New-York tribune., 1901-06-06
CUBAN GOVERNMENT.
IMPORTANT WORK STILL BEFORE THE
HAVANA CONVENTION.
THE FRAMING OF AN ELECTORAL. LAW
WILL BE A TEST OF CUBAN CAPACITY
FOR sELF-GovERNMENT-PH
OF THE PROBLEM


With fits chief work done. the Constitutional
Convention has yet before it an important labor
There a number Of 'disposiciones transi-
torias, or transitory provisions in the constitu-
ton. Among these is the provision for an cleo
toral law. This electoral law in itself is going
10 be something of a test of the Cuban capacity
for government. because it will bring out many
Of The purely internal questions with which the
men who hope TO control the destinies of the
new commonwealth will have 10 deal. in
drafting it the struggle for supremacy be-
tween the factions parties will develop with
some degree OF definiteness
The constitution provides that within ninety
days after the PRONUNCIATION of the electoral
law the people shall proceed TO choose the func-
tionarfes created by ii, in order that the gov
eminent OF Cuba may be transferred to those
who are elected This is in accordance with the
orders Of the American military authority un-
der which the convention was called. The
municipal elections will have helped TO define
the lines between the various political organiza-
tons. The formulating Of the electoral law will
bring out the distinctions more clearly. 1t also
viii help to determine whether the popular
sentiment which heretofore has made Maximo
Gomez too strong for his enemies is going to
continue, or whether the tendency of all ele-
ments to unite Estrada Palma for President
viii become positive enough TO remove the
source OF discord which the contest for the high
est position in the government might pre-
cpitate. The followers of Bartholomew Maso.
the Manzanillo sugar planter, who want him
for chief executive, have not fully made up their
minds that it is useless for them to enter the
contest.
PARTY LINES NOT YET DRAWN.
In the division over the acceptance Of the
Platt amendment, which the only natural
ing Of the kind happened. Gualherto Gomez.
who was the leading spirit of the opposition. is
prominent in the councils of the Republican
party. The Republicans OF Santiago who elected
him a member OF the convention passed resolu-
tions instructing him to support the amend
snent but he ignored these instructions. Secre-
tary Tamayo and Governor Nunez. Nationals
from Havana, We're threatened with the cen
sure OF the group OF hot headed young politi-
clans who had committed that party against
the amendm ent Mendez Capote, who as pre-
siding officer of the convention voted for ac-
ceptance is ambitious TO be the leader OF the
Republican party, and the disposition is 10
crafty his ambition. In other instances the
same lack Of party division party unity was
shown. 1t IS possible that the ultra radicals,
having been beaten in their efforts 10 prevent
the acceptance Of satisfactory relations with the
United States. will refrain from taking part in
drafting the electoral law, and seek TO avoid
all responsibility for the future. but such an
attitude will not strengthen them with the
masses who want the Cuban government formed
and the American military authority withdrawn
Something Of the nature Of their future gov
ernment and Of the processes Of forming ii will
be disclosed in drafting the electoral law The
functionaries created by the constitution include
q President and Vice President, Senators and
Representatives in Congress-. Civil Governors of
and n
councils and alcaldes mayors. and aldermen
of the municipalities. The municipal function
aries under the present system are about the
pnly existing set of officials whose status is al
ready determined.
In order to have q government TO which the
authority now exercised by the United States
may be transferred. the executive and the legis-
fative powers Of the new commonwealth must be
complete The electoral law. therefore. must
devise the machinery for choosing the officials
OF the provinces, well as the Congress and
the executive. II is TO be the fabric of the
tire government. Interest centres the Presi-
dency but that has TO be reached by successive
steps, for the constitution merely provides that
the President and President shall be elect
ed by suffrage Of the second grade in single
tay in conformity with the procedure which
the law shall establish. This means that the
convention has yet before il most important
redure, but must determine what constitutes
suffrage of the second grade" Back Of this is
long chapter of past intrigue and a prospective
seouel II is known in the United States that
the Cuban constitution is based universal
outrage and the common impression is that all
the officials are be chosen directly without the
Intervention of any secondary agency AT one
stage Of the constitution making this the
provision. and the President was TO be chosen
by popular vote. but this provision elm
mated and the clause inserted it stands
UNITED STATES SYSTEM THE MODEL
The aim IS 10 follow in its general features
the system Of the United States. having the
voters IN the different provinces vote for given
number OF electors who shall choose the Presi-
dent but there various notifications In
mind the purpose of which Is to limit the popu-
lar win instead OF making the electors merely
the agents for recording it. One OF these sug-
gestions is for participation OF the provinces as
separate political Identities. How much there is
IN these rroiects and whether popular senti-
rnent will tolerate them only be disclosed
as nrogress is made in drafting the electoral
law.
Members of the House OF Representatives are
10 be chosen by direct vote on the basis Of one
Representative for each $4,000 inhabitants, and
pne for each fraction over 12.5OO This will cause
the first Cuban House TO consist or slxty-nVe or
sxtv-six members The matter is not settled.
but the probability is that candidate Tor Con-
gress NAV he chosen from any constituency in
the island. though some Of the delegates in the
convention want the privilege restricted TO the
province in which he may reside however,
nothing in the requirements for membership OF
the lower branch will cause delay IN getting the