BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-08-21
SAN JUAN, AUGUST u, 1901
Editorial Comment.
Call A Meetin g.

The failure of the comm'ssary authorities
of the army in Porto Rico to purchase the
domestic coffee appears to have aristp from
misunderstanding and will doubtless be
corrected as soon as the facts are clearly
understood.
The policy OF the Department Of War
has always been to purchase the supplies
for the use of troops as far as possible
where these are produced, such has been
the invariable custom in the states where
yer military forces have been maia tained,
whenever the sources and life of The supply
could he depended upon and when the
prices for articles of equal quality were not
greatly in excess of those at which the pu--
chases could be made elsewhere.
On the western frontier when the first
steps in local agriculture were taken the
army detachments at the pests gave the
new industry the fullest encouragement,
and hay, grain, meats, vegetables, ETC.,
we're contracted for On terms that were most
liberal to the farmers
There can be no doubt that this que stion
will have full attention at department head
quarters and our interests will rot be neg.
lecte1
But after all this matter seems inSig-
nifcant in com parison with the great and
permanent injury that menaceS our export
trade in the threatened blending OF cheaper
foreign grown coffses with our oacn and-the
shipment thereafter of the adnterated article
iether the clearbean itself in the guise
Of the Porto RIcan berry to the American
markets. This is a matter of the gravest
import, our own present understanding
can be corrected among ourselves, but once
permit our product TO get name
abEoad and the losses We shall suffer there
in will be incalculable.
1t is the wider question that should en-
gage our chief interest and attention at
this. time and steps cannot be taken too
soon to protect our trade and avert the
threatened losses toouf farmers. Let our
merchants and planters get together and
set forth facts as they are clearly III the
torn of resolutions and then select CON-
mittees of representative men to take these
at the opening of the next session of con
gress to washington where their presence
may aid our Commissioner in taking efiec
tive measures for securing the right form
tf protective legislation.
Q
The current rnm0r asserting that King
Edward is affected by cancer is startling
but it should be remembered that this story
Is a perennial one which every now and
then springs up in connection with all rOral
personageS of whatever degree 10 the a1orld.
That cancer has been frequent and
somtimes fatal disease in the families of
sovereigns in modern tim may not per.
haps be denied bur high medical auihori-
ties have disclaimed its ex stance in the ex
tent that it is commonly believed to sffecy
royal blood.
Sons years ago the report became per-
sis eDt that the German kaiser Was in
bad way with cancer of the throat and that
he had been Put upon strict regimen and
forbidden the use of tobacco.
The strong and healthful glow of the EN-
perol's PHYSICAL tone has since clearly dis
PEELED this, and 1t has not not been retold
of lat years.
1t is likely to be 'qually untrue Of the
English king, as certainly al the world aeill
wish to hear, for Edward is remarkably
p pular man and sovereign at home and
abroad
Tue oe;sion of the Attorney General of
the United Stated as to the right of the
island Council to make concessions to railway
companies operating in Porto Rico in the
way Of rebates of duties ON construction
m sterial, is no doubt taken upon the theory
recognized 10 the whole civil system of the
United States that laacs and regulations per.
tanning to revenues shall take their origin
in the lower branch of Legislative bodies and
cannot be delegated to any coordinate arm
OF government achatsover
ssThe names of institutions
Are thoughtless and unjust
The trusts will trust nobody
And nobody trusts the trusts.
WASHINGTON star.
og&s
The population OF the United States is
Just about equally divided now between cupl
defenders and bicycle champions.
The Census shoes that Nes York contains
the greatest number pI asses. 1t is not
known vhether this includes the bucket shop
clientele,
The Uniled States may yet bs allowed to
act as.sbott!e hoIderv in the coming South
American conflict.
"Teddyn Roosevelt is once more playing I
to Ih, galleries in "Rough Rider" roles in
the West
The great besr hunters campaign promi.
ses to be % spectacular as three ring cir
Gus. L