- José E. Benedicto
José E. Benedicto was the
Treasurer ofPuerto Rico , and briefly served as actingGovernor of Puerto Rico in 1921.In his early life, Benedicto attended the
University of Madrid , where he received aBachelor of Arts degree. In 1902, he graduated with a law degree from theUniversity of Michigan and was licensed to practice in Michigan and Puerto Rico. He subsequently was appointed as adistrict attorney ofArecibo, Puerto Rico . He also worked as a lawprofessor at theUniversity of Puerto Rico .In 1908, he was appointed as Treasurer. During
World War I , Benedicto was partly responsible for a campaign to advertise the sale ofLiberty Bonds on the island. This plan would ultimately bring in nearly $10 million for the war effort, or approximately $9 per person in the territory. As treasurer, he also fought a legal battle against the Porto Rican American Tobacco Company. This battle eventually made it to theSupreme Court of the United States and they issued an opinion favoring the treasurer in 1924.Shortly after
Emmet Montgomery Reily was appointed as Governor, Benedicto wasindicted by aGrand Jury on corruption charges and was removed as Treasurer by the Governor in 1921. However, he was later acquitted of charges.References
* [http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/benedum-benito.html Political Graveyard: Benedum to Benito]
*COMMISSIONER DEFENDS PORTO RICO TREASURER; Davila, Replying to Gov. Reily, Says Benedicto Was Exonerated of Charges.
*By Jose E. Benedicto, Treasurer of Porto Rico. Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine (1868-1935). San Francisco: Apr 1919.Vol.VOL. LXXIII, Iss. No. 4; pg. 316, 4 pgs
*The Red Triangle in Porto Rico By W. G. Coxhead, Secretary of Y. M. C. A. at Camp Las Casas. Overland Monthly and Out West Magazine (1868-1935). San Francisco: Apr 1919.Vol.VOL. LXXIII, Iss. No. 4; pg. 343, 3 pgs
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