The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-06
SPAlN'S CORTES IN SESSION.
IT CONVENES AT MADRID WITHOUT
SENSATIONAL SCENES.

Decree Regarding the RenOuncc-
ment of Sovereignty Over the Col
Cnies, As Provided In the Peace
PreliminRries, Discussed In Secret
SessiOn-Press Censorship Consid-
cred And IA Circular Issued ReRu-
lating the Publication of the
COrtes Proceedings - Public Com
WINGED That Spain Must Accedc to
All Demands of the United States.
Madrid, Sept. 5.-The chambers assem-
bled here to-day.
At the opening of the Senate the secre-
tary read letter from Senior Rodriguez,
senator from Porto Rico, refusing to obey
the summons to attend.
The premier Senior Sagasta, nrrayed in
the insignia of his office, assembled the
tribune and read decree authorizing the
government to present 10 the chamber a
draft of a law empowering the ministers
to renounce sovereignty over the colonies,
in conformity with the stipulations of the
peace preliminaries between Spain and the
United States.
The president Of the Senate proposed a
secret discussion of the decree, and de-
spite the protests of some senators order
ed that the galleries be cleared, which
was done, amid loud murmurs of disap-
proval.
The chamber soon became involved in
a discussion of press censorship. and a
deputy inquired the motive underlying a
circular which Gen. Chlnchilla, captain
general of Madrid, has addressed to news
papers. regulating their reports of the
session of the Cortes.
He declared that the censorship was in
consistently applied and that the effect
of the circular was to punish possible err
rors in advance
Those who had expected sensational
scenes on the reopening of the chambers
were disappointed. The general public is
Indifferent. The people at large are appar-
emily convinced that Spain must accede
to whatever the United States demands.
At the close of the censorship discus
sion, in which deputies who are Journal
lists. protested emphatically against the
attitude of the government, Senior Romero
y Robledo accused the government of IL
legality in continuing the suspension of
the constitutional guarantees, after the
reopening of the Cortes. He demanded
immediate DEGREES revoking the suspen-
sion
Senior Capdepon, the minister of the In
terror, replied that the time was NOT OPP
perfume to revoke the suspension. and re-
minded Senior Romero y Robledo that a
former government, of which Senior Ro-
nero Robledo was member, had acted
in the same way in 1875.
The chamber then adjourned.
According to the statements of several
senators, Senior Sagasta, after the Senate
galleries had been cleared, proposed that
questions relating to territorial cessions
be discussed in secret. Replying to criti-
cisms of such procedure, the premier urg-
ed that delicate matters of such nature
were always discussed in secret, and
pointed out the fact that the situation
was very grave. Spain having obtained
only suspension of hostilities, and indls-
Greet parliamentary language might in
terfere with the diplomatic negotiations.
When these negotiations have been cor
Guided he would be willing to publish
everything, he said and accept the re-
sponsibility, but now 1t was necessary 10
be united before the enemy. Therefore,
the government appealed to the patriotism
Of the representatives of the people to pre-
vent sensational discussions that might
sterilize the ends desired by the country.
Senior Sagasta formally demanded a Sc
cret session for a discussion of the proto-
col. and after several lively protests the
demand was voted by 81, against g.
VIII Support the Government.
Madrid, Sept. 5.-The Conservatives have
decided to continue to support the govern