The Penn's Grove record., 1906-04-06
CROPS FALLING OFF
Aid Needed For Tobacco and Sugar
Planters.
The ISLANDS CONGRESS MEETS

President Palma Suggests, in Message,
That Immigration Be Encouraged
and That Mortgage Banks BE Es.
tab~Iished-Isle of Pines ~Treaty-The
Havana, Cuba.-The Congress met.
In his message President Palma re-
ferred to the outbreaks during the re-
cent elections and to the brutal attack
on the rural guard station at GUIANA
that those behind the scenes who were
attempting to encourage disturbances
would cease their absurd anti-patriotic
%endeavors.
Referring to agricultural matters he
said the sugar crop on March 1 was
2O5, 1888 tons smaller than the crop of
1905 on the corresponding date. The
tobacco crop had suffered a decrease
of twenty-five per cent. The price of
sugar was low, and this would neces-
state State assistance for agricultur-
lists in all possible ways.
IlC SuSSColCd III thio SOblCCllOh thuI
immigration be assisted. Last year
81, 219 immigrants arrived in Cuba, and
with State assistance this number
could be largely increased. Mortgage
banks should also be established. This
would tend to end the constant sale of
land to foreigners, owing to the fact
that the native have no money
to cultivate their property.
Senior Palma added that he hoped
the reciprocity treaty with the United
States would be renewed on better
terms for both sides.
Referring to the monetary question
he said that the high value of Spanish
silver offers an opportunity for the es-
adjustment of the Cuban monetary
system ON a gold basis, which would
end the tiuctuation in the rate of eX-
change.
During the last half of 1905 the rev
enues amounted to $16,3 ,131, and the
expenditures $10,G55 OCT.
During 1905 imports were $94,S0G,-
666, not including money, against ST.
02S,316 in 1904. The imports were di-
vided about as follows: From the Uni
ted States, $42, 931 ,SSS; from Germany,
So, 1874, 1874; from Spain. $10,366 ,469:
from England, $13,424, $50; from other
countries, $12, 522,O 600.
The exports in 1905 were valued at
$110, 167, 4S4, against $S9,O12,7 56 in
1904. Of the exports the United States
took 500, 530,475; Germany, $3,905, 900.
and England So, 795,350.
The available balance in the Treas
ury is So, 744, TAI.
Treating of yellow fever, the Presi-
dent said the recent outbreak here
served to show the competence of the
sanitary board, the fever having been
suppressed. The fact that Congress
had not voted the money asked for san
itary purposes had compelled the Ex-
ecutive to take the necessary amounts
in order to meet special obligations in
sanitary matters. 1t had been the in
tention of the Marine Hospital Service
of the United States to quarantine
against Cuba, but thanks to the efforts
of the Government, made through
Minister Quesada at Washington, this
had been averted until yellow fever :ic-
tually exists. Owing to the frequent
communication between New Orleans
and infected ports in Central America
it would not be strange if yellow fever
SuOulu ISdppedI. LIE GONcILuItuL 1Ndu
therefore sent a physician to New Or
leans to examine the situation.
Referring to the Isle of Pines ques-
ton, Senior Palma informed the Con-
gress that the treaty on that subject is
under discussion in the United States
Senate. The committee considering the
matter had made a favorable report,
and he believed the treaty would be
approved and ratified in view of the
justice of Cuba's cause.
The President urged revision of the
civil code i'll order to rectify the eff.
fects Of some of the military orders,
which modified the law, ill-advisedly in
certain cases.
He recommended the establishment
of civil marriages as the only legal
form, leaving the contracting parties
liberty to fulfil the rites of their relig-
ions.