crous other suggestions have been made as to ways and means for assisting the agricultural interests of the Island. All of these plans require study either to give them practicable execution or to establish their impracticability. APPOINTMENT OF ADVIS- AGRICULTURISTS. There exists in Cuba an organization of sugar planters known as the "Liga Agraria" (Agricultural League). This Association requested that a Commission be selected from the membership of the League to study, formulate and recommend to the Government such measures as were considered, after due investigation, to be proper and advantageous for both the Government and the interests. they represent. This seemed to afford a practical and appropriate means of securing tangible results and the request was granted. The membership was extended to include representation for the tobacco planters and a Commission appointed composed of the following gentlemen: Rafael F. de Castro, President; Gabriel Casuso, Manuel Froilán Cuervo, Leopoldo Sola, Eduardo Dolz y Arango, Claudio G. de Mendoza, Luis S. Galbán, José María Espinosa, Luis Marx, Lorenzo D. Beci, Juan María Cabada, Roberto B. Hawley, Miguel Machado and Gabriel Camps. I record with pleasure that these gentlemen tendered their services free of expense to the Government, and upon being informed that the Government felt that they were entitled to compensation, replied that their determination to render gratuitous service was irrevocable. LOAN OF $5,000,000 TO BANKS. Pending the solution of questions relating to the permanent improvement of the financial needs of Cuba, an emergency arose with reference to the supply of money for harvesting the sugar and planting the tobacco crop. To meet the situation the Government offered to deposit the sum of $5,000,000 in the local banks. The reasons for the offer and the terms and conditions are set forth in the Decree authorizing the same, as follows: "Whereas: The harvest season for the sugar crop. the planting season for the tobacco crop and the marketing season for the fruit, vegetable and minor crops of the Island of Cuba are now at hand; and "Whereas: The planters of Cuba are accustomed to em ploy their credit for a period of six months in securing the money necessary to harvest and market the agricultural produets of the island; and "Whereas: A large portion of the tobacco crop of the last season has not yet been sold, owing to the unusual length of time required this year for the drying and otherwise preparing said tobacco crop for the foreign market; and "Whereas: The condition of the money market in foreign countries make it impracticable for the banks and financial institutions of Cuba to secure all of the money required by the necessities of the agricultural industries in the island at this critical season of the year; and "Whereas: The financial condition of the National Treasury of Cuba is such as to permit the withdrawal, for the period ordinarily consumed in harvesting the crops, of a sum sufficient to supply, in large part if not in its entirety, the necessities of the planters and overcome the existing emergency; and "Whereas: It is the duty of the Government to adopt such reasonable and legitimate measures as will assist, protect, and promote the industries of the country and the welfare and prosperity of its citizens; now "Therefore: By virtue of the power vested in me as Provisional Governor of the Republic of Cuba, I hereby RESOLVE: "That the sum of five million dollars ($5,000,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be withdrawn from the National Treasury of Cuba and deposited in banks and banking institutions doing business in the Republic of Cuba; not to be called for or drawn upon until July 15, 1908; said deposits to be on the following conditions: "A bank or banking institution of Cuba desiring to secure a deposit of any portion of said funds made available for said purpose by this decree, shall make application therefor, in writing, to the Secretary of the Hacienda setting forth the amount desired and kind of security offered as a guarantee for repayment to the Government of the funds to be deposited, as well as affirmative statement that the funds, or any part thereof, if so deposited, will only be applied to assisting and promoting the industries of the Island of Cuba. Said application must be presented prior to November 30, 1907, on which last named date the Secretary of the Hacienda shall submit all applications received to the Provisional Governor of the Republic of Cuba for approval or disapproval. The Government reserves the right to reject any or all of said applications, or to approve any of said applications in whole or in part.. "The application of the bank or financial institution of Cuba being approved by the Provisional Governor, the Treasurer of the Republic of Cuba is hereby authorized to deposit in said bank or financial institution public funds hereby made available for that purpose to the amount authorized by the Provisional Governor of the Republic of Cuba; "Provided: That said bank or financial institution shall make, execute and deliver a certificate of deposit in due and legal form, acknowledging receipt of such deposit and binding the bank or financial institution as to the use, during said period of the funds for the purposes only heretofore specified and to return of said deposit, when called for, at any time on or after July 15, 1908; the Government reserving the right, that in the event the deposits so made are applied to other purposes, such as for export, etc., to withdraw the deposit at any time prior to July 15, 1908; the bank or financial institution agreeing, also, to pay interest at the rate of six per cent (6%) per annum for the time said deposit remains unpaid or not returned to the Government after July 15, 1908; the bank or financial institution to have the right to return said deposit to the National Treasury