Scoville v. Soler

11 P.R. Fed. 1
District Court, D. Puerto Rico·Decided September 4, 1918·No. No. 1004·Published

Opinion

HamiltoN, Judge,

delivered tbe following opinion:

1. Tbe case presents tbe question of tbe relative rights of residents and property owners on tbe one side and of tbe public represented by health officials on tbe other as to tbe location of a tuberculosis hospital. Tbe question is an important one from both points of view. Tbe residents and property owners have a right to protection against all improper exercise of authority on tbe part of tbe public officials, for not only their property [4] and tbeir bornes, but tbeir health, if not life, is involved. On the other band, what is true of this particular community where it is sought to- place the hospital may be true of any other. If the health authorities are not able to place a tuberculosis hospital on this site, the same questions may well be raised by residents and property owners in any other locality that may be selected, with the result that it may be difficult, if not impossible, to locate the hospital at all. The necessity for such institutions is unquestionable, and some means must be found either to reconcile the opposing interests or to ascertain that one or the other has no right under the circumstances of the particular case. The importance of the matter lies in its transcending merely property interests. Ordinarily damages will lie for injury to property interests; or, when the injury is substantial, the contemplated act may be enjoined entirely. The three fundamental rights of man recognized since the Declaration of Independence are life, liberty, and property, and, if possible, the two former are more basic than the last, for no money damage is adequate in the case of life and health. If really involved; as contended, the only remedy is by absolute injunction.

2. It may be well to remove one misapprehension. It is argued on behalf of the defendants not only that public interests are of greater importance than private ¡property, but that bona fide citizens of Porto Pico have rights superior to those of other Americans living here temporarily for business or pleasure. It cannot be too clearly understood that there is no distinction between the rights of Americans, whether they are here in Porto Pico for one day or for life. There are privileges attached to local citizenship connected mainly with the exercise of political rights, such as voting and holding office; but as [5] regards life, liberty, and property, tbe constitutional provision applies that “the citizens of each state shall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of citizens in the several states.” Const. art. 4, § 2. This provision has not been expressly carried forward into the Act of March 2, 1917, “To Provide a Civil Government for Porto Eico and for Other Purposes,” but it is implied in the Bill of Eights which is prefixed thereto and in the provisions of § 5, extending American citizenship' to all persons. Equality of American citizenship is something which even*Congress could not vary.

3. A preliminary question as to jurisdiction of this court must first be passed upon. The Federal courts have jurisdiction only in certain cases, between certain persons, and sometimes, where a certain amount is involved, presenting the three kinds of jurisdiction, — subject-matter, parties, and power of the court itself. The point is raised as to the persons of the plaintiffs, that they are domiciled in Porto Eico and therefore cannot maintain a suit against a Porto Eican official. Plaintiff Seoville came from Kentucky, and has resided in Porto Eico a number of years, having been at one time clerk of this court. It is claimed that he should be considered as domiciled in Por.to Eico. Seoville, according to the evidence, has a definite intention of returning to the United States, preferably to Kentucky, but will be influenced by climatic conditions. Plaintiff Bacon came here on account of the rigor of the climate of Connecticut, where she lived, and expected to make this her home, provided a brother came out; but he has definitely decided not to come out, and she expects to return to the United States, preferably to Connecticut, but would have to spend her winters elsewhere. Plaintiff Vosburg came to Porto Eico for business purposes and [6] has resided bere several years, like tbe others having bought, and is living on land in the vicinity now in question. He is now in the Army and expects to return to Porto Eico after his term of service, with no definite views as to changing his residence. It is to be borne in mind that Porto Eico up to the present is, and for many years to come will bo, quasi foreign to Americans from the mainland on account of the prevalence of the Spanish language and of very different social customs. It is not necessary to think of these as inferior‘in any respect to the American, but it is necessary to think of them as so different that an American from the states is in an entirely different position • from what he is when he goes, for instance, from Alabama to New York, or from Pennsylvania to California. In the United States the change is merely of local surroundings, the institutions being practically identical, while one coming here from the states finds language, institutions, and customs foreign to him, and from the necessity of the case most Americans have some idea, definite or indefinite, of finally returning to the United States. Porto Eico is so thickly populated it cannot be Americanized by immigration as Florida was. This is unfortunate both for the Americans and for Porto Eico, but will no doubt gradually change as American institutions are better understood and come to prevail, but the case at bar has to be decided upon the facts as they now exist.

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