New-York tribune., 1901-06-06

and of double their number of ".connpron,isarios'
or 81; delegates chosen by the voters Of the prov
.Hce- III amounts to the creation Of provincial
legislature for the purpose of choosing Sena-
TORS The "compromisarios' to be chosen
one hundred days before the time set for elect
.ns Senators. This provision renders imprac-
tlcahle the simultaneous election of both
branches of the first Cuban Congress 1t also
MAKES necessary an explanation OF the Provin-
clal councils These bodies to consist of
rot less than eight more than twenty mem
pers, and the members are to be chosen by
olrect vote The form will be the same as in
,he election Of the civil Governors of the prov
ihces but just what that form will be cannot
pe determined until the members or the Con-
law.
THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.
From this outline it appears that the con-
struction of the Cuban government will be a
gradual one. Some discussion will be necessary
in order to settle the overshadowing question OF
the manner in which the President of the re-
public shall be chosen. The mass of the Cubans,
who are rermeated with the sentiment of indie
pendence, may not be satisfied unless on the
first occasion when they are casting their votes
they permitted to designate their choice for
President. If this feeling becomes pronounced
and is directed against the convention that body
in determining what shall constitute suffrage
or the second grade probably will make pro-
vision for electoral body for which the
voters can cast their ballots when the pro-
Vlncidl officials and the members % the Hcuse
OF Representatives chosen. The prevalent
idea has been that the first election should be
held on October 10. which is the anniversary of
the uprising that began the Ten Years war,
and the subsequent steps should be arranged so
the new government would be complete by Fen
ruary "a the anniversary of the last insurrec-
ton. But some OF the Cubans want the reins or
power committed TO their hands on January l.
1gI2, which will be three years from the day on
Which Spanish sovereignty over Cuba was ended
and the United States took temporary control
A more practical reason exists for selecting this
day. 1t will save two months time in the reci-
procity negotiations with the United States.
which are to be the first business Of the first
Cuoan administration When the commission
visited Washington its members were told that
when the Platt amendment was accepted the
american authorities would cooperate in facl!i-
tating early elections and would interpose no
obstacle TO the formation of a complete Cuban
government by the first of next year.
whether this plan is practicable a week or
TWO VIII be required to determine. a vast
amount OF machinery has to be put into opera
under pressure The provision that ninety days
AFTER the PRONUNCIATION of the electoral law the
functfonaries Of the new commonwealth shall
ne elected makes il easy to arrange the time Of
the first general election. If Ii wants to, the
convention can get through with this branch of
its work by June 10. and September II the
voting for President. members of the House and
the provincial officials might take place. This
would leave a bare margin before January l in
lne one huhdreo Gays after the choice or Pro-
Nincial Councillors and compromisarios for the
election of the Senate. without which the
government can hardly begin it's functions. or.
the convention may take all the month of June
in formulating the electoral law and arrange
that II shall he promulgated on July To- This
would bring the first election October TO- the
anniversary Of Baire. and would mean the car
rying out OF the original programme Of placing
Cuba in the hands of the Cubans. Their own
wishes will govern in this matter.
Aside from the political intrigues which may
develop, no question is likely to arise concern
ing the capacity Of the convention 10 draft
comprehensive and coherent electoral law. The
lawyers in that body have shown their ability
in harmOnizing and winnowing conflicting views.
They can be depended on to make the legal re-
quirements and provisions clear. that the first
Cuban elections will not be involved in obscur-
ity- One article which they will be called 70
make effective is that providing for minority
representation. The article is broad. II requires
that the laws establish regulations and pro-
cedure TO assure the participation OF the minor
ity in all the election processes, md their repre-
sentation in the House of Representatives. in
the Provincial Councils and in the municipalities.
How these matters are 70 be worked out in the
electoral law is not yet clear.
woULD-BB SPANISH VOTERS.
Regarding the so-called foreign elements. no
difficulties need arise though doubts had been
heard on this point The constitution is quite
specific in stating what constitutes Cuban citi-
zenship and the means of determining it, In the
municipal campaign in Havana several hundred
Spanish subjects who had enrolled themselves
such registered and presumably meant 10
vote. The Cuban politicians got after them and
the Spanish Consul also issued a warning. The
names of the Spanish subjects are inscribed in
the Department Of State and also in the various
municipalities, so that # is trouble locate
them.
Transitory dispositions of the constitution
other than that relating to the electoral law in
clude the definition Of what Cuban revolutionary
debt shall be recognized. the formal validation
Of the acts OF the American authority. and minor
subjects. but none of these of present i'm
portance.