The times., 1899-06-10
Franchises in Porto Rico.


Alger's remarkable junket to the West
Indies. at enormous Government expense,
would not be without practical results OF
business character, some time or other.
and we are now satisfied that we were
right in that opinion.
Yesterday one of the Alger organs in
Washington. evidently acting under in
spiration. gave out the interesting infor
nation that, 'the War Department is con-
sidering the advisability of embarking
upon the judicious distribution of NUM-
cipal franchises in Porto Rico" These,
We are advised, principally consist of
franchises for the construction OF trolley
reads. electric and gas lighting systems,
and similar public works. The authority
under which Mr.. Alger is preparing to
embark is contained in an order which
he was pleased to issue last December.
II reads:
Until otherwise ordered. no grants or conces-
sions OF public or corporate rights franchises
for the construction Of public or quasi-pubIic
works such as railroads, tramways, telegraph
and telephone lines, wafer works, gas works, eec-
trio light lines, etc, shall be made by any
municipal other local governmental authority
!
Of the major general commanding the military
forces OF the United States in Porto Rico who
shall, before approving any such grant or conces-
sion, be so especially authorized by the Secretary
OF War.
So it is quite evident that the Island
of Porto Rico. for all purposes of eNpIoita-
ton. is as much the personal appanage of
Russell A. Alger, as any one of the numer-
Gus pine timber tracts he purchased before
the Spanish war. and is reported TO have
recently cleared OF all financial encum-
brance. 1t must be said that the situa-
ton in which our new AntiIlean possession
is placed. in respect of its franchise pos
sibilities mus be famous,y attractive one
TO anyone in control of it, supposing him
to be a person of business enterprise and
push, as well as pull" We observe with
interest that the general commanding in
the island. although charged with the
duties of government and administration
in other respects, is relieved of all respon-
sibility in the matter of franchises. which
are ''judiciously" reserved in the sole
keeping Of Mr. Alger.
Under the management of an official in
power and such a policy might be pro-
ductive of uncomplimentary remarks. We
cannot imagine what viii be said in the
connection. when the American press comes
to understand that our great War Minister
is TO do the franchise peddling for Porto
Rico. and that Hecker and Hopkins have
been over the ground and know what there
hoy he pf
second hand yacht for army transport
purposes. We trust that nothing sarcas-
! tic or impolite will be printed on the sub
ject.
For our own part, the announcement Of
the intended "embarkation'' does not at
all surprise us. We have been looking for
il for several weeks. 1t comes in the nat
ural course OF events. 1t is only another
Illustration of that sterling energy which
seems to imbue nearly all the members Of
the Administration. Whether the matter
! in hand is the reimportation of six-year-
old canned beef or the location of fever
camps, or the delicate question of trans
portation, involving the most favored rail
way. or any other valuable proposition, We
always find them on deck and nailed TO the
mast of duty. Franchises are desirable
| things to have, and in the present in
stance intending investors are to be con-
graduated They will not have any com
mon councils or legislatures to fix before
getting what they want. They will only
have TO convince Russell A. Alger. and
all will be well with them. For innate
gaudiness the Porto Rico franchise scheme
is the most iridescent one that it has
been our lot to survey for a month of Sun
| daYs