El Imparcial. (San Juan, P.R.) 1918-197?, 1919-06-19
OPINIONS OF MY OWN
4p By Claudio Cap6. 4
BY Claudio Cap6.
Of course, there is abso-
lutely no question that the
interests of the many, OF
CLASS LEGISLATION

the people at large should
have preference the interests of the few the merca
tile class The duty of the State is to watch for the wei
fare of it's constituents and the interests OF any part
should not come before the interests of the whole H. after
mature consideration and thorough study OF the clrcms
tanceS should be found necessary the establishment OF
permanent official mercantile bureau, whose existence
will be guarantee for the general public against the
extorton of conscenceess mercenar interests We'll ana
good But take that such will indeed be the case
look out WE'LL lest be found afterward that besides
creating superfuous machinery, whose operation Will
compcate the governmental functions serious damage
not caused to legitimate interests which to the present
time have been fulfilling in an honest and efficient
manner their duty: the distribution Of production.
The cost of living is, indeed the paramount question
for the moment all the world including Porto Rco
But is the creation Of permanent mercantile bureau
by the Government the best OF meeting the sa
ton? We honestly think that this serious question cannot
be solved in satisfactory by the creation OF such
bureau alone The trouble is that don't want to go to
the bottom Of the whole thing want to the govern
mental axe against the branches, when we should be
striking at the root.
In the first place, Do we need to import much as we
do particularly in the line of food-stuffs? Not at all
Porto Rico could certainly multiply it's production OF
eatables wise and just agraan legislation were enact
ed Ali but the agraran interests are sacred the Legs
ature cannot do anything to anagonlze the even IL 1t
for the redemption Of the whole country 1t is easier
more appealing to the Masses to create food commits
viii they bring any relief? That is highly pro-
bematical; but at any rate, neither the relet Will oe
very great, it will be permanent. The only way to
help Porto Rico out Of this this mic cEss NOV c AM
will make possible to raise right here considerable part
Of our imports
Furthermore How about the freight? Has the Legls-
ature examined many shipping documents such as lnvol
ces and blsof ading and convince themselves that the
matter of freight rates is Of such trivial nature that
does not deserve much attention the merchandise
part? If our Government intends going into the mercan
tile business Why shouldn't it go into the shipping busl-
we Do you know gentlemen of the Legislature
how much money the steamship companies serving the
island have made, during the last five years? Have you
any idea that all that money could have gone into the
pockets of the Porto Rican people, through it's Govern
men? Why, yes that's easy At any rate the purchase
rental of vessels and their management are not more
complicated than the mercantile venture proposed.
Furthermore, How many of you, gentlemen Of the Le-
gsature have to pay house rent in San Juan and other
cities of the country? Do you know that at least one
third of the salary made by the average Worgman goes
nowadays to pay tribute to the landlord? Are you at
all familiar with the house situation in San Juan? Now
being passed. authorizing the to go into the
real estate business just as the municipality OF New York
and Others of the continent doing now? Why yes
that's easy any rate easier than your mercantile bs
the eleventh hOurand the people could have made
more money, and owned the houses at the end.
The writer not at all opposed to the idea of the Off
cal mercantile bureau proposed the contrary If it will
mean good for Porto Rico at large let have It, The
trouble that the Legislature has shown that
tegslae for classes only and that problem the agrarian
whose satisfactory solution entirely depends the well
fare of Porto Rico has not received the proper attention.
andwl not receive it until the composition of that Legs
latre is really by popular elements who have felt the
pinch of hunger and therefore fully familiar with the
needs of all Porto Rcans particularly Of the working
classes.
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