Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-26
CUBAN ASSEMBLY
Commences Deliberations at
Santa Cruz del Sur.
Gen. Garcia Will Undoubtedly Be Elect
ed First Presiding Officer.
Outline Of matters that Are to Come Before
the Assembly.

Santiago de Cuba, Oct 25.-The first
session of the Cuban Assembly was
held. yesterday, at Santa Cruz del Sur
A majority of the delegates are mill
tary delegates, each Of the six army
corps being represented by eight-the
LIST and End Corps being stationed in
the Orient district, the 3rd in Puerto
Principe, the 4th in Santa Clara, the
9Th in Matanzas and Havana, and the
9th in Pinar del Rio.
The sensation of the Assembly was
the appearance of Gen. Calixto Garcia
as one of the delegates from the 5th
Army Corps, a fact which practically
renders him supreme at the Assembly's
sessions. His election to preside over
the proceedings is considered a fore
gone conclusion, as it is conceded that
he controls majority of the dele
gates. The Cespedes faction is de-
feated. Its leaders now deny that they
had any desire to discredit Gen. Gar
cha and the attempt to impeach him
before the Assembly will probably not
be made.
The principal question for considera-
ton will be the question of disbanding
the army. 1t is thought the Assembly
will dispose disbanding until-in the
words of one of the military delegates
Some assurance is received from
President Mckinley that he intends to
observe the resolution of the United
States Congress regarding the absolute
freedom of Cuba
1t being a military Assembly, the
Annexation party has but small rep
resentation. One proposition to come
up for discussion is that the army
should remain an armed force for the
purpose of policing and garrisoning the
island from the beginning of next year.
when the United States troops are ex-
pected to leave.
The Assembly will appoint commit
tee to wait upon President Mckinley
regarding the status of Cuba, consist
ing probably of Garcia, Quesada and
Parraga; and it is safe to assume that
the Assembly will remain in session
and the army, in any event, not be
disbanded until the report of the COM
mission is received. Owing to the
scarcity of food and water, however,
the Assembly will probably move after
few sessions to Marianao.
Another proposition to be brought
before the delegates is the division of
Cuba into four states, to be called
Orient. now the province of Santiago de
Cuba; Camaguey, now the province of
Puerto Principe; Las Villas, now the
province of Santa Clara; and Occident,
now the provinces of Matanzas, Havana
and Pinar del Rio Between the pro-
posed states of Camaguey and Las
Villas would be space of land which
would be a special fertile district or
territory where the capital would be
built, new inland town for this speci-
fic purpose.
A delegate will propose the trial by
a courtmartial of all officers in the Gu
ban army who have permitted their
men to disband.
In these ways and in others, the
Assembly intends to show the world
that it considers the Americans mere
ly temporary visitors who will evacu-
ate the island shortly after the Span
iards.
The Santiago Board of Trade, repre-
senting the commerce of the province,
sent special committee to wait upon
Gen. Wood, military governor of the
department of Santiago, and to con-
graduate him upon the work he has al
ready done.
The committee also informed him that
the Board of Trade had subscribed
10000 for harbOr improvements and |
hat the amount had been placed at his |
disposal to use as he might see fit. |
This action was entirely voluntary and |
t is considered to reflect the opinion |
# business men here as to American
,redominance.
A Cuban museum is being establish
ID in Santiago. It will contain relics i
# the war, mementos Of the Spanish
ule and specimens of the mineral pro-
luctiOns of the island.