at any time without waiting to be called upon by the Treasury; and "Provided further: That any bank or financial institution receiving such deposit shall give collateral security for the repayment thereof by depositing in the National Treasury approved bonds of the kind hereinafter named, and assuming the obligation to reinforce said security or securities whenever said security or securities, on account of market fluctuation, shall decline one point or more in value. "The following securities listed, quoted and dealt in, in the Havana Stock Exchange will be accepted at ten per cent (10%) less than the actual market value thereof on the date when the deposit is actually made, but no security will be accepted above par value: "Bonds of the Republic of Cuba, 1896-7. Republic of Cuba (Speyer). Republic of Cuba, internal indebtedness. United Railways, consolidated. "A sufficient number of said bonds must be deposited as guarantee and security to equal the amount of the deposit; taking into consideration the ten per cent (10%) reduction from said market value". At this writing (November 21st) the banks have not sub mitted their proposals but they have made known their intention to subscribe for all the funds thus made available. The effect of this Decree upon the public mind and business interests was exceedingly beneficial as it removed whatever doubts or apprehensions which existed and induced the bankers to release the funds on hand in their banks. The satisfaction with this measure was communicated to the Government by resolutions of representative bodies, congratulatory messages, etc. From a number received I select and quote the resolution of the Chamber of Commerce, Industries and Navigation of the Island of Cuba, as follows: "The Chamber of Commerce, and the other financial institutions, as well as the merchants and manufacturers whose names appear below, have the honor to address this message to you, solemnly expressing the satisfaction felt by all social classes on account of the measures lately adopted in favor of the agriculture and industries of the Island of Cuba by the government entrusted to your honorable direction. "One of said measures is the one recently adopted with the view of putting in circulation for a certain stated period and without any interest the sum of five million dollars from the National Treasury; the end contemplated being, and no doubt as you hope it shall be, to reinspire confidence, to facilitate operations and to develop the public wealth. "Kindly accept, Mr. Governor, the expressions of satisfaction which this message embodies, and the assurances of our most distinguished consideration." The industrial situation has been complicated by numerous strikes. The first strike was that of the cigarSTRIKES. makers. The cigar factories had been paying wages in Spanish gold. The cigarmakers and other employes demanded payment of wages in American currency at the same schedule theretofore paid in Spanish gold; this meant a ten per cent increase in wages. The strike involved about one-half of the factories in and about Havana. Thinking to break the strike the owners of the remaining factories declared a lockout. The combined strike and lockout continued from February to July. The strikers abstained from violence and not a single violation. of the peace, as a result of the strike, occurred. Eventually the propietors of the factories against which the strike had been declared granted, in full, the demands of the workmen and a few days later the factories which had declared the lockout made similar concessions. Induced, doubtless, by the success of the cigarmarkers' strike, the masons and plasterers demanded pay in American currency and an "eight-hour day". These demands were denied by the contractors and thereupon the workmen in these trades, and their "helpers", struck. Shortly thereafter the workmen in the shops of the United Railway Company at Cardenas became incensed at the Superintendent and demanded his removal, which, being denied they increased their demand to payment of wages in American currency at the rates theretofore paid in Spanish gold and an "eight-hour day". These demands were denied by the Railroad Company and the engineers, firemen and shopmen struck; also those of the Western Railway, and shopmen of the Havana Central. These strikes were followed by strikes in a number of the smaller trades, such as the box makers, plumbers, broom makers and carpenters; and the strike of the masons forced manufacturers of cement, brick and tile to close their factories. The striking workment announced their intention to abstain from all acts of violence or intimidation. There have been individual acts of violence committed which the employers attribute to the strikers, but the strikers deny this and insist that the employers are attributing to them all violations of the peace which take place at all times and under normal conditions. Investigation shows that the labor unions and the workmen's association have been active and vigorous in attempts to preserve order and prevent breaches of the peace, and that they desire to conduct the strike without violence. There has been, however, an increase in violations of the peace since the railway and masons' strikes were inaugurated, and several collisions were reported about the middle of November. There has been considerable ill feeling engendered. Individual strikers and knots of strikers have hooted, jeered and menaced men who continued to work. Several instances of assault and battery have been reported, and two of the men assaulted have died from their injuries. The largest number of disturbances of this character have been attributed to the striking masons. The masons' union insists that these offences have not been committed by the masons and that their union discountenances violations of the law. In the erection of buildings there are always a number |