The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1901-05-02
WASHINGTON.
From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, April Goth

From Our Regular Correspondent.
Washington, April goth 1901.
Senator Cockrell stated the case
in a nutshell when he said, the other
day, that the Cubans entirely misun-
derstood their status. This has be-
come plain since the committee from
the Cuban Constitutional Convention
reached Washington. Although they
no government and are paid
salaries by the United States, they
came to Washington with the idea
that their status was the same as
plenipotentiary, sent by one govern
ment to negotiate with another, and
they have been greatly surprised to
discover that they were to be jol.
lied and entertained at the White
House State dinners and such func-
tions but not to negotiate. A nego.
tiator must necessarily have credenti-
ais, and where, pray, would these
Cubans get credentials The con
venton which elected them have no
government behind it, except the
military government of the United
States and government cannot ne
gotiate with Itself. The subject upon
which these selfdeluded Cubans were
most anxious TO negotiate was tariff
they wish this government to lower or
entirely remove the duty on Cuban
sugar and tobacco, and having ascer-
tanned that Congress alone could act,
they have been trying to see what
chance there was of securing Presi-
dent Nc Kinley's promise to recon-
mend such legislation to Congress.
They have not received any encourge-
ment in that line, nor in the hope
that Congress would modify the con-
ditions laid down by the Platt amend.
ment.
The members of the Cuban com.
mittee have been very careful abou,
publicly expressing their opinion oi
Gen. Wood, who is also in Washing
ton, and of his administration o.
the military government of Cuba
but one of the Cubans who accom-
panied them, M. M. Coronado, whc
was editor and proprietor of a Hav
ana paper recently suppressed b.
Gen. Wood, has has been knockin!
Gen. Wood to everybody he coulc
get to listen to him. He says tn,
Cubans don't want Wood for Goyern
or and that his actions have beer
responsible for all trouble over tn
Platt amendment. Gen. Portuond
and Senator Liorente, members c
the committee, are said to agree fu
ly with the ex-editor in his denuncia
tion of Gen. Wood, but to conside
it impoltic to say so publicly.
Whatever he may do after, it
now certain that President McKinle
will make 10 change in the Penslo
Commissonership until after he r.
turns from his trip to the Paclf
Coast. The Kansas Congression
delegation was so anxious to captul
this plum that they represented tw
candidates-ex-Representatives Blu
and Peters with the request tn;
either be appointed. President M
Kinley told Representative Curti
who acted fox the delegation, that /
was not yet ready to consider II
matter.
The charge of the Light Brigac
was not in it with the onslaught mat
upon President Mckinley this WEI
by Republican Senators and Re
resentatives TO secure some OF t
army commission pie before 1t W
all gone--the names of nearly s.
appointments to be lieutenants we
made public this week. They ma
things so warm for Presldenr NJ
Kinley that he had to do sonethl
to stave them off, and as about
the places had, been promised, sol
of them to the constituents of
very men who were clamoring
more, he told them that many
those appointed would fail to pass t
examination necessary to get col
mission and that then they wol
have another chance. Most of thu
had to be content with that, but it
understood that Senators Quay a
Penrose. who held up President n
Kinley together, succeeded In lal
ing another bunch of commissio
in addition to those they had pr
iously secured.
The British Ambassador called
Secretary Hay this week in order
find out whether this governm'
had any suggestions to make, pr
ious to its taking the road for
IInuTJc rrIJIC , Ua offer I