Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-11-10
CUBA'S GOVERNMENT
Assembly Has Not Met, Owing ia
the Absence Of a Quorum.
CLOSING CP ALL MATTERS IN CUBA,
All Current Affairs Ordered bv the Spanish
Authorities to B~ Ended During No.
velnher-Tr,bute tn the Mem
0ry Of the Name saiiOrA

veinher-Tr,bute tn the Mem
ory Of the Ma ne saiiorA
Washington, Nov S.-President Mas
so, of the provisional Cuban govern
ment, has cabled from Santa Cruz de!
Sur TO Senior Quesada, secretary Of the
Cuban delegation here, saying: AS
sembly has not yet met. owing to the
absence of quorum" This was called
out by an inquiry by Senior Quesada
regarding reports coming by way OF
Santiago. representing the Cuban as
sembly as in session at Santa Cruz del
Sur, and engaged in important ques-
tions relating to the future of the is
land, the disarmament of the Cuban
army and the extent OF cooperation
between the former insurgent forces
and the United States authorities. 1t
had been stated that the assembly
organized by choosing Gen. Garcia as
presiding officer, thus indicating
that the military element under Gar.
cia would dominate the assembly.
Senior Quesada was considerably sur
prised at these reports, as he was
likely to he notified of the converting
OF the Cuban assembly, particularly
as he has been chosen member OF the
assembly, representing one OF the dis
tricts Of the important province OF
Puerto Principe. He accordingly tel
graphed President Masso for informa-
ton, and the foregoing answer was re.
ceived.
There are evidences that President
Mckinley and his cabinet have assur.
ances that the action Of the Cuban pro.
visional government will not be an
tagonistic 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 re-
cent interview with Secretary Hay at
the state department
In the event Of his leaving Washing
ton to attend the assembly at Santa
Cruz del Sur, it will be with the spe-
cial purpose Of securing cooperation
between the authorities there and
here and of overcoming frictions which
may arise. Speaking of the Cuban as
sembly, Mr.. Quesada said:
1t Is OIL the first step toward regular and
constitutional form Of government; and 1t will
give way later to an assembly truly representa-
tive OF all the people Of Cuba For the pres
ent, President Masso has called together this
provisional body, which is necessarily crude,
because Of the unsettled condition Of affairs In
Cuba 1t Is however, not military assembly,
only eight or ten out Of o membership Of 40
being from the military ranks The others are
from civil lite, doctors, lawyers and planters,
and represent the best elements in the COM
munity, This assembly will not form con-
stitution, but will provide for a constitutional
convention which will take up the important
work Of framing constitution and establish
ing 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 sufi-
GENTLY well established to permit it
to express the wishes of the people of
Cuba on the question of annexation.
CLOSING UP MATTERS IN CUBA.
New York, Nov. 8. "A dispatch from
Havana says; The Spanish authorities
are preparing TO close all matters Of the
administration of the island. A decree
has been issued by the minister of
finance stating that October 8! was
the last day for the Inauguration Of
new business and that all current af.
fairs would be ended during the montl.
of November, when inventories Of the
different departments would be COM
pleted and filed and packed and sent
to Spain. Admiral Sampson has de.
cided not to leave Havana during the
work OF the commission. The work
of cataloguing military property is
proceeding rapidly. 1t is expected
that it will be finished Friday. The
construction Of the pier at Mariana
has been temporarily suspended, ow.
ing to the rough weather.
Tribute TO THE MAINE SAILORS.
Havana, Nov. 3. Yesterday morning
Gen. Wade and Gen. Butler, OF the
United States evacuation committee,
went to the Colon cemetery to lay
flowers on the graves Of the victims of
the Maine disaster. In the course of
the afternoon number Of other
officers visited the cemetery. Just
after Gems. Wade and Butler had left
the Hotel Trocha for the cemetery,
carrying the floral crown made by the
committee Of young Cuban girls who
had asked the privilege of paying this
tribute to the dead. carriage was
driven up to the hotel with represent
atives Of the Cuban club, who brought
an immense aoral cross to lay upon
the grave. On learning that Gems.
Wade and Butler had already gone to
the cemetery, the Cubans followed and
overlook them in time to plaoc both
offerings together.
Cubans Must Give Thanks