BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-11-13
SAN JUAN, NOVEMBER 13
Editorial Comment.

If Washington dispatches are correct,
series of conferences between the President
and leading members of the Senate ana
House on the subjet of reciprocity reatles
has taken place. And all indication ere
that these conferences hav9 resulted unfa
vorably to the prospects of pending reclpro
tity treaties and it looks likes as it these
treaties would not be passed at the coming
session, with the one exception OF the
Cuban reciprocity treaty.
The excuse given is that the leaders In
beth houses have come to the belief that
the ratification of the treaties in their
present form would be unconstitutional.
The basis of this belief is unknown and the
New York papers in all their discussions on
the subject simply say that there might be
unconstitutionality, and then step. In the
case of Cuba constitutionality is lost sight
of in the desire Of the government to inter-
cept any effort on the part of foreign
nation to negotiate commercial treaties
with country which is naturally a market
for American goods.
In fact yesterdays cables stated that the
commercial treaties with Cuba would 60
hand in hand with the declaration OF the
independence of that Islend. This cCntem
plated action ON the part of our Congress is
certainly commendable. The desire to re-
tain TO the merchants OF the Union the
bulk, if not all of the Cuban trade. shows an
attention to home interests which is Ger
comment.
But the question naturally arises, how
about the duty which Congress owes to the
new colonistf To the merchant and planter
whose market was taken away from him by
the American occupation. OF course it is
only natural that our home merchants should
desire to retain to themselves the output of
Porto Rico and the Philippines, but at
the same tine should this self interest 20 so
far as to compel the surplus to rot in our
hands when an open European market would
make such demand for our goods that we
could never produce enough.
When our delegates called on President
Roosevelt ten days ago he assured them the
same protection and consideration that he
is giving to other states in the Union. A
part Of that protection consists in guarantee
ing to us market for our goods just the
same as the manufacturer of Massachusetts
or Pennsylvania is guaranteed that no FORE
ign merchaot will be permitted to compete
with him in the United States, on the same
terms and conditions. Anoter part of that
protection consists in taking US into con
sideration in all matters OF national legisla
tion
There is no doubt that President Roosevelt
will under all circumstances give to Porto
Rico that aid and assistance that he has
promised Us, and which we need so much
10 help as in coming to the surface. But
there are at Washington SO many varied
interests. Every Congressman that comes
nom manufacturing or farming district
has certain interests to defend and protect.
His constituents send him there for that
purpose and he is in dnty and in honor
bound to take care of his home people.
Then again influences are brought to bear
upon Congressmen who are independent
upon such matters. The result is that in
the general scramble to protect home inter
ests and maintain industries and vast
interests Porto Rico and It's merchants are
lost In its own comparative insignifcance.
There has always been large demand
in Europe for Porto Rican tobacco. Our
straw goods and other manufactures when
properly introduced would certainly be able
to compete with the best product of South
America and other tropical countries. The
American merchant will not to day use the
great bulk Of our product, and there is no
doubt that ready market can be found for
1t in the cities of Europe. Instead of using
the Brazilian product in coffee, which isl
admittedly Inferior to the Porto Rican bean.
tho European if he could obtain advantageous
commercial relations with this island would
surely buy all that we could ship him.
Our sugar and rum Would certainly find
better market In Europe than in the United
States where al sugar prices are limited and
controlled ~ the vast interest OF giant
m noply which naturally limits prices and
quantities. 1t can be asked and with reason |
way We sEculd not form part Of the Amer
icsn commercial invasion Of Europe. The
same right to sell goods which is possessed |
by our farmer and manufacturer at home
should surely be possessed by us In the /
reciprocity treaties that are being arranged /
the government should give US considera /
zion. Some attention should be paid to our
1nte ests. OF President Roosevelt we can
ieei sure, but Of the laWmal ers repres es,ntine
vastly varied interests thero may be L
doubt.
II our merchants delegation instead of
talking politics, territorial government and
statehood would pay more attention to mat. |,
ters Of this kind, to questions Of commercial +
betteTmeot snd financial credit, the Island
OF PoIt1 Rico would assured'y profit more
than it will by premature tails on mnnicioal
and political questions. International re.
iprocIiy win help Porte Rico great deal.
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