THE CUBA REVIEW 



11 



Tax on 



Vacant 



Lots. 



A law promulgated by 

 Governor Magoon last 

 May, taxing vacant lots in 

 Havana now goes into 

 effect. The decree is as 

 follows: 



"Art. 217. — Every vacant lot or a lot upon 

 which there is a ruinous building, shall pay a 

 tax to the municipality at the rate of 12 per 

 cent, on the estimated income value . of the land, 

 or of the land and buildings, in a proper case; 

 without prejudice to what each municipal council 

 may decide as to the form and time for the 

 obligatory building on vacant lots or the re- 

 building of ruinous structures. 



"This tax shall not be assessed against vacant 

 lots forming part of new subdivisions, until five 

 years after such subdivisions shall have been 

 approved by the municipal council." 



A fact which is useful to 

 Return know, and which few are 

 Coupons. aware of, is that the ma- 

 jority of countries ac- 

 cept "Return Coupons," that is, if a let- 

 ter is being sent froin here to Cuba, a 

 sum equal to the cost of a return stamp 

 may be paid to the post office here, 

 which will issue a slip that may be in- 

 closed in the letter and will be accepted 

 as payment for a stamp by any Cuban 

 post office. 



The Cuban press com- 



Mr. Taft's ments generally were con- 

 Election. gratulatory of Mr. Taft's 

 election. 



The Diaria de la Marina said: "His 

 election is a great benefit to Cuba. The 

 new American President is a man who 

 knows thoroughly the Cuban situation 

 and Cuban politicians." It praised Mr. 

 Taft's work in ending the revolution in 

 1906, and his tact, ability and fairness, 

 and said the solution he gave was the 

 best for the country. It hopes Mr. Taft 

 will not have to think about Cuba dur- 

 ing his term, but if unfortunately an- 

 other intervention conies, then it will 

 be the last. 



La Lucha thought Mr. Taft under- 

 stood the true cause of the revolution 

 of 1906. All the important papers from 

 El Triumfo, General Gomez's organ, to 

 the provincial papers, express them- 

 selves after the same fashion, although 

 Cuba, a conservative organ, severely cri- 

 ticized Mr. Taft for not having sup- 

 ported President Palma. 



Most of the liberal papers intimated 

 that his election favored Cuba's in- 

 terests. 



Havana's new Fire Headquarters now being built on Zulncta Street by the Department of 

 Public Works. 



Perspectiva del Cuartel de Bomberos de la Habana. Departamento de Obras Publicas Con- 

 strucciones Civiles. 



