THE CUBA RE V I E IV 



cent whenever raw sugar sells below 2.5 

 cents per pound and the proceeds from 

 such taxation are to be applied toward can- 

 cellation of the public debt. 



The bill if adopted would impose heavy 

 burdens on a number of the sugar com- 

 panies. Most of the companies affected 

 belong wholly or partly to American own- 

 ers, who claim the bill is confiscatory and 

 they have appealed to the State Depart- 

 ment at Washington. The bill is still be- 

 ing held m accordance with request from 

 the State Department. 



At the present writing, the matter is still 

 under discussion, and it is to be hoped 

 will be settled to the entire satisfaction of 

 all concerned. 



Veterans' Program 



Developments in the situation created 

 by the so-called veterans' movement headed 

 by General Garcia Velez have been inter- 

 esting, and, although a few alarmists have 

 taken the attitude that trouble was sure to 

 result, there seems to be little likelihood 

 of any action not strictly in accord with law 

 and order. The movement is actuated by 

 a desire for governmental reform, and 

 hundreds of telegrams of adhesion are be- 

 ing received daily. On August 29 a mass 

 meeting filled the Marti Theatre to over- 

 flowing and after a session which lasted 

 several hours a platform was adopted and 

 a committee designated to present the de- 

 mands to the President, Senate, and House 

 of Representatives. In outline the pro- 

 gram demands that: 



(1) The lottery be abolished; 



(2) The Tarafa bill consolidating railroads 

 and closing sub-ports be rejected; 



(3) A law be passed settling in a definite 

 manner the pensions of veterans; 



(4) The law under which gambling, horse 

 racing, etc., is permitted be repealed; 



(5) Reforms in the laws governing appoint- 

 ment of judges be made to obviate political 

 favoritism ; 



(6) Reforms be made in the electoral code; 



(7) A new system of auditing be put in force 

 to protect the public funds: 



(8) The immunity of representatives and 

 senators from legal prosecution be limited; 



(9) Laws be devised looking to a solution of 

 difliculties which arise between capital and labor; 



(10) The talk of extension of powers for 

 officials, increase in salaries and terms of office 

 should be abandoned, re-election of presidents 

 orohibited, and any change in length of term or 



compensation be made effective only when the 

 incumbent of the office be replaced; 



(11) Any plan of amnesty for prisoners con- 

 fined for crime should be rejected; 



(12) The law under which the Cuba Northern 

 Railways are granted free customs entry for 

 materials should not be adopted. This last 

 article refers to Colonel Tarafa's second bill, 

 which provided for payment of his debt to the 

 government by carrying official freight and 

 passengers, and which allowed free entry for all 

 rolling stock, rails, and other materials for 

 several years. 



Reports of Disturbances Untrue 



There have been rumors current con- 

 cerning disturbances in the province of 

 Oriente but they have been found quite 

 untrue. Several popular demonstrations 

 have taken place in support of the veteran 

 movement and against the passage of the 

 Tarafa bill. 



The situation as regards the Tarafa 

 measure is otherwise unchanged. The 

 Senate has as yet taken no action and 

 continues to receive memoranda for and 

 against the project. The most important 

 news comes from the United States and in- 

 dicates that a compromise is being worked 

 out between Colonel Tarafa and the sugar 

 interests affected. 



A statement of President Coolidge that 

 special arrangements had been made with 

 the Cuban government at the time of nego- 

 tiation of the $50,000,000 loan has excited 

 lively comment, and President Zayas has 

 been asked by the House of Representa- 

 tives whether such arrangements were 

 made. Unfortunately, the Cuban press at- 

 tempted to construe the meaning of Presi- 

 dent Coolidge's words in such a way that 

 the people were to believe that a treaty of 

 which they had no knowledge had been 

 made. — Facts About Sugar. 



Postage Rates 



By presidential decree, Cuba has re- 

 turned to 2 -cent letter postage, effective 

 Aug. 14. The postal rate on letters to 

 domestic points was raised from 2 to 3 

 cents by congress some time ago and the 

 rate to the United States and possessions 

 was increased to 3 cents by presidential 

 decree. 



