Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-02-22
CISNEROS WOULD NOT SIGN
CUBAN CONSTITUTION FINALLY RAT
IFIED YESTERDAY.
One Copy Sent to General Wood to
Be Forwarded to TINS G0v-
eminent.

a,sn.+ob fro,, Havana last night says:
nh. f,nh.n constitution, first submitted by
the central committee to the conVenlioh at
tho nuh,ic session of January Il, was
signed today. One copy was sent 10 oo'-
ernor General Wood and tina other placed
among the records of the convention The
attendance was not large, falling consider
ably short Of that of the opening day, ana
not euuaIing the attendance OF many othef
public sessions.
A delay of two hours ensued before the
reading Of the document. AT o CLOCK the
members affixed their signatures, the presi-
dent and vice president leading on, and the
delegates following in the order of their
seats on the floor of the conVentlon the
two secretaries signing last
Senior Cisneros created sensation by re-
fusing to sign. He said:
Cuba is now Independent, and l can see
no reason for sending this constitution to
the United States for acceptance: Inc
United States government mas no right TO
pass upon it, for it is distinctly Cuban
document, and was drawn up by this con-
vention which has assumed the response
bility of establishing the republic.
Several delegates crowded around him
and endeavored to dissuade him from his
course, but he was immovable. AS The
delegates retired, Senior Tamayo remarked
I'VE are all Cubans, senior" and Senior Cis-
neros replied: Yes; when the time comes
TO nSnt the Americans we Will hSHl tHSil
together" Then he turned toward the press
table, and shaking his fist at the American
newspaper men, he said:
1.-THE Americans are like the monkey
When the monkey closes Its paw on a thing
| it never wants to let CO.
Subsequently he said he would sign the
copy Of the constitution that had been filed
with the records of the convention, but
would wait until the other had been sent
| to Washington in order to avoid any posi-
| bility of his name being attached to that
also
Senior Capote, president of the convention,
will deliver the document to Gen. Wood at
| the palace tomorrow morning, at $50. Gen.
Wood and his staff will receive formally the
commission charged with the duty of pre-
| senting the constitution. The latter Will be
translated and copy in English will be
sent to Washington with the original Prob
ably the translation will not be ready be-
] fore Monday.
| This afternoon Gen. Wood sent a personal
| letter to Senior Tamayo chairman of the
special committee on relations, outlining
| the suggestions received from Secretary
Root, but pointing out that these were only
| expressions of the opinion of the executive
department as to what the people of Cuba
| should desire to have established and agreed
| upon between the United States and Cuba,
| and should not be taken an official decla-
ration of the United States, 1t being neces-
| sary to refer the whole smatter to Congress.
| The special committee on relations has
| not yet decided what report it will make.
| Another meeting mas been called Tor to-
| morrow. Senior Tamayo considers Gen.
| Woods letter private communication,
which he is not at liberty to lay before the
| convention.
| Governor General Wood will appoint q
| commission, consisting of two Cuban mer-
| chants, two Americans and Collector Bliss,
| as chairman, to revise the tariffs. a sup
| Elementary revision will be first made and
| submitted to merchants in Havana and the
| United States for suggestions The Cubans
| take kindly to scheme which will allow
| them a voice in arranging the duties.
1t became known today that friction
| existed between Gen. Wood and Mr.. Ho-
| ratio RLbens, one of the special counsel for
| the government in the post office fraud
| cases. Both assert that the controversy is
| purely personal, and that it will not inter-
| fere with the services of Mr. Rubens in
| prosecuting the alleged postal offenders.