The Forrest City times., 1900-03-23
SENATORIAL COMMISSION.
inquiry Into the Needs of Cuba Begun-The La Gloria Colony
 Signed a Perjury Decree.

Havana, March 20.-The arrival of the senatorial commission, who will inquire into the needs of Cuba has caused but little local comment, the afternoon papers barely alluding to their presence. Senators Platt, Ald- rich and Teller landed Monday morn ing from the United States dispatch hoat Dolphin, and had a long inter- view with Gov.-Gen. Wood. Subse- cabinet. After lunching with Gen. Wood they drove around the city, and then dined on board the Dolphin. Not on n Pleasure Junket. Tuesday they will visit the Province of Pinar del Rio to view the tobacco region. As yet they have formed no other definite plans. They have de- character on the ground that their journey is not one for pleasure.
 To Investigate La Gloria Colony. Gen. Wood has ordered the officer commanding at Puerto Principe to have a full investigation made into the management of La Gloria colony, regarding which for many months complaints have been made. Even be- fore Gen. Brooke left Cuba criticism ct the methods of the managers was rife, and he was on the point of in- stituting an investigation
 Poor Prospects of the COlonists. Gel. Rathbone, director of posts, has been conducting postal investigation, the result of which will be laid before Gen. Wood Tuesday. The inspector who has had the work in hand advises the abolition of the La Gloria post of- fee, and he has little that is favorable to say concerning the prospects of the colonists who are now there. Caused Much Local Comment. l . The recently-published statements of Senor Rivera, secretary of agricui- aure, and Senor Varona, secretary of finance, advising against the further in- yestment of moneyin in sugar estates, ow- ing to the ease with which bandits and others can destroy the property, have caused considerable focal comment. The Discussion is the only newspaper | agreeing with the secretaries. The 1 other journals characterize their re- marks-to quote from one of them as most ill-advised at the present time, when the desire of the Cubans is to assure the world that Cuba is peaceful and harmonious.
 Signed a Perjury Decree.
 Gen. Wood has signed perjury de- cree, drafted by Senor Estevez. secre- tary of justice, under which per- jury will hereafter be classified as a crime. Perjury, in what are called ordinary cases," will be punished by imprisonment from one to twelve years. In cases where capital punish ment is inflicted as the result of per- l jured testimony, the perjurer, on con- viction, may be sentenced to 30 years imprisonment, at hard labor. In cases where an accused person is condemned to Imprisonment for 12 years or more upon perjured testimony, the perjurer, on conviction, must undergo a sentence of not less than 12 years imprison- ment.
 The Spanish Law Was Incomplete.
 The Spanish law imposed penalties for perjury in certain cases, but it was incomplete. Under the new decrec all cases will be covered.
 The decree will, it is believed, be Oi special service at the coming cleo. tons, when the simple testimony oi a man under oath will be accepted as good evidence.
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