BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1901-07-12

II, the Editor of the BoLETIN MERCANTIL |
San Juan p. Il.
Sir:
The hot wave which has passed over tue
United States during the past week has been
almost unpre cedented in its intensity, and
IN its power for evil. In New York city
alone the victims claimed by the heat god
during the past week have numbered more
than six Lundred, while thousands of Others
have narrowly ESCAPED death. Other large |
cities and towns throughout The country |
show similar records in proportion to pn-
pu'ation. You, who live in Porto Rico. |
should feel thankful that you escape the
effects of the terrific extremes Of heat and
cold which your no. tb, IN brethren have to
suffer. At last, through thunder storms
and atmospheric changes relief appears to
he in sight The ali has become cleared,
the temperature lowered and those who
have wilbstood the terrible heat of the last
few DAYS may now look forward to the
Immediate future with comparative security
Ip other words, the back bone of the
heated term has been broken, and the death
record Of our large cities will soon again
become normal.
The Prospect Of Free Trade.
| Tie neacs cable from Porto Rico today
of tie action of the Porto Rican LegiSla-
ture yesterday paving the way for free trade
between the Island and the United States
has been received here with enthusiasm. Our
side IF a few already well projected indus
tries, which seem to feel the JEALOUSY of
any movement which might even remotely
affect their interests, the general feeling la
the states is in favor Of free and unlimited
intercourse both commercially and otherwise
between Porto Rico and their own country.
| OF all the new possessions of the United
States, the requirement OF none has come
so close to the great heart of the American
people as that of the island of Porto Rico.
As far as Cuba is concerned it has been
felt that the military occupation of that
Island was necessarily temporary in its ma
tare and designed only TO plac" the tubans
N position where Thy could establish a
government Of their own
In the Philippines the situation is well
known. There was strong opposition on
the part of many ut the native tribes
against foreign domination OF any kind.
This opposition has been met and conquered
and yesterday civil government was esta-
bished covering the greater part OF the is
lands.
The Strike situation
in the United States.
But, to come back to conditions here, the
labor problem seems the most prominent IN
evidence at present The LABOR unions seem
to be in condition of unrest. Tley do
not appear to have much to complain of as
far as wages and time are concerned; but,
through their leaders, they are making war
upon the employment CT men who do not
belong to their organizations. BY for the
most important OF these labor disturbances
rs Tire Sui h Of the Nell With the
steel industry, the mills with @nfCn they are
connected forming a part of the great bill
lion dollar steel trusts. 1t is probable ho.
wever that these troubles will be adjusted
and that there will he no serious copfics
beswee.l the well organized forces Of the la
Dor unions connected with the iron and
steel industry and the great money power
represented. by the conirClling forces of the
famous Billion Dollar Steel Trust.
Tne temporary detention OF "Porto Rican
Students unnecessary alarm was caused to
friends of the Porto Rcan students arrlv-
ing on the Ponce on Sunday last by their
temporary detention by the local immigra.
Ton agents. A soon as the facts were com
municated to the superior authorities, orders
were at cDce issued for their releas and
;hty proceeded ON their way unmulested.
Maxine Gomez, visit
to the United States.
In spite of tie sreDOus dr1ials made by
General Maximo Gomez that his prOsen {
VISIT to the United S'aGes has any political
s'gn' ficance the people generally, as. repre-.
sented by the press and otherwise have
taken the deepest interest in the fact OF his
prest nee here and it is generally believed
that his visit may be fraught vita impor.
tart consequences in connection with the
relations OF the two countries.
| General Gomez has been exceedingly Ca
reful to avoid giving news paper interviews,
but at the same tms le hiss emphasized
he fact that as tar as his personal efforts for
the salvation Of Cuba are concerned he
wishes to figure solely as. the soldier bero
and that he has no political ambitions and
does not desire to be " considered candi-
date for Pr, sident OF the new Republic.
American newspapers here are filed with
flattering comments upon the manner with
which the Fourth Of July was celebrated in
San Juan.
G. B. EDWARDS.