BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-25
The ProhibiiiYe Price On Water,

The great increase in the price OF water
in this city has caused much public COM
ment respecting this all important sub
feet. It appears that where formerly water
could be had at reasonable rates, the price
Of it has no been increased to such an
extent as 80 render it as valuable as Wine,
or other spurious beverages. Under the
extreme prohibitive water rates which are
now being charged landlords have been
compelled to reduce the size of their pipes
by three or four times. The effect of this has
been that there are to-day houses in San
Juan where water tor bathing purposes, OF
| for extra emergencies cannot be had. TIE
final result of all this is that it puts a
premium on uncleanliness and dirt.
1t has been estimated that the island
alone has been paying on an average Of
$15, 600 a year for its acater censummed
| in this city. This sum has had no connec
tien whatsoever with the sums paid by
priyate owners for the use of water furnished
in their houses. The city authorities have
alone been paying splendid interest OF
the original cost Of the water plant whict
was somewhere in the neighbOrhood O
100000.
Ali this has occurred, it is said, in th'
face of the fact, that the water charter re
auires that before any increase in the price
can be made, that the consent Of the Gov
ernor General, be obtained to such ar
increase. 1t is known positively that this
consent has never been obtained from any
authority which is now known to be in the
lisland of Porto Rico. This increase has
been made since the beginning OF the Anne
rican occupation.
In sll theory and pradtice it certainly
seems apparent that the main idea Of public
Ownership, particularly that ownership O.
commodities for the public use and public
necessity, is to enable the community tt
procure those essentials without difficulty
and at the same time to make this conVe
nience comparatively cheap by placing it il
such a position where it is not compelled
to earn dividends tor private oi0ners. The
real theory of public ownership is to give
the people the benefit, without, any extra
cost to the municipality or other politica
body. In this water matter this has no
been the case.
To place water at such an exorbitan
rate that landlords find it an excuse fol
reducing the size of their pipes from on'
inch to one.fourth of su inch, is to place
the people in a most dangerous position ir
case urgent necessity should at any time
require the use of an extra amount of water
At the same tirne it gives people aoho de
sire to remain unelean an excuse for being
lso. Water the commodity of first necessity
| TO the human race should not be placed or
the same scale.as Injuries and things zhict
are not of common necessity. Water
should be 80 cheap that it might be obtained
for the asking.
Another feature OF this matter is the
question whether this increase has beer
legally made aoithout the necessary consent
If the increased price has been illegal then
it becomes apparent that all persons Whe
have been paying this extra price are poss
essed OF cause OF action against the mum
icipality for the sum of money SO illegally
collected. II it is found that such is the
case the City of San Juan can stand prep
ared to defend large batch of law suits.