BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1902-03-18
SANJUAN, MARCH 1S
The Frightened
Newspaper,

Our opinion that many of the new laws,
passed by the legislature IN its last session,
were sure 10 he misunderstood and msin-
tsrpreted, seems to day to be converted in
positive fact, in view of varios recent pro-
ssedings In the Courts, and the preva ling
feeling of fear amongst many people, par.
tieulaly the daily newspapers. Editors and
publishers OF periodicals ihroughout tie
island are really frightened. One editor
suspended publication, with the parting
werd that the new laws had opened the
doors Of the s'presidion to all editors. Ode
has been summoned BY the municipal
authorities, and the rest simply refrain from
publishing the truth, even if it is such be-
yond shadow Of doubt
TIE cause Of this uneasiness amongst
Journalists 10 the knowledge that there is a
law which will punish for libel and slander.
What this law 10, and what rights may be
had under it they do not know. To them
the law means, that any editor, who writes
anything which is not liked by any official,
insalar Of municipal, ssill be arrested aud
thrown in to Jail. The prosecution OF the
Ysllo.ist, far from relieving the situation
has only added to the perplexity OF it.
In one action brought sgainst Il cal
editor We had the Alcalde SUNG for libel in
his capacity % Alcalde. An attempt was
made 70 bring about q peaceful solution OF
the question. On the hearing of the csss,
the complainant was asked to state how
much hs demanded - damages for the libel.
The answer was that he was suing under
the Spanish Code, and that a. yet hs d
not know whether he would bring . civil
suit Or . criminal suit, or both, or whether
he wsald bring still another az provided for
In the Oornwell libel and slandsr law.
The resnlt OF this state Of affairs 10 that
this fellow has had three different processes
served on him, and that up TO the present
hs does not know whether q constable will
shortly call on him, whether he has been
Rulcted in costs, or whether the csmplain
ant has spologised for bringing tbs suit
The particulars Of this ridiculous proceeding
have been circulated amongst the jcurnalis
dc fraternity, With the result that all
American laws in general and this one
IN particular are decried as instruments of
the devil, and the great American slogan If
s'iibsrty" 10 sneeriDgly and bitterly referred
20.
In the face Of oil this confusion there is
no attempt on the part Of the authorities
charged with carrying out the laws to
clear away any doubts schich the pub 0
may have % to ito rights under the law. On
the contrary the real effort is to vel the law
and its provisions in as much obscurity as
it 10 possible to, in order to put fear into the
hearts Of the newspapers, aad to scare their
writer's into commencing Whist 10 notorious
ly bad. Any attempt which can be made
10 ineulcats fear into the hearts Of the news
papers, 10 carefully planned with specific
object. That this policy 10 wrong and ID
beaud to fail there can be no doubt.
There 10 absolutely nothing 10 the libel
and alandef law whica prevents an editor
Or seriter from printing and NAL ng pal .
aaything which 10 true when applied 70 the
ofio:Al acts OF magistrate lr municipal
authority. Ii / should charge the Alcalde
with raising the price of bread, and should
| bs able 70 prove the truth of the charge
thsie 10 no libel sgaiost the AlcAldc, Lus
rather duty performed to the people.
There never has been au American Law
which had for it's offset the suppression OF
truth, or the uphclding of wrong and false
hood. The libel and SANDER law has been
passed not VITA the object in view Of silsnc-
Ing thetzHth as to Official soss, bet rather to
prevent the publication Of scandalous and VII
AfyiHg articles respecting persons, and in re
gard t. matters in VII Oh the public never
he's BEEN Or could be interested, that Is in the
sense, vitslly interested. For the purposes
of pablo gossip these subjects may fun'sh
interest for the scandal monger, but a. far
Of real material interest to the people is
concerned there is none. The law WAS
passed to suppress scandal and iiIth, and
not tor the purpose Of throwing cloak
eysr official actions.
Something should surely be done BY the
Insular authorities to make these new lssss
plain TO tie people. In lArgasge they are
al that could be desired, but IN the reading
Of them By the subordinatsa uthOrities there
is surs % be much injury aud Injustice.
The largo majority Of the people kays had
no skancs to read these new laws, and even
Il they had they would be unable to unders-
fand ibem e. they should be understood in
The light Of American Interpretation.
A 70 tie scare smongst the newspapers
there b absolutely nothing In the new lsss
whish prevents the publication Of the truth
Official actions, and 1t is the |
duty Of Ill newspapers to make those ac-- |
Hens public, under all and any circums-
'snees. Sessdal, dirt and indecercy against
private oitiiens, or tbs private 20 8. #
Pablie citis<ns will not Be tolerated by tie
|av. The clean newspapers have absoIu-
ely notking 10 iesr, and should become fs-
nilia< wits this law.