THE CUBA REVIEW 



CUBAN GOVERNMENT MATTERS 



RAILROAD COMMISSION 



The Commission which was appointed by 

 the Cuban Government some time ago to 

 study the question of the nationaUzation of the 

 Cuban railways has, it is reported, finished its 

 work, and its report should prove of great in- 

 terest. 



The Cuban railroads have been criticised 

 on account of the service and also on account 

 of the freight rates, which are claimed to be 

 excessive. The Cuban public, realizing that 

 the railroads are largely owned by foreign 

 capital, is prone to believe that the rates are 

 based, on the proposition that the traffic should 

 bear all that is possible, rather than on the 

 proposition that the best interests of the 

 Ciiljan i)ublic should be served by low but fair 

 freight rates. 



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



Upon General Nunez's assuming the office of 

 Vice-President of Cuba, the position of Secre- 

 tary of Agriculture was left vacant. Until a 

 new secretary is appointed, the office will be 

 administered by Secretary of the Treasury, 

 Sr. Cancio. 



FOOD CONTROL BOARD 



By a decree of the president, this board has 

 been reorganized and consists of the President 

 of Cuba, the Secretary of Agriculture, the 

 Mayor of Havana, the Secretary of the 

 Economic Society of Friends of the Country, 

 and four ro.ero.bers of the Chamber of Com- 

 m.erce in Havana. 



CUBAN FRUITS 



The Cuban Department of Agriculture has 

 issued an order forbidding the im.portation to 

 Cuba of a number of fruits and plants, for the 

 purpose of avoiding the possibility of import- 

 ing diseases now imknown here. 



Among the fruits Ijari-ed are the Mexican 

 and the Central American alligator pear and 

 seeds, and pineapples and slips from Jam.aica, 

 banana plants from Japan, the Philippines, 

 East Indies and the adjacent country. 



Cotton plants from Mexico, or unm.anufac- 

 tured cotton from Mexico or Central America 

 is forbidden on account of the boll weevil. 



AMERICANS IN CUBA 



The Cuban Government has put its ;irmy 

 rifle ranges at the disposal of Americans 

 anxious to prepare for service. Col. Witter- 

 meyer, military attache of the Am.erican Lega- 

 tion, announced a plan whereby all Americans 

 in Havana between 21 and 30 years of age 

 should confer with him and undertake the 

 arms practice under American army rules. 



CUBAN LOAN 



By Presidential decree issued May 26th, 

 it was determined to issue bonds for $30,000,- 

 000, under the authority granted by the 

 Cuban Congress in the resolution of April 

 5th. The bonds issued will be nine year 

 bearer bonds and bear a maximum interest 

 of 6%. The bonds are to date from January 

 1st, 1918. 



It is proposed to have a stamp tax con- 

 nected with the raising of the money for this 

 loan and the tax is to be imposed on: 



1. All stock exchange operations. 



2. A graduated stamp tax for all private 

 receipts and receipts before a notary. 



3. All commercial invoices, excerpts. 



4. All contract leases. 



5. All surety bonds. 



6. Various documents connected with the 

 purchase or transfer of property. 



7. A stamp on each page of the credit 

 books of merchants. 



8. A stamp on each page of banJs accounts. 



9. Bonds or funds deposited with guaran- 

 tee for electrical service companies. 



10. Letters of exchange, notes and various 

 documents. 



11. Documents of indebtedness to the 

 Govermnent shall be stamped when paid. 



12. Birth, marriage and death certificates. 



13. Certificates of mercantile property 

 and naval registers. 



14. Family counsel books. 



15. Hunting licenses or permits to carry 

 arms. 



16. Automobile licenses. 



17. Permits for wagons and other vehicles. 

 New stamps have been ordered for use in 



accordance with this law, and the law is to 

 be effective July 1st. 



