Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-02
ASSEMBLY IS APRIL FOOLED
Beguiled the Whole Day Long by Mysterious
Messages from Washington.
MOST MEMBERS FAVOR DISSOLUTION
Reluctant TO give IN Hope OF Getting
More Money from Uncle Sam, the
Cubnns Hold on for other
Proposals.

HAVANA, April 1,-Begulcd by mysteri-
Gus kilograms from Washington, the mill
tary assembly did not dissolve today, as the
Americans and many Cubans had been ex-
pecting
Twenty-three members present were un-
willing to vote for dissolution because they
still believe in the ability of the assembly
to raise n large loan with the help of the
United States government. The session
opened with the rendering Of the resigna-
tons Of the members of the executive com
mittee. action on which was postponed un
til the next meeting. A motion was offered
providing for the appointment of a new eX-
ecutiye committee to close up the affairs of
the assembly after its dissolution.
a motion was also made to concede the
military grades and insignia to the civil
representatives of the Cubans in arms. Dur
ing the argument Of the motion 1t appeared
that the future payment of officers by a
possible Cuban republic was being consid-
cred, and hence the matter of grade is inn
portant General Sanguilly favored paying
many Cuban generals of today, who have
never seen days fighting, declaring that
among the civil members of the Cuban
party were the most devoted men he
means the admission to payment, according
to conceded military grades of many men
who have not been recognized before, If the
day for the payment of officers ever comes
Batch of strange TcIcgrnms.
General Andrade, president of the assem-
bly,, read telegrams from Senores Heva and
Nillalon, the delegates sent to Washington
by the assembly to secure more money for
the Cuban troops The first telegram was
as follows:
"Andrade. Havana: No hope at present.
Hay received us officially. Transmits pres
ident today our request. Said would con.
vey answer short time. Hay opines pres
dent will not authorize loan
"VILLALON,
"HEVIA."
The second read:
president answers impossible increase
amount offered or authorize loan. We ac-
cept resolution to dissolve, We leave Sun
day. NlLLALON,
"HEVIA."
General Sanguilly then requested a secret
meeting of the assembly, but the request
was voted down. Then Sanguily suggested
that the assembly should wait until Seniors
Villalon and Hevia returned and made a
fuller report than was possible by cable.
Majority Fnyors Dissolution.
During the discussion it developed that at
the last secret session of the assembly, held
on March "a, majority of the members
favored immediate dissolution, but the
minority insisted that they would not con-
cur until u committee went to Washington
and made a final effort to obtain a larger
sum than the $4,000, 900 offered by the
pf hn
troops. If the committee reported unfavor-
ably they said they would agree to dissolve
today The majority insisted that the minor
ity fulfill this compact. General Sanguilly
then read the following cablegrams, saying
he had received them from a man with
whom the assembly had negotiated for a
loan during the secret sessions, and declar-
ing that the receipt of these messages made
it impossible for him to vote:
The first dispatch was as follows:
"Sanguilly, Havana: Complete revulsion
favorable to assembly. Entire cash ready.
Have assembly and Portuondo hold fast
Hereafter use exact code; important infor-
nation; warning"
The second read
Would be crime soldiers and assembly
dissolve. Villalon foolishly following track
old commission by calling secretary pom
pous manner without our assistance. Was
necessarily turned down. Previously under
stood If contract was signed all would be
presented to president today. If assembly
orders contract signed and authorizes Hevia
and myself whole matter will be received by
president. Everything most favorable.
Press more favorable to assembly,"
Another Proposal in Sight.
The third read
"See cable Fares Villalon's departure
assures success. Money ready"
The above cable dispatches were in Eng
lish and had every appearance of legitimate
messages from the Havana cable office.
Sangully read them in Spanish and it was
evident by their reception that the news
had already been communicated to a ma
jority of the members present.
The Fares referred to is the man who
some weeks ago cabled to the assembly
from Washington advising them not to ac-
cept the 900 and saying he was bring
ing better proposition. Fares is now in
Havana.
Sanguilly declined to give the name of
the sender OF the three cables which were
signed with a code word, but they are gen.
orally believed to have been sent by a man
named Cohen. who made the original propo-
sition of a loan to the assembly. Cohen,