Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-11-10
THEY LACK A QUORUM.
Members of the Cuban Assembly Have Not
Got Down to Business-WnI Not Touch
the Annexation Question.

Members of the Cuban Assembly Have Not
Got Down to Business-WiI Not Touch
the Annexation Question.
Washington, Nov. 3.-Presidcnt Mas
so, of the provisional Cuban govern
ment, has cabled from Santa Cruz del
Sur to SenOr Quesada, secretary of the
Cuban legation here, saying: Assem-
bly, has not yet met, owing to the alb
sence of quorum
This was called out by an inquiry
from Seuor Quesada as to reports com
ing by way of Santiago, representing
the Cuban assembly as in session at
Santa Cruz del Sur and engaged in inn
portant questions relating to the fu-
ture of the island, the disarmament of
the Cuban ARM, and the extent of CO.
operation between the former inSur-
gent forces and the United States au-
thorities. 1t had been stated that the
assembly organized by choosing Cen
Garcia as presiding officer, thus indi-
eating that the military element under
Garcia would dominate the assembly.
Senor Quesada was surprised at these
reports, as he was likely to be notified
Of the convening of the Cuban assem-
bly,, particularly as he has been chosen
a member of the assembly, represent
ing one of the districts of the province
Of Puerto Principe. He accordingly
telegraphed President Masso for infor-
nation and the foregoing answer was
received.
There are evidences that President
Mckinley and his cabinet have assur-
ances that the action of the Cuban
provisional government will not be
antagonistic to the policy at Washing
ton, but rather in sympathy with the
execution of that policy. Senior Que
sada is satisfied that this will be the
course of the Cuban assembly when it
begins work, and it is probable that he
made this view known during a recent
interview with Secretary Hay at the
state department. In the event of his
leaving Washington to attend the as
sembly at Santa Cruz del Sur it will be
with the special purpose of securing
cooperation between the authorities
there and here and of avoiding frictions
which may arise.
Speaking of the Cuban assembly. Mr..
Quesada said: 1T is only the first step
toward a constitutional form of gov
crnment, and it will give way later to
an assembly truly representative of all
the people of Cuba. For the present
President Masso has called together
this provisional body, which is neces-
sarily crude because of the unsettled
condition of affairs in Cuba. 1t is not
military assembly, only eight or ten
out of a membership of IS being from
the military ranks. The others are
from civil life--doctors, lawyers and
planters-and represent the best ele-
ments in the community. This assem-
bly, will not form "a constitution, but
will provide for a constitutional CON
vention that will take up the more inn
portant work of framing a constitu-
tion and establishing a permanent
government for the island"
With this programme in view it is
hardly expected that the question of
anneXing Cuba to the United States
will assume large proportions for the
present, but will remain in allegiance
until the Cuban government is sutfi-
GENTLY established to permit it to eX-
press the wishes of the people of Cuba
on nneXation.