The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-06
THE CORTES IN SESSION
The Porto Rican Senator Refused
to Attend.
A SECRET DISCUSSION
Sagasta Asks for a Law Empower
ing the Ministry to Renounce
Authority Over the Colonies.
Press Censorship.

Madrid, Sept. 5.-The chambers assem-
bled here to-day. Thus far only routine
business has been transacted. At the
opening of the senate the secretary read
a letter from Senior Rodriguez, enato
from Porto Rico. refusing to obey the
summons to attend.
The premier, Senior Sagasta, arrayed
in the insignia of his office, assembled
the tribune and read a decree ~authoriz-
ing the government to present to the
chamber a draft of a law empowering
the ministers to renounce authority over
the colonies, in conformity with the
stipulations of the peace prelim!naries
between Spain and the United States.
The president of the senate proposed
a secret discussion of the decree, and
despite the protests of some senators,
ordered that the galleries be closed,
which was done amid loud murmurs OF
disapproval.
The chamber soon became involved in
a discussion of press censorship, and "A
deputy inquired the motive underlying
a circular which General ChinChilla.
captain general of Madrid, has adj
dressed to newspapers, regulating their
reports OF the session of the cortes. He
declared that the censorship was inCon-
sistently applied and that the effect Of
the ircular was to punish possible err
rors in advance.
Those who had expected sensational
scenes on the reopening of the cham
bers were disappointed. The general
public seems Indifferent. The people al
large are apparently convinced that
Spain must accede to whatever the
United States demands.
At the close of the censorship discus
sion, in which deputies who are jour
nalists protested emphatically against
the attitude of the government. Senior
Romero y Robledo accused the govern
ment of illegality in continuing the sus-
pension of the constitution with guar
antees against the reopening of the
cortes. He demanded immediate de-
crees revoking the suspension.
Senior Capron, minister of the interior,
declared the time was not opportune to
revoke the suspension, and reminded
Senior Robledo that a former govern
ment, of which Senior Romero y Robledo
was a member, had acted in the same
way in 1875. The m then ad-
journed.
According to the statements of sew
eral senators, Senior Sagasta, after the
senate galleries had been cleared, pro-
posed that questions relating to terri
lOIldl CtSSioDS EilOulu bt hiSNuHSth III
secret. Replying to criticisms of such
a procedure. the premier urged that
delicate matters of such a nature were
always discussed in secret. Moreover,
he pointed out the existing situation
was very grave Spain having obtained
only a suspension of hostilities, and in
discreet parliamentary language might
interfere with the diplomatic negotia-
lions. When these negotiations had
been concluded he would be willing to
publish everything, he said. and to ac-
cept all the responsibility, but now IL
was necessary to be united before the
enemy. Therefore the government APP
pealed to the patriotism of the represent
tatives of the people to prevent discus
sions that might sterilize the ends de-
sired by the country.
Senior Montero Rios, president of the
senate, then proposed that the stenog-
raphers retire. The motion was adopt
ed. Senior Sagasta formally demanded
a secret session for a discussion of the
protocol, and after several lively pro-
tests the demand was voted by 81
against 6.