THE CUBA REVIEW 



REDUCTION ON "VITROLITE" 



A presidential decree of Cuba, dated 

 December 12, 1914, provides for a reduction of 

 the duty on "vitrolite" (an artificial stone con- 

 sisting of cryolite, soda, kaolin, sand, feldspar, 

 and flux), when imported in sheets, wliite or 

 colored, to be recut, polished, etc., for use in 

 walls or in furniture, as a substitute for other 

 artificial stone or for marble. This material, 

 which is dutiable under tariff No. 2 A, is now 

 declared exempt from the surtax of 25 per 

 cent imposed by the decree of 1904; with this 

 exemption the dutv N\'ill be 50 cents instead of 

 621^ cents per 100 kilos. 



WORK ON DRAINS STOPPED IN HAVANA 



It has been announced at the Department 

 of Pubhc Works that the work of construction 

 drains and water ducts has been suspended 

 indefinitely. No statement was given out, 

 but it is known that the reason for this sus- 

 pension is the old one of want of funds. 



The works already begun, will, when con- 

 cluded, cost in the neighborhood of $500,000, 

 and unless a new credit is voted it seems likely 

 that the city will have to wait for tliis needful 

 work. 



PROPOSE POLICE REORGANIZATION FOR 

 HAVANA 



A bill for the reorganization of the poUce 

 force of Havana is being considered by Con- 

 gress. The provisions are as follows: 



Article I. — The poUce force of Havana 

 shall be divided in each station into three 

 squads, and these into two sections, which 

 will each serve six hours in the streets and 

 then have 12 hours free. 



ArtUce II. — From thesaid squads a reserve 

 shall be detached, that will be on duty from 

 9 p.m. to 12 p.m. 



Article III. — The chief of poUce shall al- 



■ ways have power to employ the entire police 



force when any unusual event shall require 



the abandonment of the previous regulations. 



Article IV. — To lighten the service for the 

 members of the force a vacation of 24 hours 

 will be given to every policeman every 20 

 days. 



Article V. — This law'shall go into force from 

 the day it is published in the Official Gazette. 



CUBA WANTS AEROPLANES 



In a recent interview with Senor Augustin 

 Parla, the Cuban aviator, had with the presi- 

 dent, the latter asked him to give an estimate 

 as to the cost of acquiring three Curtis aero- 

 planes for the Cuban army. The aviator 

 is now making inquiries as to the cost. It is 

 beUeved that a military aviation corps wiU un- 

 doubtedly form a part of the scheme for the 

 reorganization of the army. 



QUARANTINE AGAINST CURACAO— YELLOW 

 FEVER 



On January 6, 1915, quarantine measures 

 were ordered into effect at ports in Cuba 

 against arrivals from the island of Curacao on 

 account of yellow fever. 



CUBAN ARMY MANEUVERS 



On the last of January the Cuban army will 

 start on a series of marches through the cane 

 districts. In the Une of march the soldiers 

 will cover a distance of about 4,500 Idlo- 

 meters (2,794 miles). The soldiers will be so 

 located that the cane districts will be under 

 constant guard during the cutting and grind- 

 ing season. It is thought that this will pre- 

 vent disturbances in the sugar districts, and 

 also that the danger from fire in the cane 

 fields will be lessened. 



MEMORIAL TO THE "MAINE" 



President Menocal has sent to the Cuban 

 Congress a recommendation that a bill be 

 passed appropriating $23,000, the money 

 to be devoted to erecting on behalf of the 

 Cuban people a suitable memorial dedicated 

 to the United States warship "Maine," which 

 was sunk in Havana Harbor, and the occur- 

 rance was one of the contributing causes J to 

 the War of the Liberation of Cuba. 



CODIFICATION OF THE LAWS OF CUBA 



A biU has been introduced into the Cuban 

 Congress to codify the laws of the Repubhc. 



SPANISH IMMIGRANTS 



The Cuban govenrment has issued instruc_ 

 tions requiring all immigrants saihng from 

 Spanish ports to Cuba to be vaccinated be" 

 fore embarking. 



BANQUET FOR DR. ZAYAS 



On January 20th, Dr. Alfredo Zayas, the 

 Liberal leader, was the guest of honor at a 

 banquet given at the Payret Theatre in 

 Havana by prominent members of the Lib- 

 eral Party. Many speeches were made and 

 much enthusiasm shown for the Liberal 

 leader. 



PASSENGERS MUST REGISTER BEFORE LEAV- 

 ING HAVANA 



Port and immigration regulations, make it 

 necessary for all passengers for the United 

 States via Florida ports, be registered on the 

 passenger Ust in advance of saiUng. This ap- 

 plies to passengers holding return tickets as 

 well as to those who hold passes or do not hold 

 transportation. Passengers who fail to com- 

 ply with this request will not be permitted to 

 embark. 



