The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-04-28
NEW LAW CODE FOR CUBA.
CIYIL MARRIAGE " DIVORCE TO
he RECOGNIZED NOW.

thbt Int oHth lbS ~ SuuCtIy NuiVu Nv
Sativea-Railroad Consolidation Scheme.
Special Cdk. D,spdich 10 the Sun.
HAVANA, April 27.-The reform OF the law in
reference to the rights OF accused persons is
progressing. daily conferences OH the subject
being held between Secretary OF Justice
Lanuza and Major Kennon. Glen. Brooke's
Assistant Acknowledgement There is no
controversy rs to the abolition OF the
incomunicado principle. Senior Ianuza.
however. insisted on the maintenance
Of the old Spanish inIuisitorial idea OF the
States right Of trying to make an accused
person convict himself bv subJecting him TO an
examination. Major kennon wanted to pre-
serve the constitutional right enjoyed Ivy
citizens of the United States which prevents an
accused person from being forced to testify
against himself. Gen. Brooke decided to-day
that that light shall lie Incorporated in the new
law.
There will. however. be no jury system. 1t
is boldly stated by the Cubans that the intro
duction Of the Jury system would mean abso-
Lutte inability 10 convict any one. One reason
for this is that an oath has 10 sanctity among
the natives. This argument was used by many
persons who favored the retention OF the in
uiisi,orial idea in trials. They maintained
that any number Of witnesses could be OBJ
tanned who would swear to anything. but this
was SO repugnant to American ideas that Gen.
Brooke decided to risk u change from the old
system.
The newspapers are taking up a discussion
Of It decree concerning marriage and divorce
which is now being formulated. La Lucia
to-day:publishes a strong editorial in favor Of
civil marriages and divorce. neither Of which
was recognized under the Spanish Catholic
regime. Gen. Brooke has. however. decided
that hereafter civil marriages will be legal.
and that divorce may be- obtained for Just
cause.
The decree concerning mortgages. which was
withheld yesterday for changes. will DO issued
tomorrow. Among other things. it will de-
clare that all debts recoverable by the sale OF
lands need not be paid in two wears.
Mr.. Curtis. II member Of the Colonial Com
mission. left for the United States to-day. He
conferred with Gen. Brooke this morning and
suggested the formation Of a new Federal
court. to have jurisdiction in cases concerning
Americans and other aliens. The suggestion
was not looked upon with favor.
The broad scheme of consolidating all the
railways OF the island has been postponed. A
syndicate headed by Messrs. Rufrer 4 Todd.
the latter a Scotch gentleman who made a
fortune in Cuba years ago. will furnish S4.OOO.-
600. and the Spanish Bank of Cuba. Gelats *
Co. aud Senior Ramon Arguelles, a wealthy
SpaniarI. will furnish S3.OOO.OOO to buy the
three lines known as the Sagua. Caibarien
and Cienfuegos and Villa Clara rail-
ways. The British syndicate is represented
here by Tiburcio Castaneda. who says it is inn
possible to fl nd money in the United States for
any good enterprise in Cuba. and that money
ought to come here from England. The deed
for the purchase Of the three roads will prob
ably be signed tomorrow. Senior Castaneda
has an option until April 30. The President OF
the Cardenas- Jucaro company refuses to sell
that road or to even Gu - meeting OF the stock
holders to consider Se..or Castaneda's plan
for it's purchase. Tho President is "A rich
Spaniard, Isidoro Cano. who was indicted some
time ago in connection with the sale of the
Havana railways to Senior Cas'aneda, but who
was subsequently discharged Sehor Cano
says that he will not have any moro business
OF that kind. The Sahanilla and the Havana
United roads cannot De bought, the principal
owner. Mr.. Schroeder of London. refusing to
sell at present.
Schor Saen2 lane2. Secretary OF Public Works.
has received n letter from Gen. Greenwood,
who recently alleged that he had the authorize
ton ofthc Washington Government for the con-
strlction OF a trunk line through the centre Of
the island. with branches to ports on the north
and south coasts. The latter is dated Glen
fuegos. and in it Con. Greenwood says he is
about TO proceed to Santiago to meet engi-
necrs there. He expresses the hope that all
obstacles to the construction Of the road will
be removed by Senior Saenz Ianez. so that
work NAV be commenced at once.
Gen. Gomez told the Junta OF Cuban Cen
erals to-day that the disbandmcnt ofthe Cuban
Army ought to take place even before the
payment OF the S3.OOo.OOO donated by the
United States for the troops.
There WINS con Sidcrable alarm in Marianao
last night caused by n report circulated by
the Mayor that bandits were near the town.
The citizens were reused and armed them
selves. but no bandits appeared. According to
a report from Gen. GomeZ's HEADQUARTERS the
alleged bandits were some Cuban soldiers who
quietly entered the town.
Gen. Fitzhugh Lee and Senior DOLE. Civil
Governor OF Pinar del Rio. visited Gen. Brooke
to-day and explained 10 him that a rural guard
of l25 men is not sufficient In that province.
The province has sixty-three towns. and a
guard Of at least 300 infantry and loo cavalry
is! necessary for the proper maintenance OF
order. They also proposed that Gen. Pedro
Diaz be appointed chief of the rural guard.
The Resolutc vii! sail tomorrow for New
York.
A big crematory was established to-day at
Tallapiedra. across the bay. for the burning OF
garbage. MAJOR Davies. the chief sanitary
officer of the city. is highly satisfied with the
working Of the crcmatory.
Gen. Gomez and the Cuban Junta will to-
morrow discuss with Gen. Brooke the details
concerning the distribution OF the money for
the Cuban troops.
The Academy of Sciences has made n report
on the recent death Of Mr.. Black. a Southern
capitalist. who. il was reported. had been
poisoned. The report statos that MIR. Black
ua mot ppiSpDaH hnt NlG wrnnUly tranfn1 lv