYRE, First Lieutenant, Nineteenth Infantry, GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, In order to cheapen the cost of bread and fresh meat consumed in the island, encourage competition among dealers, and place said necessaries within reach of the poorer classes the following rules are established to go into effect from January 1, 1899: 1. The industry of making and selling bread is hereby declared free from all municipal taxation in this island. 2. The sale of beef, pork, or mutton shall henceforth be entirely free in this island and no taxes, whether direct or indirect, shall be levied upon same by the municipalities thereof. 3. All industries based upon the sale of meat, such as those of victuallers, butchers, slaughterhouses, and any others are also exempt from all municipal dues. 4. Absolute freedom is likewise granted for the establishment of meat stalls in the towns and rural districts. 5. The foregoing rules shall have no limitations beyond the proof of ownership of the animal to be slaughtered. 6. The alcalde in the towns or the delegates of the municipal corporations in the rural districts shall inspect the live animal, ascertain if it corresponds with the description on the owner's register, seal and file same, and authorize the slaughter. 7. Where doubts arise as to the healthy condition of the animal intended for slaughter, a physician, veterinarian, or expert, previously appointed for the purpose, shall be called to decide the matter. 8. In order to make up for the reduction in municipal receipts occasioned by the above exemptions, municipal corporations are hereby authorized to issue licenses for the sale of all liquors, cigars, cigarettes, smoking and chewing tobacco, in whatsoever shape or form. 9. The following schedule or tariff of taxation on liquors and tobacco is proposed to the municipal corporations, which tariff may be modified to meet the requirements of their respective localities: For every liquor or tobacco store or stand in towns of from 5,000 to 10,000 inhabitants, $50; 10,000 to 15,000 inhabitants, $60; 15,000 to 20,000 inhabitants, $70; above 20,000 inhabitants, $80. 10. No establishment whatever shall be allowed to sell articles subject to license, except furnished with the latter. 11. In case the receipts from licenses for the sale of liquor and tobacco should fail to make up for the deficiency resulting in the budget, municipal corporations shall adopt such measures of economy as they may judge advisable and are compatible with the law in order to cover said deficiency. 12. Municipal corporations are hereby authorized to increase the value of above licenses when issued to wholesale dealers in liquors and tobacco. Failure to pay the required tax will result in payment of fines which shall be double the tax, and if necessary, besides, the closing of the. establishment and imprisonment of the offender. It is hoped that this taxing of sales of liquors may have the effect of closing a number of saloons and taking temptation to drink away from the inhabitants, a vice of the island which tends to demoralize its people, cause misery and suffering to the innocent, and interfere materially with moral progress, upon which depends the success of any nation. By command of Major-General Henry: FRANK MCINTYRE, First Lieutenant, Nineteenth Infantry, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 1. HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, I. In accordance with orders from the postal department no mails of municipalities will be transmitted without proper postage. No mail will be transmitted free unless enclosed in a regular official penalty envelope. II. The orders requiring vaccination throughout the island will be executed in all municipalities. Boards of health will report failure to obey these orders and alcaldes will see to the punishment by fine. or imprisonment of persons who fail to comply with the orders of the board of health. III. The municipality of Hormigueros having, by a vote of one hundred and ninety to two, voted in favor of being annexed to Mayaguez, it is hereby declared a part of the municipality of Mayaguez. The ayuntamiento of Mayaguez will take immediate steps to relieve from their offices the present municipal officers of Hormigueros and will make the necessary arrangements for governing the former municipality of Hormigueros. It is hoped that other small municipalities will follow the example of Hormigueros, and thus reduce their own expenses and concentrate for the administration of the laws. By command of Major-General Henry: FRANK MCINTYRE, First Lieutenant, Nineteenth Infantry, NOTE.-General Orders, No. 39, are the last of the series of 1898. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, San Juan, January 17, 1899. I. The inspection, care, and maintenance of light-houses adjacent to the coast of this island are hereby removed from the control of the secretary of the department of fomento and transferred to the control of the navy officer in charge. II. Upon the recommendation of the commanding officer, United States navy-yard, San Juan, Ensign W. R. Gherardi, U. S. Navy, is hereby announced as in charge of the light-house district of Porto Rico, and will report to the commanding officer, United States navyyard, for instruction. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly. By command of Major-General Henry: FRANK MCINTYRE, First Lieutenant, Nineteenth Infantry, GENERAL ORDERS,] HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, The collections of the customs duties and of the internal revenues of this island are hereby separated. The internal revenue will hereafter be collected by the secretary of finance, who will give the necessary directions for the economical carrying out of this order. Collectors of internal revenues are hereby designated for the places set opposite their respective names, as follows: Luis R. Velasquez, Ponce; Felipe Cuebas, Mayaguez; Alejandro Salicrup, San Juan; Manuel Colon, Arecibo; Sandalio Valdejuli, Humacao; P. San Clemente, Arroyo; Eduardo García Alonso, Fajardo; José R. Vidal, Aguadilla; Adolfo Rieckehoff, Vieques. These collectors will give bonds of $2,000 each before entering upon their duties. By command of Major-General Henry: FRANK MCINTYRE, First Lieutenant, Ninteenth Infantry, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF PORTO RICO, GENERAL ORDERS, I No. 6. In order to remedy the evils due to unjust apportionments, the following are the orders concerning the taxation of lands on this island; any variation from this order, or excess in taxation under it, will, upon being reported to these headquarters, result in the punishment of the offending parties: 1. The assessment of taxes upon lands will hereafter be made in accordance with the various cultivations existing in the island and the quality of the land taxed. 2. In accordance with the various cultivations there will be taxes cane lands, coffee lands, tobacco lands, pasture lands, minor produce lands, and forest lands. |