New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-09
REMNANTS OF SPANS RULE.
THE OLD GOVERNMENT IN CUBA DE-
CREEING IT'S OWN EXTINCTION.
TIE PROBLEM OF SANITARY IMPROVEMENT IN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or THE AUToN-
oMIsT CONGRESS.

NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. or THE AUTON-
oMIsT CONGRESS.
Havana. November >.
What remains or Spanish authority in Cuba
Is decreeing its own death. A few days ago
Captain-General Blanco. by virtue OF the power
vested in him. dissolved the Autonomist Con-
gress or Chamber OF Deputies. 1t had been
elected" after war between the United States
and Spain had begun The body actually or
sanized and went through the form OF holding
sessions Its existence had been forgotten un-
til the order dissolving it was published This
Cuban "Camara." or Chamber, was supposed to
be the supreme representation Of colonial self
government under Spanish sovereignty. Its
passing away led the Spanish newspapers to
moralize on poor Cuba" which for the time
is rot Spanish nor independent nor American
territory But the period till American military
control is established is nov so brief that the
interregnum may he passed i'm patience.
Another evidence that the ST anish authorities
have come to recognize the inevitable is the de-
cree OF the Secretary Of the Treasury. or Min
:ster Of Finance as the official term is order
irs that no new business be entered upon after
November l. Secretary Montoro, who issued
this order. has heretofore been engaged IN
drawing up the very able documents in when
the nature OF protocols examined HISTORICAL
ly and critically and the conclusion drawn that
the American Military Commission had nothing
10 say about the management OF affairs in CUBA
or the time for completing the evacuation
Back or these arguments was the purpose of
maintaining Spanish control and the plumber Of
the custom-houses and other offices till spring.
The arguments will stand as monuments TO
Secretary Montoros learning; since in his ca
pacty as Autonomist Minister Of Finance he
ha tod ma Inc
upon. they become part OF the history OF the
joint commissions. and nothing more.
The decree which directs the suspension Of
new subjects also orders all the departments
to proceed diligently with the work Of collect
ing the reports and making inventory of the
records i'm order that the documents may be
sent to the Peninsula which should be sent
there. This is an elastic definition: many docu
ments and records OF great historical value will
be included in the classification. They should
remain as part of the archives OF the island.
However, it is a difficult matter In the existing
circumstances to interfere with this spOliation.
il is perfectly well known that thc Spanish OIL
Gals will carry away with them anything from
bronze cannon to an historical document The
only compensation is that the time is short, for
they recognize that they must he out by De-
cember l. The issuing Of a formal permit 10
the United States for the building of the pier
at MarnaO. where the troops are TO he landed
is one 81 the last acts Of Spanish sovereignty.
The permit should be preserved for its hstor-
zeal value
While the Captain General and the Autono-
mist Government arc winding IN their affairs
the "Ayuntamiento." or city Council, Is con
tlnuing To exercise the functions Of municipal
government. The Council will remain when the
American military authority is enforced II is
Of doubtful value Most of its sessions are
spent in useless talk and in recriminations cx-
changed among the members. The Council
showed some realization of emergency in in
terfering with the practice Of choking the streets
OF tho city with garbage. Marquis de Esteban,
the Mayor followed with a vigorous proclama-
ton. saying that the practice should cease But
it does not cease. As for further sanitary meas
ures, the Council sees tn need Of adopting
them, but IT has neither the means nor the
credit. and any measures directed by it would
he ignored or imperfectly executed. The clean
ing up Of Havana Is an urgent problem. II can
only be done effectively under American mill
tary direction
4 petition to President Mckinley is in circu-
lation among Cubans and is receiving some
signatures. II asks the President. in substance.
to place the direct means Of aiding the suffer
Ing population in the hands Of the various
Cuban juntas or committees. The object is
well meant but the movement is n mistaken
one. The main purpose is to show that the peo-
pie of the island trust the United States. That
can be shown in better ways The need Of sue
cor Is great. Tn, suffering has been increased
by the unreasonable weather. Nevertheless.
food supplies should be distributed through
single agency, and that agency should be the
COmmissary Department Of the Army. The bet
ter-informed Cubans recognize this. and are not
encouraging the petition They are also more
hopeful of overriding the radicals In the assem-
bly at Santa Cruz. in Puerto Principe. and
curing the adjournment Of its session To Mari
anoa near Havana, where moderate counsels
are more likely to prevail.