New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-28
AMERICAN RULE IN CUBA.
CHANGES IN THE ISLANDS LEGAL AND
SOCIAL SYSTEMS.
REFORMS IN MARRIAGE CONTRACTS-MR'
CURTIs's RETURN FROM PORTO
RICo-ARRIvAL OF GOLD
SHIPMENTS
TBY CABLE TO THE TRIBuNE.i


Havana. April 27-Scarcely had Governor
General Brooke's mortgage extension decree
reached the public yesterday when 1t was sud-
denly recalled by orders from Vedado. In ex-
nlanatior II was said that some notifications
had been made necessary by fresh instructions
received from Washington. These. the insuiar
Secretary OF the TreasuryS Sehor Desvernihe,
announces will not upset the limit already nNed
for mortgage extensions. but will simply dehhe
more clearly the different sorts of obligations
whose maturity is to be postponed TIL May
1900
Following up its energetic demands for sweep
ing reforms In the Spanish civil and crii'ii''"'
practice La Lucha" has begun an agita'io"
for the introduction into Cuba OF the American
system of marriage and divorce under the Sp".'
,sh law Ecclesiastical marriage is the only
form of union recognized by the state anu n'
dissolution OF the religious contract Is possio''
Ola Iucha" advocates the total separation OIL
Church and State and the civil function as
the essential one in marriage. the contract being
adjudged exclusively a civil and legal one l'S
Termination by the courts is also sought 10 pe
conceded in any logical revision or eNs'i"e
marriage and inheritance laws. The TASK y,
modernizng and liberalizing the spanish 'ea
code is one that seems TO grow with every a'-
tempt to lop off here and there its more siai'"e
excrescences.
MR.. CURTIS VISITS GENERAL BROohh'
II. G. Curtis. one of the members of the war
DEPARTMENTS Colonial Commission, maze o'i'i
on General Brooke to-day. He is returning iio"
Porto Rico where the Commission mas spent
two months investigating the civil ana PoH''
state of that island. The other Comfiiissio'e''
General Robert p. Kennedy and c. w. "a'N'','
at A
have already returned to the United Sla'eS' 10
the Colonial Board received orders 10 pos'poHo
for the present any Investigations IN CuptN W.
Curtis.s visit WAS therefore, an unofficial one
and he frankly admits that by next fail wren
the commission is expected to return. It VIII
find practically no work to do MT GURUS IL
ports the conditions in Porto Rico as far more
sat,sfactorv than they have been represen'ed
IN certain quarters. though many reforms re'
main 70 be accomplished before the Porto hcahs
can settle down comfortably in their chahsed
no,itica, relations and adapt themselves 10 a
sor,, American territorial life. Mr. Curtis saie'
this afternoon for New-fork.
ceneral HasbrOuck the former commanuer VI
the Department % Pinar del Rio mas AiSo
started for the United States. Generals pa'e'
and Sanger, relieved in the new Matanzas-'a"'a
Clara Department, will probably take passaee
home next week The Resolute. Admlral Oroi"
wells flagship. is preparing TO leave the hai Do'
FOR a cruise TO New York. so the depletion OF 'ne
American forces of occupation is becoming uaiS
more marked.
GOMEZ EXPLAINS HIS ACTION.
CeneraI Gomezs recent letter TO Cuoan
friend I'm America DR.. Abrisqueta has attracted
a little attention because it allows the gem
eral TO disclaim some extreme interpre'a-
tions put upon his attitude both here ana IN
the United States. AS General Gomez says ne
has never announced himself in favor OF an
American protectorate Nor could ne 90 SO
nrudently whether he really favored one or not
He has merely said that for perhaps a year II
will not be worth while To try TO set UP an IN
dependent government under native auspices
hut Cuban independence is. Of course, as ai"aSs'
his ultimate political programme. $1,000
Next Sunday will see an important chahse
begun in Havana life, the experiment or gen
eral shop-closng going into effect on that date.
An the shops except those OF florists ana Dutch-
ers will close at 10 a. m. and the mercnants
here show a marked disposition to forward tne
movement toward American business customs
Most OF them have agreed voluntarily to close
their stores at 6 p. m. at least during the sum
rner season. so that the clerks Will nave nuch
more tolerable working hours. Many employees
are now on duty from fifteen to sixteen hours a
day. -, .r
The CITY Of Washington brought today from
New York $4,000 in French and S35l w" III
American gold a sensible addition TO the ISL
and's stock Of non-fuctuating currency.