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12 THE CUBA REVIEW 
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they could ill afford to suffer the loss. Inasmuch as wages have declined considerably 
during the past year, and living expenses have not decreased proportionately, the con- 
sequence of the time lost by the closing of the centrals was keenly felt and many hard- 
ships resulted. 
Much distress was caused the province affected as a consequence of the lack of trans- 
portation of foodstuffs and supplies; practically no rolling stock, with the exception of 
an unsuccessful attempt to operate the mail trains, moved during the thirteen-day 
duration of the strike. The attempt on the part of the officials of the railroad to operate 
the mail trains was met with determined opposition on the part of the Union employees 
and their sympathizers, which resulted in the complete burning of a mail coach, as well 
as many minor depredations which were committed during the progress of the strike. 
Various efforts of mediation on the part of the government were opposed for various 
reasons by both the railroad officials and the union. However, repeated efforts by govern- 
ment agencies brought forth the desired results and the men agreed to a temporary 
resumption of work, pending the final decision regarding the reinstatement of the dis- 
missed employees over whose dismissal the strike was called. The railroad company agreed 
to reinstate five of the several employees in question and to further consider the cases 
of those not as yet reinstated. 
The unemployment situation is still grave, there being many thousands of men idle 
throughout the Island. The situation is due to lack of new building operations caused 
by the financial situation and the closing of many of the sugar centrals due to the con- 
gestion of sugar at the docks awaiting shipment. It is not as yet known what steps the 
incoming administration will take to relieve the situation, if any, but it is hoped that 
some legislation will be enacted which will in measure help to solve the gravity of this 
unemployment problem. 
New Presipent [nNauGuraATeD: Simplicity was the keynote of the inaugural 
ceremonies of Dr. Alfredo Zayas, the new Chief Executive of the Republic of Cuba, on 
May 20th. 
Dr. Zayas was escorted from his home to the Presidential Palace, where the oath 
of office was administered, by the Cuban Cavalry troops, receiving the plaudits of the 
thousands of spectators who filled the streets along which the new president passed 
from his home to the executive mansion. Immediately aiter the ceremonies, General 
Menocal, the retiring executive for two successive terms of four years each, departed for 
a tour of Europe, via New York, from which port the ex-president will leave on the 
steamship “La France,” after spending a few days in New York City. 
May 20th, aside from being Inauguration Day is also Independence Day in Cuba, 
and while the inauguration ceremony itself was very simple in character, the dual holiday 
afforded the enthusiastic populace the opportunity which it desired for celebrating. 
The day was spent in merriment in which many diversified sports were a prominent 
feature, lasting until a late hour at night. 
President Zayas established a precedent by reading his own presidential message to 
the assembled members of both houses of Congress, all the former presidents having 
written their addresses and sent them to the Senate to be read. 
The new Cabinet of President Zayas is as follows: 
Secretary of State—Dr. Rafael Montoro 
Secretary to the President—Sr. José Manuel Cortina 
Secretary of the Treasury—Sr. Gelabert 
Secretary of War—General Demetrio Castillo Duany 
Secretary of the Interior—Sr. Martinez Llufriu 
Secretary of Justice—Dr. Regueiferos 
Secretary of Sanitation—Dr. Juan Guiteras 
Secretary of Public Works—Sr. O. Freyre 
Secretary of Public Instruction—Dr. Francisco Zayas 
To date the Secretary of Agriculture has not been named. 
