—_—_nr CC LL 
10 THRE«CUBA HEV LEY 
the framing of new tariff legislation. Numerous bills are before both houses covering all 
these matters of vital importance to the future of the Republic. 
Owing to the decrease in revenue derived from customs receipts, due to the continued 
financial depression and the consequent lessened consumption of goods, the moneys or- 
dinarily received from this source have diminished considerably as the following figures 
issued by Consul-General Hurst show: 
Havana Customs Receipts for June, 1920... 00.65... eee eee e $4,323,706 
Havana Customs Receipts for Jume, 1921................ se eceeee 2,310,208 
Havana Customs Receipts for July, 1920..................-0.005. 3,746,096 
Havana Customs Recempie tor July, 1921... 2. a ee ee eee 2,180,283 
In view of this condition, Congress, it is expected, will find it necessary to pass a new 
tariff law raising the duties on many articles in order to provide additional revenue, the 
articles in question being mainly those of the nature of luxuries. 
The questions of housing, and high rents now prevailing throughout the country are 
also being considered and some law tending to eliminate the profiteering existent among 
landlords will be enacted in the near future, it is thought. This question is one that 
should be settled as soon as possible as the high rents now in effect are the cause of much 
suffering among the poor people. The question of railroad rates is also one that is down 
upon the legislative program for early action, present rates in effect being prohibitive. 
A strong demand for a substantial reduction is being voiced by consumers and producers 
alike. 
Lasor: Threats of a nationwide strike as a result of the recent intimation on the 
part of various Government Departments to reduce the wages of ordinary labor to $2.00 
per day, are adding further complications to an already serious condition. The contention 
of the laborers, however, is not entirely without justification, as they contend that they 
would be perfectly willing to take this reduction provided all salaries were cut in like pro- 
portion, but they do not relish the idea of being the only ones compelled to suffer in order 
that the desired retrenchment policies may be carried out. 
At this time with thousands of unemployed, any such action, it would seem, would 
be extremely inadvisable and untimely, and would only tend to increase the suffering 
which already has reached a stage where some action must soon be taken by the govern- 
ment. Labor of all classes continues to refuse to recognize the necessity for a reduction 
of wages before normal conditions can be restored and the sooner recognition is taken of 
the fact that wages must come down before the cost of living can be materially reduced, 
the better it will be for all concerned. 
The administration is doing its utmost to assist the unemployed by providing 
government work of various kinds, and the building of the national highway at this time, 
in spite of precarious condition of finances, is being done mainly for the purpose of pro- 
viding employment to labor at a time when such employment is most needed. 
First Lapy or tHE Land CELEBRATES Her Sarnt’s Day: On August 16th Sra. 
Maria Jaen de Zayas, wife of President Zayas, celebrated her Saint’s day, as is the gen- 
eral custom in Cuba. The reception rooms of the presidential palace were thronged with 
well wishers and friends of the First Lady of the Land, during all hours of the day, and 
hundreds of valuable presents were received by Sefiora de Zayas. Dr. Zayas presented 
his wife with $10,000, and Sra. de Zayas’ daughter, Sefiorita Maria Gomez Colon, who 
celebrated her Saint’s day jointly with her mother, was also the recipient of many beau- 
tiful and valuable presents. 
EMBARGO TO BE LirreD ON CuBAN Suips Hetp in Germany: It is reported 
that the Secretary of the Treasury has ordered payment to be made to the German 
shipyards of the eight million marks charged for repairs made to the Cuban steamers 
Marti,” “Maceo” and “Maximo Gomez” which are at the present time under embargo 
pending payment of this amount. The eight million marks, equivalent to $108,000.00 
have been forwarded to Germany through the banking house of H. Upmann and will 
