The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-06
FOR CUBA LIBRE
CUBAN CONSTITUTIONAL CONVEN-
TION MAKES A REPORT.
A FREE REPUBLIC THE IDEA.
MODELLED AFTER THE CONSTTTU-
TIoN OF THIS COUNTRY.

To Have Four Senators From Each
Department Elected for six Years
and Congress Elected Every
Two Years, With One Member to
Every 10000 Inhabitants The
President and Vice President TO
BE Elected by Congress - Two
Months Discussion to Follow.
Havana. Jan. 5.-The division of the
constitutional convention have rendered a
crystalized report upon the subject of
constitution for the island in twenty-five
sections The first treats of the nation
and national territory and the establish
ment of Cuba as a republic, free and in
dependent. the territory being the same
as that belonging to Spain. divided into
six provinces with limits as heretofore.
The second section refers to the condi-
tions OF nationality, the methods of los
ing and recovering it and to the duties
of the government
The most interesting clause recognizes
as citizens of Cuba strangers resident in
the island four months prior to the Span
ish war, who lent their services to the
cause of the revolution.
The third is consecrated to an extensive
enumeration of rights under the constitu-
ton, individual liberty. the inviolability
of home, the secrecy of correspondence,
and the liberty of public meetings, asso-
Citations, the press, etc.
The fourth establishes the rights and
duties of foreigners.
The fifth speaks of the sovereignty OF
the nation and the power of the people to
proclaim that sovereignty resides with the
people of Cuba, with three privileges
legislative, executive and judicial
The sixth creates "A chamber Of repre-
sentauves and a senate, together forming
a congress.
The seventh provides for the choice of
four senators from each department, to
be named by the Ayuntamiento of mu-
inequalities and to hold office six years,
two being chosen every third AYear, and
provides that the Senate shall constitute
a tribunal of justice over the president
and governors of departments in cases
of malfeasance. etc, under charges from
the lower house, also having the right to
confirm or rejected presidential nomina-
tions. 1t also provides that only Gu
bans over thirty years Of age shall be
eligible for membership in the Senate
The eighth section treats of the House
of Representatives, which shall be com
posed of one member of every 10000 in
habitants, elected every two years by a
direct vote of the people, the qualfica-
tions for membership being that all MEM
bers shall be Cubans and 25 years of age.
The House shall be the accuser of the
President for infractions of the laws and
shall also pass, prior to the Senate, laws
for the government of the country.
The ninth establishes the relations of
both bodies in the commonwealth.
The tenth defines the attributes of Con-
gress, which shall convene the first Mon
day of November for sessions of ninety
days or longer, provides that extraordlt ary
sessions may be convened at the cali of
the President alone, that Congress shall
proclaim the President and Vice Presi-
dent shall pass upon estimates of nation
al expense, shall declare war and make
peace, shall regulate commercial finan-
cial and internal affairs, declare amnesty,
organize forces for sea and land form
national codes and attend to public works
and necessities.
The eleventh treats in detail of legisla-
tlpl anu pAtSlLcHlldi approval OF TEJeC-
ton.
The twelfth defines the power of the ex-
ecutive and provides that the president
must be a Cuban by birth or naturaliza-
ton, and, in the latter case, must have
served in Cuban wars ten years. He must
be 30 years of age, shall serve six years,
not being eligible for reelection imme-
dately shall direct the suffrage promul-
gate and execute the laws, convene con-
gress in extraordinary session, direct
diplomatic relations and negotiate trea-
ties, submitting the same to Congress for
its appreciation or rejection, and shall
appoint supreme magistrates and other
high officers.
The thirteenth treats of the duties Of
the Vice President.
The fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth
sections refer TO judicial organization and
administration.
The seventeenth treats of departmental
regime. 1t provides that the governor of
every department shall direct the suf-
frage and that his term of office shall be
three years. 1t also provides for depart
mental assemblies, to which members
shall be elected every three years by
popular vote i'm the ratio OF one delegate
to each 1900 inhabitants.
The eighteenth defines the departmental
assemblies duties, which shall convene
every years for ninety days.
The nineteenth section defines the at
tributes and duties of governors who shall
be tried by the Senate when accused by
the House and shall be succeeded by the
president Of the departmental assembly.
The twentieth defines the municipal re-
gime.
The twenty-frst defines the duties OF
municipalities and the twenty-second the
duties of Mayors.
The twenty-third treats of the constitu-
tion of the cabinet, defines its duties, de-
clares that no debts, compromises or con-
tracts on the part of the republic of
Cuba shall be recognized except those con-
tracted in the interest OF the revolution
OF 1895 by the revolutionary government
or. by It's legal representatives. in foreign
countries, and that the cabinet shall pass
upon all debts paying those which are
considered legitimate.
The twenty-fourth provides the manner
OF changing the constitution.
The twenty-hfth section provides for the
promulgation of the constitution and for
the holding of elections ninety days sub
sequent thereto.
Ia is believed that two months discus
sion will follow the submission of the re-
port and that great changes will be ef-
fected in the form of the constitution.
-s-o-s
SHARFSEY AND MCCOY.
Matched for 20 Round Bout in san
Francisco.