THE CUBA REVIEW. 



President Gomez plans trad- 



Grcat ing the arsenal lands in Ha- 



Buildings vana for the Villanueva station 



Planned lining the Prado and building 

 for Havana, thereon new government build- 

 ings costing in the neighbor- 

 hood of $6,500,000. The most important 

 work in the plan is the building of five piers, 

 three off Paula and two off Tallapiedra. 

 There is a depth of water at Paula of be- 

 tween forty and forty-five feet, and the three 

 piers would permit of docking the largest 

 steamers entering Havana Harbor. Alto- 

 gether the expenditure approximates $8,250,- 

 000 in new government buildings, which will 

 include the presidential palace, costing $1,- 

 300,000; buildings for the departments of 

 state, justice, interior, public instruction, 

 public works and sanitation at $400,000 each ; 

 palace of justice. $600,000; congressional 

 building, $1,400,000; provincial institute and 

 school,^ $300,000; jail, $300,000; conversion 

 of present public instruction department into 

 post-office, $200,000, and the extension of 

 the Malecon ; total, $6,500,000. Building the 

 five docks by the United Railways for the 

 government and the city crematory, $1,500.- 

 000; building of new railway stations by 

 United Railways, estimated. $250,000. 



The expenses to be borne by the govern- 

 ment will aggregate $6,500,000, but the pres- 

 ent government buildings can possibly be 

 sold for $3,500,000, leaving $3,000,000 to be 

 paid out of the treasury. 



On April 22 the plans were approved 

 by Congress, the leaders agreeing that 

 the project deserved their support and 

 prompt action. 



President Gomez expects the palaces 

 will be erected before the time estimated 

 in the projected contract and that the 

 Presidential and Con-r.-essional palaces at 

 least will be ready for occupany in the 

 fall of 1911. The other palaces, he be- 

 lieves, will be completed by the end of 

 1911 or early in 1912. The Havana press 

 warmly endorses the plans, and real es- 

 tate owners are enthusiastic. 



Decision of the committee of 

 Measures codes favorable to the bill es- 



Before tablishing the lottery. 

 the House. Approval (without debate) 

 of the bill relative to Congress 

 receiving monthly, through the paymasters 

 of the Senate and of the Chamber, the sums 

 originated in the fixed budget. 



A bill to annul Paragraph 3, of Article 

 10, of the existing penal military law (in- 

 surrection and rebillion) was referred. 



A bill authorizing the executive to engage 

 six foreign instructors for the police was 

 passed for report to the committee of codes. 



The following bills were presented : 



Modifying the law of July 5, 1906, for the 



free contracting of the state with the rail- 

 way companies. 



For constructing a bridge over the San 

 Juan River in Matanzas. 



The law about the appointment of judicial 

 functionaries by the president of the re- 

 public was approved. 



Bill introduced relative to the imposition 

 of discriminating duties against nations hav- 

 ing such laws in effect against Cuba. Re- 

 ferred to the tariff committee. 



April 29 a bill was introduced providing 

 for an appropriation of $25,000 for auto- 

 mobile races next winter. It was referred. 



April 26 the House decided to debate the 

 bill for the establishment of a national 

 lottery, and its passage is assured. A 

 resolution was also adopted requesting 

 the Senate not to delay consideration of 

 the House bill restoring cock-fighting. 



The demand for its restoration came from 

 the country people. Everybody wants the 

 lottery, but no one seems to want to restore 

 bull-fighting. A majority of the members 

 of the House voted against even its consid- 

 eration when first introduced. If they vote 

 against the bill when it is brought back from 

 the committee, that will be the end of it. 



The bill conceding an appro- 



Bcforc priation of $25,000 for private 



the expenses of the executive was 



Sciiafe. approved. 



Another appropriation of $2,- 

 385 for X-ray apparatus for the Mercedes 

 Hospital was also approved. 



The bill equalizing the professors of the 

 'Tnstituto de Segunda Enseiianza" with 

 those of the university as to their capacity 

 to exercise certain functions, in accordance 

 with the law of the executive power, was 

 approved. 



Likewise the bill suspending the collection 

 of export duties on sugar, tobacco and 

 liquors was approved. Signed by the presi- 

 dent April 22. 



The bill modifying the mortgage law in 

 Articles 128 and 241 was transmit'ted to the 

 committee for report; likewise the bill of 

 loans to' agriculturists. 



A message from the president was read, 

 requesting authority from Congress to ex- 

 change with the United Railways Co. the 

 Villanueva lands for those of the arsenal. 



A motion was approved asking the execu- 

 tive for data about the concession made by 

 tlie_ government of Spain to the Villanueva 

 Railroad in the time of General Salamanca. 



The bill ordering the erection of a statue 

 to Carlos Manuel Cespedes in Bayamo was 

 presented. 



Three more agricultural stations were 

 proposed in a bill introduced. One in 

 Pinar del Rio province, one in Santa Clara 

 province and one in Oriente. It was re- 

 ferred to the agricultural committee. 



