BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-02-17
SAN JUAN, FEBRUARY y

Guarding The Public Interest I
Undoubtedly the most rtmarkable ard
unique statement ever uttered IN the Pc
sence Of body OF public servants. elected
BY the suffrage of . political coEinaLity for
the purpose Of passing laws suited to the
best interests OF that comphnity, was heard
on Saturday by the msinters OF the House
Of Delegates Of Porte Rico, and came from
the lips Of member Of that self same body,
elected to lose eli personal identity and exis-
tcrce in the acceptance Of law MAILING
trust on behalf Of the peop'e. A statement
frank in the avowal Of an interest directly OF.
posite to those best suited to public prefer.
ance and betterment, and absolutely open
in the declaration that the best interests OF
the people could only be served through the
service Of that personal du'y.
Sometime during the administration OF
the American military authorities in Porto
Rico, that authority saw fit to grant to 3
steamship company . reVokable license TO
build apier in thebay of San Juan. Sui.
ssquent thereto the pier in question was
burned to the ground, and ever since that
time controversy has been going IN be-
tween the People Of Porto Rico, and their
autorized agents and this steamship c0mpsny
relative to the rights OF the company to
continue in possession of that license, and
the rights Of the civil authority 10 revoke
the right as best suited to the interes.s Of
the people Of Porto Rico. On behalf of the
company it has been maintained that the
license still existed, and for the people it is
asserted with much force, that the military
License was and still is iev0kable by the pso.
pie Of Porto Rico at any time 1t sees FL.
These interests are certainly opposite and as
conflicting as any interests possibly can be-.
Ifit 10 finally decided that the company
has right to continue in the enjoyment OF
this pier it means to the people of Porto
Rice that they cannot build the bu,kbead,
s and q ths conpsSS II mssaa asss p virtual mon
opcly Of pier rights in the bay Of San Juan,
since other piers in addison to this one, are
looked upon ss absolutely impracticable and
impossible by the best engineer authorities
echo have examined into the subject. The
assertion Of the rights OF the steamship com
pany means loss to the people, and 1t can
readily be seen that this question is Of the
utmost concern to the island in general ard
the city Of San Juan in particular.
Charged with his duties az public ser.
want member Of the legislature Of Porto
Rico fiods that he can best serve the people
by serving company, which he himself
frankly admits retains the firms Of which be
10 member for the protection Of that finns
rights. TO excuse and pslliate the position
~hicb he has taken he refers to the actisn
of the. Executive Council in forcibly sus-
pending work on the Pier, and violating the
rights Of the company. ln this remarkable
sistsmsnt ths public servant 10 absolutely
lost night Of, and personal bettermsnt aud
privilege prevail. To further injurs the
proper protection Of the peoples rights be
srraings the upper house Of the Legislative
Assembly and accuses that body of attempt
Ing 10 uss the lower house ~ tool 10 pre-
tsos the rights Of the people. And frally
ssks that lhe matter bs sent 10 ths Council
Tor Judgment
1hs OBJ esion to The use Of the House Of
Delegates - tool Tor tks working out Of
ihs common good L 20 ridieuleus % ID b IN
sincere and in<xeusabls. TIE onIy just rsasen
% sxcuss fcr the exis.encs Of sllhsF houses
of cur Legislative Assembly u The tact fhst
t.sy mnss ts he tool oi he people Coz The
kszE<smeHs ef rubs:e eondifisus aasf she pro.
lsclIoo q ths rizhis a Tie csmmunssy.
Whea . memb<r - ssy body pols,is xska the
snflfsEe q ctmmnaIty is b for Ne pas
kess 81 hsceuinE . tsoI iof pubIis fesd.
he I1xG<1<I1u Gf tE{s Ee<1ss A 4 nuhI.e