THE CUBA REVIEW, 



17 



Pointers for Commercial Travelers. 



Concerning the difficulties which meet 

 American commercial travelers at Cuban 

 ports in bringing in and taking out sam- 

 ples, U. S. Consul-General James L, 

 Rodgers, at Havana, gives much helpful 

 information. 



It appears that Cuban law makes no spe- 

 cial provision for the entry of small quan- 

 tities of goods designed to serve as sam- 

 ples, but if the importer at the time of 

 entry declares his intention of re-exporting 

 the samples and pays the full duty, he re- 

 ceives a rebate of 75 per cent on re-expor- 

 tation if effected within 90 days. To se- 

 cure this privilege, samples must enter 

 Cuba in the salesman's baggage and be 

 worth not more than $500. 



Before coming to Cuba he should re- 

 member : 



1. To have his invoice of samples certi- 

 fied by a Cuban consular officer, thus sav- 

 ing the reciprocity treatv reduction on the 

 dutiable value, and avoiding double con- 

 sular fees at the Cuban port. 



2. He should include in the invoice the 

 gross and net weight of packages and item- 

 ized details of contents ; the gross and 

 net weight of each item, and a full de- 

 scription of the material of the goods, 

 whether leather, leather and cotton, leather 

 and silk, etc. Our consul-general says all 

 this may take much time, but it is time 

 profitably expended. 



3. Samples like gold, silver, feathers, 

 tortoise shell and other material of high 

 value should not be attached or sewed to 

 cards or boards, as that enables the appli- 

 cation of the tariff to' the whole rather 

 than a part or article. 



The free samples in Cuba are few. Felt, 

 wall paper, and tissues in sample are only 

 admitted without duty when they do not 

 exceed 40 centimeters (15.75 inches) in 

 length, even when the sample has the en- 

 tire width of the piece. Another exception 

 is that of trimmings — when in small pieces 

 of no commercial value. 



The consul also urges the employment of 

 a custom house broker at the port who, 

 knowing the language and the rules, can 

 quickly secure entry or clearance. 



Louisiana Rice to Cuba. 



It is stated by the New Orleans Times- 

 Democrat that a concerted effort will 

 be made by the Louisiana rice farmers 

 and rice millers to dispose of a large 

 amount of the present crop by shipping 

 it to Cuba. A well-attended meeting 

 was held in Lake Charles, Dec. 21, when 

 some of the most prominent millers and 

 farmers in the rice belt were present. 

 At this meeting the matter of marketing 

 the present crop was discussed, and it 



is said that it was the consensus of opin- 

 ion that some capable representatives of 

 the rice business should be sent to Cuba 

 at once with a view of looking over the 

 situation and reporting on what might 

 be done. 



John B. Jackson, Appointed U. S. ^Minister to 

 Cuba by President Taft. 



The New Minister to Cuba. 



John B. Jackson, of New Jersey, now 

 Minister to Persia, was appointed on De- 

 cember 21, by President Taft, Minister 

 to Cuba in place of Edwin V. Morgan, 

 who was nominated the same day as 

 Minister to Paraguay and Uruguay. 



Mr. Jackson has had a distinguished 

 career. A graduate of the Naval Acad- 

 emy at Annapolis, he served for some 

 time as Lieutenant in the Navy. In 

 diplomatic service, which he entered in 

 1890, he has been connected with the 

 Legation at Berlin, has been First Sec- 

 retary of the Embassy there, has been 

 Minister to Greece, Servia, Bulgaria and 

 Roumania and Minister to Persia. His 

 personal acquaintance and his diplomatic 

 experience peculiarly qualify him for a 

 position which will require those quali- 

 fications in a high degree. He is forty- 

 seven years old. 



The sending of IMr. Jackson to Cuba, 

 says the Washington Star, is taken to in- 

 dicate that the United States will do its 

 utmost to impress on the Cuban Govern- 

 ment the idea that it must go slow in 

 financial matters and that this country 

 does not desire to intervene in its af- 

 fairs again. He will arrive in Cuba 

 some time this month. 



