La correspondencia de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 1890-1943, 1909-03-19
The teachers deeply indebted, with large
deficit, abolishing services for lack of funds
The natives closing their budgets wtha surplus, and
large amount of cash on hand.
The soaled American administration sbsmea defeated by
the Porto Rcan which superiority over the former has been
clearly established.

Not very long ago statement was issued cut by the Co.
vernment giving statistics concern govern
ment of the Island during 1901 1907 and 1909 1t showed
that IN 19he municipalities indebted to the extent
OF half million dollars And it also showed that in 1908 the
aggregate supuses of the Municipalities amounted to half
| a million of dollars .@
1t all goes to show that in the comparatively short period
OF eight years. the municipalities of the Island had managed
to regulate their finances meeting all their obligations paying
off their regular expenses strengthening their credit and ge
neray saving money In Short that they have properly
Quoted the management of their affairs thus corresponding
to the confidence the voters placed upon the and giving
proof of patriotism of the highest order To attain this end
the mayors and municipal corporations of the island have
displayed great tact prudence and discreet economical SEN
Sc, not leaving public service uncompIed WITH and
meeting every public demand.
Year after year budgets have closed with surplus Not
because they have been framed with undue beraty
tavagance but because the management municipal affairs
have been economically conducted efforts having been made
towards obtaining the most advantages contracts in the
carrying out Of such public works had been let out to
bidders r.
1t now eight years since the administration of the Island
has been in the hands of the Executive Council of the Co
vernment representing the Metropolis of the men who have
been sent down here with institutions to teach how to go
ourselves The task of framing the budget has been
trusted to hem they have created public services and gu
red out the amounts necessary to carry them out Whereas
the House Delegates confined themselves to making slight
alterations which have nvarabyg been disputed by the
Executive Council. The budget famed and studied by
those the head of the nsuar Government has been opera
Vou dpputu ny GItlu WuO poSocSoou vi Olo
triple character of legislators executors and administrators
They started by making transfers Of funds from appo
prlaon to another within the fiscal year Such practice
strange amonght U.S. and until then not known in
Porto Rico 1t immoral practice 1t unlawful dctato-
rial and conducive to abuse Following its heel came another
reform OF still graver nature; at variance with our
administrative traditions immoral and scandalous
because it entails violation of the law is done against the
will of the people of the island and lends itself to excessive
prodigaty abuse and scandal We refer to the alteration
OF the budget by the creation of services increase of
employees and expenditures and changes in the salaries in
open violation of the Appropriation Act whereby the FORE
sight displayed by legislators in reducing the expenditures
has been oblerated To pay the shortages the Def
cency Bill invented deficit has occurred year after
year And do not let be said that it has been due de-
crease in the public revenues, found insufficient to
meet every demand of the budget. Oh, no. it was
because the amounts appropriated in the budget have been
illegally and arbitrarily increased
And here have splendid parallel. On the one hand
the natives in absolute control of the Municipal Adminsra
tons showing perfect equilibrium in their transactions
surpsses order and economy being the natural resuants
On the other hand the Insular Government conducted by
naughty instructors showing desequiibrum disorder
and lack of foresight The natives the pupils the Amer
cans the educators. This being fact ought to TO-
ow natural sequence, that the lnsular Government
should be held up standard of perfection to the unlci
pal governments But matter of fact 1t Just the con-
trary The native administration is the good one and the
exotic administration the bad one The pupil acting
discreet Instructors teaching with their example The
teachers acting like naughty school boys who refuse to
learn And here question: Which should be pointed
at as the most capable? Facts alone will answer.