New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20

a LEGISLATIVE BODY THAT NOW HAS so
LEGISLATIVE POWERS
WHERE SPEAKERS ARE LISTENED TO WITH At
TENTION-THE QUESTION OF PAVING
THE ARMY


Havana. Feb H. (SpeciaD-Cuba has lecis-
lative body. the Assembly that is unique in one
respect. Its members listen to one anothers
speeches. That is matter 81 rigid parlia-
mcntary etiquette The po.itencss * the Latin
race IS observed to degree that would aston
ISL the members OF the American Congress.
When a delegate In the Assembly takes the
"paabra" or floor 1t is with the certainty that
his colleagues VIII listen to him. "Palabra"
means WORD. To have the floor in Castilian
parlance means to have say. and what Is said
is heard 4 minute Of the routine proceedings
is published. but there Is such thing as
Congressional Record" in which long speeches
may he printed for the benefit Of constituents
at home. So the importance Of having the adj
dresses listened 10 when they are delivered il
The greater.
The Cuban Assembly is unique In another re-
spect Though called Legislative body. il has
no legislative powers. Under the conditions ~
the American military control u can exercise
n functions Of independent government The
Washington Administration recognized Il 10 the
extent OF arranging with the Commission which
II sent TO Washington for the payment q 50
Oo0uO0 90 the insurgent troops In the nego-
tiators with General Maxine Gomez. as the
head Of these troops the stipulation was that
to the Assembly Gomez has siace stated that
he will rcspe-t n az the only body which has
authority 20 dishand the Army Of Liberia ZION 90
The recognition by the American authorities is
not the acknowledgment of legislative powers.
It is simply the recognition ~ body which is
apparently representative ~ the people Of the
island.
TIE Assembly has resumed it's sessions at
Mariana with a toeraby clear Idea Of its own
functions The Jealousy Of its members lest
General Gomez should usurp their influence is
subsiding They are receiving such convincing
proofs u his strength and popularity that few
Of them viii care openly 20 antagonize him.
Some Of the radical members may make speeches
and introduce resolutions aimed indirectly at
Gomez and at the American policy. Allowance
viii have 10 be made for this in the preliminary
sessions Later the probability Is that ma
jority Of the members will be found doing what
Gomez wants done. If they not so inclined
a square issue viii be raised which will de-
ternine whether or not the old General is the
leader OF the Cuban people
ONE POINT or AGREEMENT.
Gomez agrees with the Assembly that the first
business is {, secure thu payment OF the in
surgent troops IL has differed from some II
its members in his willingness - taxi tn,
S3.GOO.UlO from tn. United States the basis
Of DISARMAMENT. and then 70 make further pro-
vision for payment. The Assembly has the sub
ject directly before it in the report Of the Com
mission which 1t sent to Washington. headed
by General Caixto Garcia. in December last.
To retain their influence the members must sat
isfy the insurgent troops They must also re-
tain the confidence II the Cuban public. which
has heretofore acquesced in their proceedings
without the means OF formal Endorsement. Lit
orally the Assembly can be- called represc nta-
tive only OF the army. Its members were chosen
last October by the insurgent troops alone, with
ont the orr,ortunitv OF testing the sentiment of
the people generally. The Assembly succeeded
the Cuban Provisional Government. Bartolo-
rneo Masso. who had been the President OF that
Government retired from active participation
In affairs. but Mendez Capote the Nice-Presi-
dent. and most OF his associates were chosen
as representatives. in the Assembly Though
elected 10y soldiers. the majority OF the members
are lawyers and doctors The professional man
who takes part in politics IN cuba. as IL all
Iatin-Amercan countries. is not the lawyer
alone
PAYING TROOPS THE FIRST THING.
As before Indicated. the first and the mpor-
ant business for the Assembly is 10 devise
plan for paying and disbanding the insurgeni
troops II II succeeds In this the disposition will
he. - give II further authority 10 represent the
wishes and the aspirations II the Cuban people.
II II runs counter 70 the popular sentiment there
Will be demand for pIebiscit" under the
American authorities 10y which a representative
body can De elected The probability is that
this contingency will not arise. For the present
the Cuban Assembly may be taken as repre-
sentative o. the Cubans because they them
selves are disposed 70 treat II as such y u
forfeits their confidence they will not be slow In
making this known.