BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1905-02-13


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isrest d seems to ns uutsicc = "a
spssre & fesn;N >spaf.tcG fnom al
-, - tus' and humane. and j. -
ata,k un1n ise Hic 4 snv people "a
ise development &c lseu>frc>
Al isese injuries and evils sTe em
braeed II lac lropoSed n,w Tax p.n
ned ~ NJ. WlioGgk kby. IN The manu-
iac;ure 81 cia~rs and the dis,i,ins
- liquors
The young Treasurer has been Car
ried along by tbs imPeiuo>iiy of youth
and has fallen into the common error
of persons little given 10 io'invesiiga,ion
causing him TO ignore the fact that an
excessive tsx affects Industries In gcn-
eral Perhaps ii may be- due 10 his
sociological al.propen>i;ies that he consid
ers the increasing of the price OF H..
quors and tobacco IN order 10 Suppress
vice among the humble class, OF =
medico- social Importance.
Under all circumstances, he j; in
error
He is ignorant of the fact that the
climatic conditions Of this island
oblises the peasant 10 use rum for nu-
merous external purposes, for rheum
atism. ChileS and cleanliness OF body.
He does not know that rum and to-
ba co cannot Le considered articles
Of luxuries in country that produces
these two commodities which have also
medicinal properties aud useful appli.
catlCn he does not know, or perhaps.
does not care TO know that the laborer
will make unlimitt d sacrifices, even
:hough the prices Of rum and tobacco
are placed at extraordinarily eNhorDlt-
ant figures, to secure these articles
for they constitute indispenSa bic ele
ments in his life
Our workmcn of the cities and our
laborers of the country were cured Of
the alcoholic habit before We had the
good luck of finding Mr. Willou ghby
in our midst.
They do not possess this degrading
vice which h.s necc ssitated Legislation
prohibiting practically the sale of Ii
quors, In certain countries.
This is not attributed to the work
of the farmer and the artisan not being
difficult, but because sgbriety is one Of
the distinctive charaeterlstics and one
of the highest virtues possessed BY
them.
Under these circumstances, the
Treasurer would be the cause of and
the accomplice TO the death Of many
lsborers and unfortunate people. In
dustry. intmidated by this socioloai
cal official, was beginning to lift up its
head; but now it is again detained in
anxious expectation Of what may
happen, and appears crushed by this
hard blow, just whe n it was promising
to be On element Of wealth and
productive work in the ISLAND.
This is very lamentabIe, 1t Is too
serious TO be looked upon with indif
ference and treated with contempt.
1t requires work of patient convic-
tion and a .audablc q b tinacy SO as
not to weaken in the strong determine
tion of teaching such pls in and nota
BILE things. that in major part are moth
jn9 but common sense to those who
are ignorant Of the fact that if a
people are ruined, the government is
not long in following in the path of
this unfortunate and miserable fate.
There is no reason for increasing
thc taxes on industries, just because
the receipts have diminished and the
finds itself With deficit,
and there is still lesser motive, when
there is a way Of balancing the income
with the expenditures of the so called
Porto Rican administration.
The Collector IF Customs should be
hauled over the Goals. SO thai he will
abstain from acting as scarecrow to
the merchants; in this manner the
duties which are paid at the New York !
custom house would be paid into the
Porto Rican treasury as before, and |
the Treasurer could represS his young
Inpetuous plans aimed at the taxpa