The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-12-13

1 10 be fulfilled by turning adrlft an
LOOSELY framed commonwealth t
, lace the yicissitudes which too ofteI
attend weaker States whose natura
wealth and abundant resources are OF
set oy the incongruities OF their poll
sical organization and the recurring
occasions for internal rivalries to saI
thelr strength snd d,ssipate their en-
ergles. The greatest blessing which
can come to Cuba Is the restoration O.
her agricultural and industrial pro
perlty, which will give employment
10 IDLE men and re-establish the Dur.
suits of peace This is her chief and
Immediate need.
| On the 10th Of August, lat, an orders
was made for the taking OF the census
In the leland, to be completed on the
9th OF November. BY the treaty of
peace the Spanish people on the island
nave until April II, 1900 to elect
whether they will remain citiz,ns OF
Spain or become citizsns Of Cnb,
Until then it cannot be definite
~ ascertalned who shalt be entitled to
participate In The formation of the
government OF Cuba. BY that time
| the results OF the census will have b,en
tabuleted and we shall proceed to pro.
| vide for elections which will commit
| the municipal governments OF the is
iahu W tne Omcers elected by the DGO-
PIE. Inc experience thus acquired
snail prove OF great value in the for
matlon OF representative convention
OF the people to draft a constitution
ara establish general system of indie
pendent government for the island, in
The meantime, and 60 long as we ex-
crclse control over the island, the pro-
ducts OF Cuba should have a market in
the United States on as good terms and
with as favorable rates Of duty as arc
given to the West India islands under
the treaties OF reel prOcity which shall
be made.
For the relief of the distressed in tho
ljland OF Cuba, the war department,
mas issued supplies to destitute persons
through the officers Of the army, which
have amounted to 5,493 900 ratiOps. nj
cost of 81 All, ,554 81.
10 promote the disarmament of the
Cuban volunteer army and in the in
tcreSt OF public peace, and the welfare
OF the people the sum OF $T5 was paid
TO each Cuban soldier borne upon the
authenticated rolls, on condition that
ne should deposit his arms with the au-
thorlties designed by the Unted States.
Inc sum thus distributed aggregated
az'o4', ,15o, which was paid from the en-
ergency fund provided for by the act
OF Janusry 5, 1899, for that purpose.
Out OF the Cuban island revenues
during the six months, ending juno
80, 1890, SI,7lS,014.2O was expended for
sanitation, S293, SS1 70 for charities aud
HOSPITALS, and $8S, ,944 .O3 for aid to The
destitute.
Following the exchange of the rati-
hcabions of the treaty Of peace, the
two governments accredited ministers
to each other, Spain sending to Wash
lngton the duke d'Arcos, an eminent
dlplomatist previously stationed in
Mexico, while the United States trans
ferred to Madrid Hon. Belamy Storer,
It's minister at Brussels. This was
followed by the respective appoint.
meat or consuls, thereby fully resum-
Ing tee relations Interrupted by the
war. In addition to Its consular repre-
sentation In the United States tho
Spanish government has appointed
consuls for Cuba who have been pro.
visionally recognized during the mill
tary administration OF affairs OF that
Island.
judicial Intercourse between the
courts OF Cuba and Porto Rico and of
Spain has been established, as provided
by the treaty OF peace. The Cuban
political prisoners In Spanish penal
stations have been and are being re-
leased and returned to their homes, in
accordance with Article VI of the
treaty. Negotiations are about 20 be
had for defining the conventional rela-
tions between the two countries, which
fell Into allegiance by reason OF the war.
trust those will include favorable
arrangement for commercial rccipro.
city under the terms OF Sections 3 and
the current tariff act. In these, as
In all matters OF international concern,
20 effort will be spared to respond to
the good disposition OF Spain, and to
cultivate In all practicable ways the
Intimacy which should prevail between
two nations whose past history has SO
often and In 80 many ways been marked
by sincere friendship and by commun.
ity OF interests.
| would recommend appropriate leg.
islation In order to carry into exccu-
tion Article VII OF the treaty OF peaca
With Spain, by which the United
States assured the payment OF certain
claims for indemnity of its citiz ms
against Spain.
LAWS FOR PORTO RICO.
recommend that legislation BE- had
with reference to the governing OF
Porto Rico. The timo is ripe Tor the
adoption OF temporary form Of gov
ernment for this island and many sug-
6oo'ioho houo WIN reference 10 Mas
ka are applicable to Porto Rico.
Tho system OF civil Jurisprudence
now adopted by the people of this
Island Is described by competent law.
yers who are familiar with it, as thor.
oughly modern and scientific, 80 far as
1T relates to matters OF informal bust
ness, trade, production and social and
private rights In general.
The cities OF the island are governed
by charters which probably reoutre
very little or no change. So that with
| elation to matters Of local concern and
private right, it is not probable that
much II any legislation Is desirable;
but with reference to public admins.
tration and the relation OF the islands
to the Federal government, there are
many matters which are of pressing
urgency. The same necessity exists
Tor legislation on the part OF Congress
to establish Federal courts and Fe eieral
jurisdiction In the Island as has been
Viously pointed out by me wish ref
erence to Hawaii. Besides the admin
istration OF justice, there are the sub.
,cts OF the public lands, the control OF
rivers and harbors, the contro' OF the
waters OF streams not navigable, which
under tho Spanish law belonged TO the
crown OF Spain, and have, by tho treaty