Evening journal., 1898-09-06
OPENING OF CORTES.
Sagasta Asks Power to Give
Up Colonial Sovereignty.
SENATE IN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
No Sensational Scenes Marked the Open
ing session-Chamber Discusses the
Press Censorship-Anarchist
Rising Near Barcelona.


Rising Near Barcelona.
MADRID. Sept. 6.--Those who had ex-
pacted sensational scenes on the reopen
ing Of the cortes were disappointed. The
general public seems indifferent The
people at large are apparently convinc-
ed that Spain must accede to whatever
the United States demands.
At the opening Of the senate the Sec
retary read a letter from Senior Rodri-
guez, senator from Porto Rico, refusing
to obey the summons to attend.
The premier. Senior Sagasta arrayed
in the insignia OF his Office, ascended
the tribune and read decree authoriz-
ing the government to present to the
chamber a draft Of a law empowering
the ministers to renounce sovereignty
over the colonies, in conformity with
the stipulations of the peace prelimina-
rie5 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 cleared.
which was done amid loud murmurs of
disapproval.
According to the statements of sew
senate galleries had been cleared, pro-
posed that questions relating to terri
torial cessions be discussed in secret.
Replying to criticisms Of such a pro-
cedure. the premier urged that delicate
matters Of such a nature were always
discussed in secret. Moreover, he point
ed out, the existing situation was very
grave, Spain having obtained only a
suspension of hostilitles and indiscreet
parliamentary language might interfere
with the diplomatic negotiations.
When these negotiations had been
concluded he would be willing to pub
lish everything, he said and to accept
all the responsibility but now it was
necessary to be united before the ene-
my. Therefore the government ap-
pealed to the patriotism OF the repre-
sentatives Of the people to prevent SEN
sational discussions that might steriHze
the ends desired by the country.
Senior Montero Rios, president Of the
senate, then proposed that the stenog-
raphers retire. The motion was adopted
Senor 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 G.
The chamber soon after it's opening
became involved In a discussion of press
censorship. and a deputy inquired the
motive underlying a circular which
General Chinchilla, captain general OF
Madrid. had addressed to newspapers,
regulating their reports Of the sessions
OF the cortes.
He declared that the censorship was
lnconsistently applied and that the ef-
feet OF the circular was to punish pos
sible errors In advance.
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 illegalHy in continuing the sus-
pension OF the constitutional guaran-
tees after the reopening of the cortes.
He demanded immediate DEGREES revok-
ing the suspension.
Senior Capdepon, the minister OF the
Interior. replied that the time was not
Dpportune to revoke the suspension and
reminded Senior Romero y Robledo that
a former government, of which Senior
| Romero y Robledo was a member, had
acted in the same way in 1875.
The chamber then adjourned.
The Conservatives have decided to
continue to support the government.
Although several Conservative senators
pronounced against the principle of
Senior Sagasta's proposal, they voted for
II in secret session. All the other oppo-
sition parties will energetically oppose
the government.
The Official Gazette today publishes a
royal decree appointing M. Faure, presi-
dent of the French republic, a knight of
the Golden Fleece.
A dispatch to El Liberal from BARGE
Iona says the local gendarmes have sur
prised and arrested an armed band Of
81 men and that another band has APP
lpeared near HosPitalet four miles
southwest Of Barcelona. Troops have
been sent in pursuit.
The arrests at Barcelona were made
at an anarchist meeting at the very
moment when arms were being dis
tributed.
Many escaped and afterward attacked
and disarmed The ectroi guards at Hos
pitalet.
All the known anarchists in Barcelona
have since been arrested.