New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-02
SPANISH RULE IN CUBA.
THE GOVERNMENT AND JUDICIAL SYSTEM
OF THE PROVINCE.
REPRESENTATIVE BODIES THAT MAY BE sus-
PENDED AT WILL BY THE oFFICIALs-THE


PENDED AT WILL BY THE oFFIcTALs-THE
CROWNS CONTROLLING INFLUENCE.
or all the vast possessions which accrued TO her
from the discovery of America. all that SPAN mas
left now the islands of Porto Rico ana Cup "i
With the exception OF a short time In l'62 ana io''
when Havana fell into the hands OF the Engish'
Cuba has remained continually subject to spain
The chief OF the Cuban government Is cap
tain-General, the representative or the crown APP
pointed by the home Government and accouhtaoie
/ only to that body. BY royal edct issued june
| g. 1878. his prerogatiyes defined as follows: ne
| Is the commander OF the army and navy, as well
as the highest authority in Cuba. and is empowered
| to overrule any decision at a meeting OF the SUI
perior authorities including the courts OF udcature
under his presidency. and also to withhold the exc
| cuton OF airy ORDER resolution or law issued by
| the home Government whenever he deems 1t adj
! visa BILE do The chief power is thus vested In
| him.
| As a rule this office Is highly coveted by Span
| Iards, and. generally speaking after short rule
which rarely exceeds term OF three or four years
! the majority of its incumbents return home to en-
Joy the fruits of the harvest. the emoluments are
| con siderable. The CaptanGeneral has a salary OF
| $4,000 a year. winter palace and country
| horses. carriages, attendants, a retinue or SER
wants and almost everything. provided for him at
| the expense Of the Government. 1t Is military
Office usually filled by distinguished generals, VINO
have won their laurels In the Spanish Army.
| Next in rank to the Captain General is the Cen
era OF Marine or Admiral OF the Port who oc-
| cupies a handsome palace also provided by the
Government and who has carriages. horses ana al
tendants from the same source. Then iolloWs the
Segundo Cabo who Is Captain General pro tenn
! during the absence OF that functipnary from the
capital The Civil Governor has charge OF the civil
! administration OF Havana The generals Of artil-
| lery cavalry, engineers, infantry and gendarmes
+ are also provided with quarters suitable to their
rank
The commandant OF the navy yard is in
rank to the Admiral OF the Port, and he has a
| handsome residence at his post. From twelve TO
twenty mcn-of-war are stationed in the waters or
Cuba and the standing army on the island usually
numbers - 500 officers and men, Besides these mill
| tary rulers there the Governor OF the MORO,
| OF La Cabana. Ell Principe and other strongholds.
The Chief OF Police OF Havana IL an officer OF the
regular army and the divisions and subdivisions
under his control consist OF commssares. aladores
constables and sergeants who are civilians; the
police force OF Havana numbers 161 men. taken
| from the ranks OF the regular army soldiers OF
orden pubco public order, and guarda civiles
! (gcndarmesD
| In 1889 according to statistics the aggregate
public expenditures amounted to Sil1o@O )" Inc
revenue exceeded the disbursements by $3.50 H.
cuba is entitled to send twenty-four Deputies or
Representatives and twelve Senators to the Spanish
Cortes while Porto Rico is entitled 20 twelve Rep
resentatives and six Senators, but they have
no controlling influence in colonial affairs
There are two leading political parties IN
! Cuba Conservatives. mostly Spaniards ana LID
erals Cubans with sprinkng of Span
! iards who favor reform The Conservatives have
| the support OF the Government. but the Liberals
| have to speak for themselves Among native-born
tors are several brilliant leaders OF remarkable
| ability: Of these. Rafael Montoro is one OF the
| most distinguished and popular. and he Is the
chief OF the autonomist party at the present time
..ITu - el. hell or = O-lfi
Instruction in 1875 freedom of the press was esa6-
lshed a. well freedom % speech but in 1881 this
| freedom was modified by an edlct requiring every
| eIitor or manager OF newspaper to send. duly
sIhmii Two others - the District Attorney as soon
as printed. who shall determine whether they con
| the royal family and the form OF government urf-
der the spanish Constitution are tabo3ei subject
journals IS suspended for going beyond the circum-
srrbc1 limits
Ry a royal edict issued June q ISIS. Cuba is en-
titled 10 elect 20 the Spanish Cortes one representa-
Tive FOR every 900" white and co.ored inhabitants Is,
| By another decree issued shortly after the isani
| was divided into six provinces sun another issnei
| with requisite election laws In eacn province the
administration q; affairs il committed To- an Assem-
| from spain the incumbent being an officer OF the
| Spanish Army The province Is entitled TO three
except that no province shall elect than twenty
| or less than Twelve representatives.. As soon as
! and nominate by ballot three candidates from
among themselves. one OF whom Is chosen pres
| dent by the Captain General who may. IN accont,
! anrc 10 The same law discard their candidate and
| choose another to preside over II. The Provincial
| the Provincial Committee and submits their names
| 10 the Captain General for ratification. This com,
on In reference - any municipal election ana per
forms various duties during the recess The wee
| president VI this committee is appointed from
among the members by me Capatn-,ienerhl, AT tne
suggestion Of the Provincial Governor VINO. when
It suits him. may preside over any sitting with the
! right ~ vote.
! Provincial representatives are elected 'or four
| years. but one-half replaced every two years
| hy new ones Their biennial election occurs during
! the arst fortnight 81 September. The assemblies
meet the capital OF their provinces on the hrst
working day Of the nth and tenth months OF me
| fiscal year. II during that period anything should
| happen 10 render discussions or debates danger
GUS the Provincial Governor is obliged TO prorogue
| that fact Immediately He IL likewise authorized
! TO suspend any Provincial Assembly In a body
! when the preservation Of public order may so
According to the municipal Jaw. the smallest
number OF inhabitants entitled TO self-goyernment
| is 800 who may elect five Aldermen, at every meet
| ing OF whom the Provincial Governor IL entitled to
| preside. The board evles municlpa. taxes.
| cuba possesses two judicial divisions those OF
! Puerto Principe. with jurisdiction over the ad-
Joining province Of santiago de Cuba and OF
! First comes the high court. called Tribunal Su-
promo; then provincial courts -AnndlenGiaS TERI
,ido". court OF first instance "Juggado de lnstruc
| cion": municipal courts. "Tribunales Municipales
| and justices OF the peace. ''Jueces de Paz 10y
decree Issued In January. 1891 the civil and criminal
courts are INCORPORATED into one. and this measure
| SPANISH Law requires n vast amount or rel tape.
| and 'papiI sellalo" stamped paper. 1t IS a
most tedious process IN az ITS rainliicatons al
tors nmong certain officials. while others as
honest and honorable as any oil Roman
pourb Win,ry. Changeable Weather. produces
| C,torrhs Coughs. Disorders Of the Lungs, etc.
which Jayne's Expcctorant promptly cures II faith