THE CUBA REVIEW 



recently obtain a categorical declaration 

 as to whether or not the government of the 

 Ihiited States will oppose the amnesty of 

 General Asbert by the Cuban Congress. 



Commenting on the Amnesty Bill, the 

 Brooklyn Eagle says : 



"It is figm-ed that Cuba's "amnesty law" 

 will cover about a thousand men in prison for 

 homicide. If the released men get together 

 they may start a revolution. No govern- 

 ment can afford to indulge in some phases of 

 clemency to murderers." 



The measure would not only release Asbert 

 and Arias, but it would set free more than a 

 thousand others charged with homicide, 

 many of whom are among the most dangerous 

 criminals in Cuba. It would also open the 

 prison doors to those who have been con- 

 victed of inflicting wounds in duels. 



President Menocal has re- 

 Heavy mitted a fine of $4,967.50 im- 

 Fine posed by the collector of in- 



Remitted ternal revenue of the zone of 

 Havana on the Isle of Pines 

 Investment Company for its failure to pay 

 on time the transfer tax due for a transfer of 

 its property to another company. 



It appears, say the Havana papers, that 

 the land company which had acquired its 

 holdings for the sum of $57,000, was able to 

 dispose of them for the sum of $1,500,000, but 

 had to go into a law suit in the States to ob- 

 tain payment. The suit lasted six years and 

 during that period the company failed to pay 

 the transfer tax in Cuba, which amounted to 

 one per cent or the sum of $15,000. The col- 

 lector also imposed a fine for the delay, which 

 amounts to $4,967.50 and this has been re- 

 mitted. The transfer tax, however, must be 

 paid by the company. 



Compliance with strict fumi- 

 Fumigation gation regulations, fixed by 

 at the Cuban health authorities, 



New Orleans will entail an extra heavy ex- 

 pense on the United States 

 Public Health Service at New Orleans. 



This was strongly intimated recently by 

 Assistant Surgeon General Rucker. The 

 Cuban authorities are demanding the use of 

 hydi-ocyanic acid gas, the most deadly poison 

 known to man in fumigating all vessels and 

 cargoes. The cost per vessel is estimated at 

 between $800 and $900. 



President Menocal and his 

 Will cabinet have decided to re- 



Reduce duce government expenses to 

 Expenses meet the country's income, 

 and thus relieve the eco- 

 nomical crisis the repubhc is facing. 



Congress having failed to act on the 

 presidential appeal detailing the seriousness 

 of the situation, it was incumbent upon the 

 executive to act in the matter. 



The first step decided upon was to make 

 monthly payments only of the amount col- 



lected and to reduce expenses to fit this 

 income. No drafts will be drawn on the 

 surplus funds in the treasury. 



Salaries may not be reduced, but only 

 part cash will be given and the balance with 

 a treasury note. 



Secretary of the Treasury Cancio proposes 

 the removal of all those employees whose 

 department does not figure in the regular 

 budget, but who are paid from special 

 appropriations. 



The establishment of a new 



Trade of trade arrangement between 

 Spain Cuba and Spain has lan- 



and Cuba guished somewhat, principally 

 due, it is generally believed, 

 through Spain's unwillingness to fairly meet 

 Cuba's conditions. 



It is now understood that Spain is in a bet- 

 ter frame of mind, and trade relations between 

 the two countries are expected to become 

 more cordial. 



Cuba has always bought heavily from 

 Spain, but the latter's trade with the Republic 

 has been light. 



In 1912-13 the last figures available, Cuba's 

 imports from Spain aggregated $10,228,000, 

 while her exports to that countrv amounted 

 to but $692,000. 



Should Spain still prove recalcitant, and 

 refuse to recognize the true value of Cuba's 

 products, notably its tobacco, it has been 

 suggested that an especial high duty on Span- 

 ish wines and other products would convince 

 the latter's Governmnet that more equitable 

 trade relations should be established. 



The Cuban government has 



Complaint received a note from the 



from Spanish minister stationed at 



Spain Havana, complaining of the 



treatment which, he says, is. 



accorded to Spanish subjects in Oriente and 



Santa Clara provinces, presumably at the 



sugar plantations. 



The minister alleges that the workmen are 

 paid in script which is only good at the com- 

 pany's stores and that they are forced to pay 

 exhorbitant prices for such commodities as 

 they need. 



An investigation has been ordered. 



INCREASED EXPORTS TO CUBA 



The National City Bank has compiled sta- 

 tistics of exports from the Port of New York 

 to principal countries for the foui" weeks of 

 September, 1914, and a comparison with 

 September, 1913. 



The exports to Cuba in this period compare 

 as follows: 



1914 1913 



$5,657,442 $3,224,402 



Cuba has extablished a^ quarantine against 

 the ports of Liverpool, Barcelona and Sicily, 

 on account of the prevalence of bubonie 

 plague at these places. 



