The herald., 1898-09-09
SOUNDING TIE CORTfS
ON QUESTIONS OF PEAuE WITH
AMERICA
THE BILL OF ONE SECTION
To Be Submitted by the Spanish Min
iotry for Action by the Legdsla-
tive Body

Associated Press Special Wire.
LONDON. Sept. s.-According to the
Madrid correspondent Of the Times. the
following Is the text of the bill authorizing
the government to conclude peace:
"The reverses suffered by our arms IN the
UNEQUAL struggle to which we were driven
in order to defend the honor Of the nation
and maintain Its rights. deprived us at an
early stage Of the elements required FOR
lcon;inuing the war.
1.-THE bravery Of our soldiers and sailors
proved insufficient, as did the calm attitude
| of the ma lion. ever ready to shed Its blood.
and sacrifice its resources for the honor Of
the Spanish flag.
Separated by wide seas from the terri
tories It was our object 20 protect, and these
territories being closely blockaded. 80 that
our few remaining ships could not reach
them, her majesty's government has been
compelled to admit the bitter truth. that
an end must be put to the war.
1.-THE sense Of responsibility entailed by
the preliminary peace negotiations mad
weighed heavily on the government. Not
withstanding 1t fully appreciated Its duty
toward the country. the government has
had to consent to these preliminary nego-
:iations and to bow to the cruel sacrifices
imposed by sheer necessity.
"For this reason, and because peace must
be purchased at the cost Of a cession OF ter
ritory and the abandonment OF sovereign
rights, the government has thought It 'ex-
pedient 10 sound the cortes before conclud-
ing the treaty, the ratification Of which will
be duly notified to both chambers. IN ac-
cordance with constitutional law.
"The government, whose moderate Ian
euage will not be found fault with by the
representatives Of the nation, limits itself
to submitting to the cortes the following
jb!ll, whose first and only article Is:
1.-The government is authorized to re-
nounce rights Of sovereignty and to cede
territory in the Spanish colonies. IN ac-
cordance with the peace preliminaries
agreed upon with the government Of the
United States Of America
The Times correspondent says the bill
Is signed by all the ministers.
Afraid Of Publicity
MADRID, Sept. 8.-The Spanish Cabinet
at its meeting this morning, decided to take
the most stringent measures to prevent
the publication Of the incidents In the
Cortes.
The Minister Of Foreign Affairs, Duke
Almodovar de Rio, informed his colleagues
that as a result Of the negotiations at
Washington relative to the Spaniards In the
Philippine Islands. instructions had beer
sent to the Spanish Consul at Hong Kong
in accordance with the agreement reached
The Society Of the Commercial Union !:
sending q petition to the Cortes demanding
the closing Of all military schools, the our
taiment of retiring pensions, that all ON
GERS returning from Cuba be placed In
reserve and that in addition budget OF one
million pesetas annually be provided fol
the care Of the sick and wounded Spanish
soldiers returning from the colonies
The newspapers assert that the govern
ment is greatly surprised and chagrinet
at the attitude of the Conservatives dn thu
Chamber, which indicates that the govern
ment Is isolated on account Of the peace
treaty with the United States.
Continuing, the Spanish papers expires,
the opinion that this foreshadows tn,
downfall Of the ministry.
The Cabinet will probably meet this even
ing in order to discuss the situation, bu
the Chamber does not meet today. as thi.
| 10 thc ACtC Joy Va thS vH6"s
1t appears that many Of the government
supporters abstained from voting las
night. This fact is greatly commented
upon.
The disorderly scenes ia the chamber yes
terday evening made 1t resemble bull
ring. Canes were shaken in the air ant
invectives were heard on all sides. Severa
duels are expected to takarplace.
1t is understood that Spain intends T.
bargain at the Paris peace conference to re
; tain part OF the Philippine Islands. but tn
; impression somehow prevails that repub
. lie will be established there under the pro
. tectorate of the United States, Great BRIT
. ain and Germany.
: General Polavieja the former captai
+ general Of Cuba and of the Philippines, VIII
+ has just issued manifesto intimating tina
+ he is ready to place himself at the head o
+ a neutral party, is understood to be re
cruting a strong party of discontentet
l Liberals and others, with the object of de
!. stroying the military preponderance of tn
/ | government.
+ Cuban Evacuation
HAVANA, Sept. 8, 8 p. m.-The Spanis
mail steamer Ciudad de Cadiz, which al
rived this afternoon, brought instruction
from the Madrid government to the Span
;sh evacuation commissioners dealing wit
+ the details of evacuation, the Questions c
+ fortifications. buildings, mortgages an
:, other properties of the state to be re
nounced by Spain along with her sovel
4 eighty in the island.
= On Tuesday last acting upon the advic
t of the colonial council of secretaries, Ger
;, eral Blanco issued a decree authorizing tn
u municipality of Havana to apply to TT
payment of certain other preferred obi
> cations those sums which ,as provided
u the municipal budget, should be applied
e payment of interest and mortgages ovel
e due, on loans of 700O,0 900 ana 5000, 900 peso
t respectively, and directing the Banco FL
:. panol to turn over to the municipal treas
S ury all sums collected under these head
: suspending this quarters payment of ir
r terest on the bonds issued for these loan
:. Despite the agreement of the council an
r General Blanco's approval, the Banco D'
r panol decided, in orde1 to maintain II
t credit, to advance the money TO pay til
e interest due to the bondholdMs on the loal
Il protesting against the councils agreemer
as "a direct violation Of the vested proI
erty rights, respect for which Is the soci,
and economic basis Of any country"
The local government is in debt to all II
: civil employees. 1t owes eight months sa
| orv to those anpoin ed before the eata His