BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-20
SANJUAN, MARCH 20
Exclusive Privileges

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In this transition period IN Porto Rice's
political life, when the island is slowly but
surely evolving from Royal Decree govern
ed and ruled, into self supporting and sell
governing community, one of the most
important and at the same time difficult
duties Of the lnsular authorities, is the pro-
lection Of the community, the people OF the
island, from the graspiDg desires OF the free
lance promoter, the seeker after exclusive
privileges which can only be granted by the
governments.
In the form atom of the territories OF the
great west during the period when that
portion of the: Union was being opened to
the nation, mounteba from the east and
In many cases from Europe invaded the
newly opened lands, 81 d with the quick eyes
of trained business men rapidly to0k IN
situations which coa'd be converted into
immense stores Of " ealth if only the proper
privileges, franchises and concessions could
he OBTAINED from the authorities in charge
In many cases these people succeeded IN
obtaining fer nothing, that which after arc
became Of fabulous value.
Con 2ress early learned Of the state
affairs in the new territories, and the storit
Of privileges granted without cost became
30 fre suent, snd the outraged usness OF 1t
all became SO p .tent, that Congress finally
tOok the matter up Bnd passed bill pro-
hibiting territorial authorities from granting
exclusive privileges to anyone. The danger
became so great that in several cases offlflal,
were removed to ensure the enforcement o.
The will of Ctrgrts. The effect wsi
salutary, and it is to day almost impossible
to fnd any Of the nswe; states where privi
leges are existing exclusively in particular
persons or ofgsn,ss tions OF persons.
In Porto Rico the Military suthoritles,
either as matter o. military necessity, OF
otherwise, saw fit to giaot TO steamship
company revokable license to build pieI
out into the harbor of San Juan. This piel
. was built and maintained by private
closed corporation until it was destroyed by
. coDfagration. To-day we are sure to
have on cur hands long tedious law suit
Involving the rights of the Island of PertC
Rico and those of the steamship company IN
question.
OF course there can be no doubt that the
military authorities in granting this fran
chise did not look ahead, 10 the time when Il
would become . valuable property for the
island II thev had there wtu have been
an absolute time limit placed upon the com
bsny's r ights to the use Of the one only piel
in the harbor of San Juar; or else it Eould
have been lin tied and restricted in such 9
way that NO cause for doubt or contention
~ to the rights of tie people could have
yisted.
1t will be contended that the privilege Of
the steamship company does no. amount to
sn exclusive one, that the island still has
the right to grant similar privileges to all
who may spply tor them. This may be
true, but the refusal Of the island to grant
any other such privilege, makes the one
enjoyed by the company sn exclusive one
That the island has no inunnon OF giving
away its birth rign.s to ali applicants fol
the same is beyoLd d spuse. While insist
Ing that the esmskp company does mol
enjoy IN exclusive privilege in the true word
leg of the franchise, or in the Interpretation
of the Law, it must be admitted tlat in effect
the privilege 'is ss exclusive one as If the
franchise stated IN 20 many words, that the
company had pier rights in the harbor OF
Bsn JUAN aud that 90 long IS it held these
rights ell persons Were prohibited from ob
tanning any.
Taking this one serious contention as q
basis for example it il easy to understand of
what great importance, to the pei pie OF this
island, is the retention by it OF all property
which may belong to the island as right
boy ond question That these privileges are
bound to become OF immense value 10 the
course Of time there can be absolutely no