Investigation of Minimum Wages and Education in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Hearings ... Pursuant to H. Res. 75. 1950

Y4.Ed 8': P96

INVESTIGATION OF MINIMUM WAGES AND EDUCATION

IN PUERTO RICO AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS

SPECIAL INVESTIGATING SUBCOMMITUDENT HE
COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND LABOR
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

EIGHTY-FIRST CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

PURSUANT TO

H. Res. 75

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE COMMITTEE ON
EDUCATION AND LABOR TO CONDUCT STUDIES
AND INVESTIGATIONS RELATING TO
MATTERS WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION

HEARINGS HELD AT

SAN JUAN, P. R., NOVEMBER 16, 1949

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, ST. THOMAS, V. I., NOVEMBER 18, 1949
CHRISTIANSTED, ST. CROIX, V. I., NOVEMBER 19, 1949
SAN JUAN, P. R., NOVEMBER 21, 1949
MAYAGUEZ, P. R., NOVEMBER 22, 1949
PONCE, P. R., NOVEMBER 23, 1949
SAN JUAN, P. R., NOVEMBER 25, 1949

99368

Printed for the use of the Committee on Education and Labor

UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON: 1950

AUGUSTINE B. KELLEY, Pennsylvania CARROLL D. KEARNS, Pennsylvania CHARLES R. HOWELL, New Jersey

HAROLD H. VELDE, Illinois

JOHN S. FORSYTHE, General Counsel

81ST CONGRESS, 1ST SESSION

H. RES. 75

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 2, 1949

Mr. LESINSKI submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on Rules

FEBRUARY 3, 1949

Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed

FEBRUARY 21, 1949

Considered and agreed to

Resolution

Resolved, That the Committee on Education and Labor, acting as a
whole or by subcommittee, is authorized and directed to conduct thor-
ough studies and investigations relating to matters coming within the
jurisdiction of such committee under rule XI (1) (g) of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, and for such purposes the said commit-
tee or any subcommittee thereof is hereby authorized to sit and act
during the present Congress at such times and places within the
United States, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has
adjourned, to hold such hearings, and to require by subpena or other-
wise the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the produc-
tion of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and
documents, as it deems necessary. Subpenas may be issued over the
signature of the chairman of the committee or any member of the
committee designated by him, and may be served by any person desig-
nated by such chairman or member. The chairman of the committee
or any member thereof may administer oaths to witnesses.

That the sail committee shall report to the House of Representa-
tives during the present Congress the results of their studies and in-
vestigations with such recommendations for legislation or otherwise
as the committee deems desirable.

III

CONTENTS

H. Res. 75-

Opportunity and Duty in Puerto Rico, article by Beardsley Ruml_.

Recommendations of Wage and Hour Industry Committee_

Statement or testimony of—

Alexander, Joseph, president, Chamber of Commerce, St. Croix, V. I__
Aponte, Felix, president, and Martin Ocasio, secretary, Union of the
Liquor Industry of Arecibo, P. R____

Page

III

147

Arcelay, Maria Luisa, vicepresident, Puerto Rico Needlework Industry
Association, Inc__.

150

Barreto, Victor, president, and Carmelo Lopez Alers, secretary, Union
of Workers, Central Coloso, Aguada, P. R..

Bayne, Benjamin, member, executive committee, Chamber of Com-

merce, St. Thomas, V. I___

Boothby, Thomas, Mayaguez Rotary Club..

Brunet, Virgilio, president, Puerto Rico Teachers' Association___
Castillo, Felix, president, city council; Baudilio Vega, mayor; Augusto
Valentin, representative in the Territorial Legislature, Mayaguez,
P. R__

Cintron, Carlos J., president, and Carlos G. Westerband, secretary,
Ponce Branch, UGT, Ponce, P. R__.

Cortes, Agustin, president, and Jose Antonio Patan, secretary, Cen-
tral Plata Factory Union No. 1, San Sebastian, P. R__

Coulter, Stanley, Superintendent of Social Welfare, St. Croix, V. I__

Court, Pedro, president, Insular League of Parent-Teachers' Associa-

tion of Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R_.

-141

171

199

171

182

139

204

Statement of Auditor of Puerto Rico before Subcommittee on

Ways and Means___.

205

Resolution of the Insular League of Parent-Teachers' Associations

of Puerto Rico, Santurce, P. R..

207

Federal grants collected during the fiscal years ended June 30,

1947, 1948, and 1949_..

209

Curet, Eliezer, representing the Unidad General De Trabajadores

De Puerto Rico, San Juan, P. R____

135

Davis, Reginald, wage commissioner, St. Thomas and St. John, V. I__
De Castro, Morris F., government secretary of the Virgin Islands,
St. Thomas, V. I---

de Mendoza, Sara Claudio, president, and Hilda Hernández, secre-
tary, Workers' Union of the Rum Industry of San Juan, P. R----

Denis, Angel, Jorge Vidal Nuñez, Andrés de Tejada, and Alejo Pérez,

Factory, Transport and Works Union, American Federation of

Labor, Central Cambalache, Arecibo, P. R..

144

140

Diaz, Bonifacio, president, Union works of the electrical industry,

telegram to Hon. John Lesinski, November 21, 1949_-

Dixon, Frederick, superintendent of education, St. Thomas and St.

John, V. I‒‒‒‒‒

142

Educational facilities needed in the Virgin Islands