THL 

 CUBA RLVILW 



"ALL ABOUT CUBA" 



Copyright, 1910, by the Munson Steamship Line 



LIBRARY 

 NEW YORK 

 80TAN1CAI 



GARDEN. 



Volume VIII 



AUGUST, 1910 



Number 9 



CUBAN GOVERNMENT MATTERS 



ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS — IMPORTANT MEASURES LEFT OPEN 

 UNTIL NOVEMBER SESSION — NEW POLITICAL PARTIES SPRINGING UP 



The Cuban Congress adjourned at midnight, July 20th, until the first Monday in No- 

 vember. Some of the important business of great volume introduced during this term 

 has been left for future decision. 



Among the most important bills pending is the measure authorizing that a concession 

 be granted to a company — the capital of which was to be furnished practically by Amer- 

 icans — to conduct a "JNIonte Carlo" on a tract of land near Camp Columbia ; also bull 

 fights, cock fights and horse and automobile races. The bill was favorably reported in 

 the House, but the Senate decided to defer final consideration of it until the next session 

 in November. 



The bill appropriating $3,000,000 for public works passed. 



After the adjournment active preparations for the political campaign immediately be- 

 gan in all sections preceding the elections to be held in the first week of next November. 



In this contest half the Senate and half the House of Representatives are to be chosen, 

 together with a number of local officials throughout the island. The situation is com- 

 plicated by the great number of parties, with still others in process of formation. 



Among the newer parties is that entitled "Young Cuba." Their platform is radical and 

 includes planks calling for wholesale changes such as the adoption of the parliamentary 

 system of government, complete autonomy for all the provinces of the island, the aboH- 

 tion of the army and the creation of a national rural guard of double the strength of 

 the existing body ; the reduction of all criminal penalties by one-half ; the substitution of 

 the electric chair for the garote ; the prohibition of the entrance into the republic of any 

 members of religious orders ; prohibition of foreign corporations from acquiring real 

 estate in Cuba, and the abolition of all trusts. General Manuel F. Alfonso, of the Army 

 of Liberation, appears as the head of the new party, and is its prospective candidate for 

 the Presidency. 



The estimated surplus from the national lottery falls considerably below the amount 

 which the government expected to get from this source; not because the lottery is wan- 

 ing in popularity, but simply because the steady drain on the resources of the poor for 

 nearly a year has deprived them of the means of buying more tickets. 



Another party has for its object the elimination of the "Piatt amendment" from the 

 Cuban Constitution, and is being nursed by General Enrique Collazo. 



Several leaders of the Independent Party of Color, in prison under charges of con- 

 spiracy against the Government, recently issued a manifesto to their followers advising 

 them to disband the party. 



Everywhere it is realized that in the coming elections the Republic again faces a serious 

 contest. If the Conservative Party win, they will have a majority or enough members 

 in the House to make considerable trouble for the Liberals. 



On August 1st at a liberal political meeting, called to chose members to a municipal 

 convention, there was a general fight and a violent quarrel occurred between General 



