10 



THE CUBA REVI E W 



In the House on Jan. 14 

 The a bill was introduced to 



Cuban tax convents and other re- 

 CoHgress. li^ious institutions. Im- 

 migration of friars, monks 

 and nuns to convents is prohibited in the 

 bill. Burials in the cemeteries of the 

 convents is likewise prohibited and re- 

 mains now there must be transferred to 

 the general burying grounds. Religious 

 manifestations and the wearing of 

 habits on the streets is also forbidden. 

 A bill for a pension of $50.00 per 

 month for the widow and children of 

 General Robau. the former Governor ot 

 Santa Clara Province, was approved 

 without discussion by the Senate Jan. 18. 

 The first reading of the Martin Or- 

 tiz bill took place in the House on Jan. 

 13. The bill authorizes the President to 

 establish a maximum column in the cus- 

 toms tariff, the former up to 30 per cent, 

 and the latter on the basis of the pres- 

 ent tariff, on importations from coun- 

 tries imposing differential duties on 

 Cuban products. 



On Jan. 15 a bill was filed with the 

 speaker of the house calling for a three- 

 cent fare on the Havana Electric Rail- 

 way for adults and two cents for minors 

 under seven, those younger to ride free. 

 The bill states that under the charter 

 of 1859 the tariff may be revised at five- 

 year periods. The congressional argu- 

 ment is that the company is making 

 money, its stock is above par, and that 

 the reduction will not materially injure 

 the interests of the company. I'urther, 

 the poor must pay 5 cents American 

 money or 7 cents Spanish money and 

 the difference in the money market rep- 

 resents a large value for the Spanish sil- 

 ver, in which money their wages are 

 paid. The bill also provides that letter 

 carriers and government messengers 

 ride free. 



On Jan. 31 the House killed the Gaus 

 bill, creating the office of assistant sur- 

 geon-general of the island, although it 

 had been favorably reported by the 

 committee on military affairs. 



President Gomez has asked Congress 

 for a tariff revision upwards to protect 

 Cuba's infant industries. 



An appropriation of $50,000 is asked 

 for the Bejucal aqueduct. 



The House on Januarj^ 31 asked for 

 information concerning the leasing of 

 the Casilda and Trinidad Railway in 

 Santa Clara Province and the manufac- 

 ture and importation of matches, the 

 factories and number of workmen em- 

 ployed. 



Government buildings and other 

 landed properties are to be leased only 



after ])ublic bids. The Mouse passed a 

 bill for this purpose February 2. 



Another bill passed on the same date 

 provides that no laborers in the em- 

 ploy of the government shall earn less 

 than $1.25 per day. Roth measures go 

 to the Senate. 



Alleging that the Jucaro and San Fer- 

 nando Railroad, a legacy- of Spain to the 

 Republic, which is the only railro-ad 

 owned by the government is not paying 

 the rental it ought to pay. Congress- 

 man Villardcl of Camaguey voiced his 

 opinion on February 2 that it should be 

 sold at auction. 



A bill introduced into the House pro- 

 vides for its sale. It was sent to a com- 

 mittee. The purchasers, if the road is 

 sold, will be obliged to carry free of 

 charge Cuban troops and the mail. 



A bill has been introduced in Congress 

 to ]irovide for the construction of a 

 water works system in Marianao, a sub- 

 urb of Havana. 



In a discussion in the Senate on Janu- 

 ary 31 on the bill increasing the dutie> 

 on "tasajo"' or jerked beef which is im- 

 ported from Argentina. Senator Peiez 

 who is in favor of the bill, gave a mi- 

 nute description of the process through 

 which the tasajo is put, stating that it is 

 subjected to the action of certain chemi- 

 cal substances which deprive it of its 

 nourishing properties, and then dragged 

 through filth}- places until it is stored up 

 in a country store to be served as food 

 to the people. He believed that the de- 

 generacy and lack of vitality of the race 

 is the unavoidable consequence of eat- 

 ing this food which he said was not ad- 

 mitted in Europe. 



In the latter part of 



A January President Gcnmez 



Welcome sent a message to Con- 



Message. gress recommending 



changes in the custom 



tariffs to protect Cuban manufactured 



goods such as candles, matches, tiles, 



food products and chocolates, shoes and 



especially cigars and cigarettes. 



The labor question was also consid- 

 ered and attention called to the necess- 

 ity of improving the laborer's means of 

 living. The President also suggested the 

 creation of a bank for savings, as well 

 as funds to provide for the sick and 

 aged. 



This message excited widespread 

 commendation and the President was 

 the recipient daily of congratulatory 

 telegrams from merchants and other 

 prominent men from all parts of the 

 island. 



