BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-11-02
SAN JUAN, NOVEMBER ?
Editorial Comment.

Public opinion and some of our most
esteemed contemporaries have been very |
severe and unjustly SO, in tie criticism OF
the rules recently formulated by the Alcalde
and the CITY Couucil fJr the regu aIon OF
street bo )tblacks. Il
The Alcalde has been the object of much
lest, and even severe vituperation. We are
how, yer, compelled TO disagree with what
seems to be the weight of public opinion.
For his desire to properly regulate what
shou d Fave been public convenience, but
which for want Of proper regulation had been
turnel into public evil and discomfort, the
Alcalde has been made the object Of the
superabundant wit aud wisdom of all the Plaza
sociologists and would be economists of the
town: and even our esteemed contemporary in
Tetuan Street has been kind enough in its war
ned Judgment of fair play and praise for,eVery
honest effort, to give the City Council a
column roast every day, All without right
or reason.
There has been absolutely no cause in
the world for the, what seems to be, universal
condemnation of the bootblaCk regulations.
The City Council has made an honest
effort to do right and in its first attempt is
met with vigorous opposition from the very
pnblic which was most vehement in decrying
the evil.
For moths and even years before the City
Council passed the law which has caused
such storm of ssapreyal, the people of
this town were unanimous in their com
plaints against the boot blacks. Into ths Al
caldo's office, into the offices of the Insular
government, in fact into any Office that the
oio fhod NIT ufh
poured hundreds of complaints against tie
noise. the dirt, and the disturbances made by
bootbls:ks Some people even went 60
far as to make personal calls, and it has
been known that even such a high official
as our esteemed Governor has been interview
ed in the matter. Compelled to take action
in the matter, despite his desire to as
sst the boys TO earn an honest living the
Alcalde has at the very outset of his at
tempt to remedy the matter met with
Stubborn opposition from the very people
wlo were the loudest in their denuncialiCn
of the bootblack and his way Of doing
business.
The bootblack ordinance which las been
passed BY the City Council is based upt n
simlsrlaws and ordinances in force in many
9 ties in the Union, among those cities being
such important towns as Chicago, Rochester,
Syracuse, and St. Paul. And it was upoa
the Chicago city ordinsnce for the regulation
OF bootbacks that the Council of this
city based their ordinance. The Chicago
law was carefully read and considered By
the Council, the most salient features Of
the law discussed, and With such changes
and amenlme ats as were necessitated by
our local conditions the law was passed
There is absolutely no doubt that it is a
good law, and in its restricting clauses it is
not half SO severe as many of the ordinances
in operation in soHe of the cities above
referred to. La Rochester, for inst
: Ance, the number of boothlacks is limit
ed. Just as it is here, in accordance with
the size of the City. Before boy can
black boots on tbs street he must have the
permission Of . is mother to do so, and she
must make written consent to that effect
before the Chief Police, who is has abb
solute authority in regard to the conduct of
the bootblacking ordinances. Every bootblack
must pay fee of twenty-five cents and
every one must be registered and wear a
numbered badge.
Any violation Of tie law by the boys, or
any attempt on the part Of one to be dis
honest or make public nuisance of himself,
is Immediately met by request from the
offender to call en- the Chief of Police, who
in the first instance severely reprimands the
boy, and for the second offense takes away
tie license. The badge worn By the boy is
an immediate means of identification in the
same manner as the badge Of policeman
or car conductor. Attempts are made to
short change any one means the loss Of the
license and even discourtesy is the cause