THE CUBA REVIEW 



HAVANA CORRESPONDENCE 



November 18th, 1918. 



NOVEMBER ELECTIONS.— In Havana and throughout the Island on November 

 1st elections were held to elect members of Congress and provincial and municipal 

 councilmen. It was feared there might be some trouble in connection with the elec- 

 tions but everything went off quietly. The voting was very light and in general little 

 interest appears to have been manifested by the voters, as the opinion seemed to pre- 

 vail that the voting was not carried out fairly and that in many cases manipulation of 

 the ballots took place. In this connection the newspapers report that General Emilio 

 Nunez, Vice-President of Cuba, stated in an interview shortly after election that the 

 present election laws are greatly in need of a reform and that they should be changed 

 before the next general elections. Some elements have even expressed the opinion 

 that the only way to ensure fairness at elections will be by asking the American 

 Government to supervise them. 



CUBAN CONGRESS. — The Cuban Congress met again after the elections re- 

 ferred to above, but there has been no special legislation enacted so far. 



ARMISTICE CELEBRATION.— When the news, which later proved incorrect, 

 wasreceived here on November 7th that the armistice had been signed between the 

 Allies and the Central Powers, there was naturally great rejoicing in Havana and im- 

 promptu parades which extended far into the night took place all over the city. 

 Upon receipt of the true report on November 11th there was a similar outburst of 

 popular demonstration which even exceeded that of the preceding week and the Presi- 

 dent declared the following day to be a legal holiday in honor of such an important 



event. 



INFLUENZA. — There has been no change in Havana in connection with the 

 course of this disease since our last report, as it continues to be in a very mild form 

 with few fatalities and may probably now be considered on the decrease. The Sanitary 

 Department decreed that doctors should report cases to them and rules to safeguard 

 the public health were made effective applying to public gatherings, travel in public 

 conveyances, etc., but it was not deemed necessary to close schools or theatres or take 

 other extreme measures. 



GOVERNMENT REGULATION OF DRUG PRICES.— The epidemic of influenza 

 mentioned above naturally caused an enormous demand for drugs to treat the disease; 

 therefore, in view of a threatened shortage of the drugs most in demand and repeated 

 increases in price of the drugs, the Cuban Food Administrator issued an order fixing 

 the price of drugs and medicines and limiting the profit which the druggists would be 

 allowed to make on various classes of drugs and medicinal products. 



DISCONTINUANCE OF MEATLESS DAYS.— The Cuban Food Administrator 

 made a ruling effective November 1st stating that the prohibition of the sale of meat 

 and its consumption on Friday will be discontinued in the future. 



CENTRO ASTURIANO FIRE.— On Oct. 24th the block owned by Centro Astu- 

 riano, one of the largest Spanish regional societies, which faces Central Park, caught 

 fire and within a short time the building was completely glutted, although the walls 

 remained standing and the Campoamor Theatre which occupied the center of the 

 block was left practically intact. The cause of the fire does not appear to have yet 

 been definitely ascertained. A film company had their office in this building and 

 some claim that the fire started among the films, while others allege the fire was 

 intentional on account of its appearing to have broken out almost simultaneously in 

 different parts of the block. This feature is being investigated by the courts but 

 their decision has not yet been made public. It is stated the building was insured for 

 about half a million dollars although the entire property is worth considerably more. 



