10 THE CUBA REVIEW. 



Measures Before the House and Senate. 



Of the numerous measures introduced into the Cuban House and Senate 

 during the month the following are the more important: 

 In the House: — 



Appropriating $800,000 for a new post office for Havana. 



Increasing the pay of representatives and senators from $300 to $400 per month. 

 This was lost by a vote of 50 to 16, and when a member said that healthy, economical 

 measures were necessary and not the increasing of officials' salaries, he was loudly 

 applauded. 



Prohibiting the circulation of brass checks and paper vouchers as currency in 

 all the large shops, plantations, etc. 



Establishing the lottery in Cuba. The revenue to be used for the construction 

 of bridges and roads in the island. The expenses to be paid from the general 

 revenues of the Treasury Department. 



Providing for an eight-hour law for workingmen employed by the state, prov- 

 ince or municipality, and to include those employed by the contractors doing govern- 

 ment work. 



To avoid a repetition of cases like the anti-alien bill, which was repealed on 

 March 8th. A parliamentary committee has been organized which will consider all 

 bills prior to their introduction to the House. 



Repealing General Wood's order prohibiting bull fights. It was strongly sup- 

 ported, and it is predicted that it will become a law. 



Annulling the law regarding cock fighting. On March 10th a bill was introduced 

 confining the sport to Sundays and holidays, and prohibiting it in provincial capitals. 

 All proceeds go to charitable works. The bill is in the hands of a committee. 

 In the Senate: — 



Limiting to the President of the Republic the authorization or incorporation 

 of local trust companies or mortgage banks. 



Changing the present system of fees paid to registrars of property, reducing 

 the charge by 50 per cent, and making it a salaried office at $2,000 per year. At 

 present registrars receive a percentage only. Under the percentage arrangement 

 the registrar for the eastern district of Havana alone received, according to the Post, 

 about $20,000 per year. 



An important bill authorizing the creation of mortgage banks which will facilitate 

 loans to planters and others. 



Senator Bustamante introduced a bill requiring all steamers entering or leaving 

 the ports either in the foreign or coastwise traffic to be equipped with wireless 

 telegraph apparatus. If passed it will come into effect January 1, 1910. 



The Senate confirmed March 1st the nomination of Carlos Garcia Velez to be 

 Cuban Minister at Washington. 



The Senate Committee on March 10th resolved to request the President to 

 send with all diplomatic and consular nominations documents proving the nominees' 

 citizenship and freedom from penal antecedents. 



An amended amnesty bill was passed on ]\Iarch Sth. It applies to all veterans of 

 the War of Independence convicted of crimes whose sentences do not exceed 

 fourteen years, and to all others except those convicted of unnatural crimes. Eight 

 hundred prisoners were released March Sth, among them being Maso Parra. 



The term of Morna Delgado, the. negro president of the Senate, ended March 

 15th. He expects to manage the national lottery. 



The Reciprocity Treaty. 



March 14th President Gomez and Vice-President Zayas conferred on a new 

 Reciprocity Treaty and agreed with upon preliminary steps, which the latter wilt 

 take up unofficially with the authorities at Washington. He left Elavana for this 

 purpose on March 15th. Concessions on sugar and tobacco are the main objects 

 sought. Cuba's business men are becoming active in the matter, and it is believed 

 that a bill will shortly pass appropriating $25,000 for the expenses of a commission 

 to Washington for the same purpose. The bill says that if the present treaty is 

 repudiated the harm done to Cuba will be immense and that "since we have special 

 political relations with the United States, we have the right to demand special com- 

 mercial relations also." 



The Cuban Congress adjourned March 15th, and will reassemble April 5th. 



President Taft, having received a message of congratulation from President 

 Gomez, replied on March Sth as follows: 



"It is my earnest desire that the Cuban people may enjoy uninterrupted peace, 

 prosperity and domestic tranquility, and I offer to them and to you my heartiest 

 good wishes." 



