El Imparcial. (San Juan, P.R.) 1918-197?, 1919-02-11
Municipal Mum. Mum. Average
expenses of schools of teachers pupils

milk and also of meat could be
secured by the( determination OF this
pce+.- Moreover. propaganda OF IN
formation was carried on among the
cattle and dairy owners to secure their
cooperation with most gratifying re-
suits. They are ready to help and CO.
Operate in this great Improvement
which will result in an anual increase
of milk estimated at nearly S1,000.000,
and of meat estirnbated at about halt
a million. l recommend. therefore,
that law be passed providing for com
pulsory dipping of all cattle in dipping
tanks to be built by municipalities and
individuals at convenient points over
the Island, the law to take effect Oct
ober l., 1919, and to continue for six
months, or until all the cattle have
been freed from tick; and that the De-
partment of Agriculture and Labor be
authorized to purchase at wholesale the
necessary chemicals and sell them at
Icost to the cattle owners, and small
appropriation be made for this purpose
Further, that said department be
authorized to use its inspectors and
employ others if necessary to inspect
this dipping work and see that it be
thoroughly done. This improvement
will be Of such great and immediate
profit to all the cattle owners that there
should be no cost to the Government
except that of inspection, which can
probably be furnished by the Depart
ment of Agriculture at comparatively
slight cost in connection with its other
inspection work.
| would recommended also for your
consideration the enactment of new
municipal law for Porto Rico. This
subject has been much discussed and
often recommended to previous legisla-
lures, but its inherent difficulty has
prevented hitherto any serious effort
to enter upon its consideration. The
present system of municipal govern
Sment is too cumbersome and expensive
for large majority of the municipal
tiles and the number OF officials is lar.
ger than necessary. The difficulty OF
maintaining the personnel and efficiency
of the present system seems to be III
creasing and / am sure thatsa general
revision of the whole system seems ur,
gently necessary.
Inasmuch as this is the last regular
session of the Legislature before the
next election, recommend thorough
revision of the Election Law with to
/ the correction of its defects as shown
Iby experience.
/ also recommend that you pass a
law to regulate the business Of making
small loans. especially with view to
controlling the rate of interest and pro-
ltecting the poor who are compelled by
their necessities to borrow small sums
at frequent intervals. / am informed
that much extortion is practised in this
business here in Porto Rico through
lexorbitant rates Of interest, exacted oi
the poor who have no security to offei
for these loans except their wages OF
small salaries. Twenty-six States and
Territories in the United States have
passed laws regulating this business ano
tothers are passing them every year a
careful study has been made of this
subject in the office of the Attorney
General and law drawn which vii
prove effective and applicable to the
needs and conditions of the Island.
earnestly recommended that it be in.
Z ltrcduced and carefully considered foi
the protection of the poor and unfort
innate.
4 The close business ties between ths
4 Continued on page 81