Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-29
Delegates Working Rapidly on the
Cuban Constitution.
TO LAY IT BEFORE CONGRESS At ONCE
How Problems Have Been Me
by the Havana Convention.
DEBT QUESTION POSTPONED
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.

ished work, though few of those who have
helped to frame the organic law are hardy
enough to claim that 1T Is a perfect work.
1mperfections, they say, are the Inevitable
results Of law making. Nevertheless, in
the public sessions no material changes are
likely.
Such changes as have been made from the
original draft with reference to the status
of foreigners, the provincial regimen, the
composition of the legislative power and
other matters in the main are improve
ments on the draft prepared by the central
committee which was charged with that
duty. What is now needed is good editing
In order to harmonize and make more SYM
metrical some of the provisions without
altering their nature. This the delegates
are seeking to accomplish.
Before analyzing the constitution itself
plain word or two may be said about the
Influences which have dominated in draft
ing it, and which stil at work. The
mcst potent factor was the desire to get
through in order to secure action by the
American Congress. Though the formal
and official text will not reach Washington
for some time, the constitution makers
take the ground that the document itself
is now before the American people and that
judgment may be formed regarding 1t with
out reference to minor changes which may
be made In the text. In Santiago province
the people are expecting to put the con-
stitution into effect at once but | do not
believe the rest of the island is in quite so
much of a hurry.
Early Action Wanted.
1t would give a wrong idea to state that
Cuba is going to be quiet and contented If
no action be taken on the constitution I'M
til Congress meets next December. Army
officers in the island have different notion.
Most of them are quite confident In their
assertions that it is an affair of no conse-
quence and can be put off for a year. do
not think their judgment Is entitled to
weight, for the reason that thus far they
have been SO thoroughly, unanimously and
completely wrong. Early in December they
told me that there was not the slightest
prospect of the convention agreeing on any
kind of document in less than six months,
and that the probability was it would be in
session a year The reason they gave for
their belief was that the delegates had no
common ground on which to act and would
think more Of their $500 a month and s4
per diem than Of adopting constitution
within short period
not difficult to learn that the delegates had
reached an agreement among themselves
that they would complete a constitution
in time to lay before the American Con-
gress at this session. Their program with
reference to the secret sessions has been
carried out almost to the letter. for these
ses sions lasted only five days longer than
originally planned 1t is also possible that
the public sessions will run little longer
than was intended; but they will not go on
forever.
The delegates to the convention, all of
whom are ambitious politicians, acted just
as clever politicians in the United States
would have DONE They agreed to har-
monize their differences among themselves
and get through with their work, SO that
the responsibility for the constitution might
be shifted from their shoulders to the Amer
lean administration. Having shifted that
responsibility they are not so eager for the
coming responsibility of government as
might be inferred. Concerning the time
they have taken in drafting an organic law
l think it will be the general verdict that
they have done better in three months
than they would do in a year On this
point the judgment of jurists and public
men must be taken rather than that of
army officers.
Attitude of the Spanish.
Though they were wrong in their proph-
ecy of what the convention would do in a
given time, most of the military officials
have lost no confidence in their own judg
ment. The Spanish commercial classes OF
Havana are unprepared for any steps look
ing toward the withdrawal of the American
military authority and the putting into ef-
feet of Cuban autonomy. This Is partly
due to their own blindness, but largely to
the assurances of army officers. Within
two days l have heard the latter declaring
that no attention would be paid to the
Cuban constitution by the United States for
a year, and that therefore neither the Span
ish merchants nor the Cubans who want
the offices need bother about the matter.
This Is on par with their statements that
nobody In Cuba Is concerned about the con-
stitution, and 1t would make no difference
If nothing should be done by the United
States for year. The American army Of
ficers in Cuba have performed their admin
istrative duties with such fidelity and thor
oughness that 1t is an extraordinary cir
cumstance that they should be so profound
ly ignorant of what is going on around
them. There are few exceptions.
Feeling of the Cubans.
The Cuban constitution makers them
selves seem to have fairly clear views of
what may develop. I have been told by
some of them, courteously but tartly, that
they were not drafting a form Of govern
ment for a colonial dependency which was
seeking to change its status into that Of an
American territory, but rather they were
molding the organic law Of free Cuba and
If their constitution should be changed by
the United States 1t would not be Cuban
constitution. That it can be rejected or
that American public sentiment will dis
approve of 1t. they profess to believe is
improbable Notwithstanding that the con-
stitution Is for an independent nation, most
of them agree that 1t is subject to certain
limitations which will develop when they
begin to formulate the proposed relations
with the United States. That will come
right on the heels Of the conventions pros
pective action in adopting the constitution.
With regard to the constitution itself
Continued on Third Page.)