BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-10-22
SAN JUAN, OCTOBER u
Editorial Comment.

In connection with our editorial Of the
other day on the oyercrvwded tenement
evil our attention has been called to the
large rentals that are being paid to San
Juan landlords fer habitatiOns, which are
nn6t for human oocuPatinn. Shacks and
ruinous brick buildings, schich have never
been repaired or renovated since their erec-
ton many years ago, bringing as much
rental as steam heated, gas supplied and in
every way modernly constructed houses in
the city Of New York.
The earnings on the investments being
double and in many cases triple that on New
York City residences. There are many
houses in the city of San Juan aobich bring
to their owners as much as ten AMI twelve
per cent, per annum, and this with absolute
ly no repairs and no other expenditure of any
kind. If John Jacob AstOr's property can
earn q net income of six per cent, in New
York City, his managers are well satisfied.
Surely some relative good should accrue to
this municipality and the island out Of the
large profits that are made on city realty.
1t has been suggested that the pauper pro-
blem could be solved by placing special tar
for this purpose on realty, and incoming
invoices Of good.
The municipal and insular taxes are very
low, and the basis of taxation, which is
valuation Of just One Hundred Millions of
Dollars is in reality just about one half of
what the valuation ought to be. A gentle
man who is very well known here, and who
has lived for many years in the United
States, Porto Rican of repute in this com
munity, stated when he heard of the total
valuation for taxation purposes being as low
as One Hundred Millions, that it was just
half Of what it ought to be.
Ii will no doubt seem strange to the citizen
who has lived in Porto Rico for many years,
70 learn that there is not single valuation
OF Oae million Dollars on the entire island.
There 10 absolutely no doubt whatsoever
that there are properties on this island worth
three and four millions OF dollars which have
been assessed as low as half Million.
Ii this is SO the question may be asked why?
The only answer can be that wher
the assessments were made it was desire OF
DR.. Hollander and his aids to insure the
collection Of just enough taxes to secure the
expenses of properly running the government.
The opposition Ebich the introduction of
bis revenue act met naturally compelled the
Treasurer to be careful that the introduction
OF American tax ideas should be gradual,
and in such stages that the people would
realize the good to be derived therefrom,
and appreciate the methods and means as
the good increased
The men who toere tho bitterest foes of
the revenue act are to day its staunchest
defenders and supporters. The contention
that the revenue act took the burden of tax.
alton from the shoulders OF the poor, and
placed it on those Of the rich, has been
proven to be true without doubt from
syen the most sceptical. Now that the
principle and plan of modern American tar
alton has been introduced why not enlarge
on it gradually, and make the island abso-
lutely self supporting as it should be.
The city of San Juan is assessed at lit
lie over Fourteen Millions Of Dollars a
very conservative banxer who is in the city
to make bid on the loan, states that he
values it at about Thirty Five Millions on q
very low estimate. The entire island Is
valued for taxation purposes at little over
} One Hundred Millions of Dollars, and
Porto Rican who has lived here all his life
values it at about Two Hundred Millions.
Under ordinary circumstances this basis OF
taxation might be q iair or average one for the.
United States, but With the great problem
Of caring TOR our pauper, our homeless chill.
dren and our crippled staring us out of
countenance, it is Too low.
IL 10 known that houses which bring a.
monthly rental OF One hundred dollars have
been returned as valued at that sum. This
i not fair. Its not fair to the people Of
Porto Rico, and its not fair to the man that
lives In that house. Out Of yearly income