THL 

 CUBA RE.VILW 



"ALL ABOUT CUBA" 



Copyright, 1916, hy the Munson Steamship Line 



Volume XIV 



APRIL, 1916 



Number 5 



CUBAN GOVERNMENT MATTERS 



CONGRESS 



The Cuban Congress convened on April 3, 

 and a message from President Menocal was 

 received. The message made mention of the 

 prosperity of Cuba and commented on the ex- 

 traordinary rise of value of Cuban products, 

 with the exception of tobacco. In regard to 

 tobacco, the hope was expressed that Great 

 Britain would modify her recent ruling in re- 

 gard to the importation of tobacco from 

 Cuba. The message briefly recapitulated 

 measures recommended on previous occasions 

 on which no action has as yet been taken by 

 Congress. 



CUBAN NAVY 



It is proposed to increase the Cuban Navy 

 by the addition of 20 gunboats of 600 tons 

 tonnage. It is claimed that the present Navy 

 of Cuba, on account of its lack of sufficient 

 gunboats, cannot properly protect the coast of 

 Cuba. Those who are advocating a larger 

 navy also suggest the purchase of two cruisers 

 of 4,000 tons each. 



LOTTERY 



H- 



Early in March, in order to economize the 

 administration of the Cuban lottery, the em- 

 ployes, whose salaries did not exceed $30 per 

 month, were suspended, which resulted in 

 putting about 1,000 employes off the pay roll. 

 This action caused so much dissatisfaction that 

 by an executive decree these employes were 

 reinstated, and the department is now trying 

 to economize in other directions. 



TREATIES 



The proposed modus vivendi with Spain is 

 again being considered, and it is hoped that 

 the opposition of the Spanish tabacco inter- 

 ests to the free entrance of Cuban tobacco 

 into Spain will be withdrawn and an agree- 

 ment reached. 



The parcel post treaty with England is still 

 pending and the Department of State is pre- 

 paring to take action in this matter. The 

 parcel post treaty with the United States is 

 also still in abeyance and it is hoped that the 

 State Department will succeed in arranging 

 this matter to the satisfaction of the tobacco 

 exporters. Other treaties which are to re- 

 ceive consideration are the Commercial 

 Treaty with Portugal and treaties with Chili 

 and Argentina. The purpose of all these 

 treaties is to provide a better market for 

 Cuban products used by the respective 

 countries. 



PENSION LAW 



The commission investigating the pensions 

 paid has reported that there is a monthly de- 

 ficit of $3,244.12, which would make the an- 

 nual deficit $38,929.44. It is probable that 

 this deficit wiU increase in a greater ratio with- 

 in the next three years. The total amount 

 paid in pensions annually is $205,544.73. 

 The commission includes in its report the 

 recommendation that Congress enact such 

 legislation as will prevent the continuance of 

 this deficit. 



