Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-31

Cuban congressman.
The Cuban congressman in the beginning
did not understand his relation to his con-
stituent. Nor did the constituent quite un-
derstand that his congressman might be
the potent influence which could secure the
coveted Office. The constituent was the
first to gain the knowledge. He came to
town to attend the inauguration and he
stays. He dogs his congressman in the
halls of legislation, in lodgings and in the
hotels.
One senator has a post of local fame
among his followers. On his arrival the
poet came to the hotel and presented him
with ode. or it may have been sonnet.
Inc senator was pleased. Since then l have
seen the poet at the hotel, morning, noon,
night and midnight. The senator has be-
come haggard and careworn and ill-tem-
pered The poet wants job. That is the
whole story. and it is repeated in thou
sand forms, because there are others than
poets who are seeking places. L told
group of the Cuban congressman of the
various devices which American congress-
men adopted to dodge their office-seeking
constituents. They thought these plans
might do for the United States, but feared
they would not work IN Cuba, yet some of
them said they would try the eXpedientS
suggested.
Congress itself is getting to be an i'm
portant body in the public eye. From the
sessions which have been held l am of the
UplHIOi lIdl UUlH DTdECHCS Will soon Idll
into the parliamentary rut of older legisla-
tive bodies. At the present the number of
projects of laws, or bills, is not over large,
and the congress Itself is feeling it's way
to determine its own function. There is
much talk about unimportant matters, as
was inevitable, and there is also much de-
mand that ''tne rules be enforced" The
rules, for one object are meant to prevent
too much talking. They are about as use
full in this respect as are rules in the legis-
latuIeS or the Congress of the United
States.
Senate and House.
Senate and "camara" or house are not
controlled by the same Influences The
house starts off by asserting its own pre-
rogative. The constitution also is invoked
and members are warned that their patri-
otism should not carry them beyond the
constitution Cuban public opinion and
Cuban newspapers are censorious of the
congress. 'Dscord,' or disagreement be-
tween the two bodies. is criticised very
sharply, and they are told that the Cuban
people expect them to agree. The domi-
nant note of public criticism is that con-
gress must upheld the president and his
administration.
1t was natural that among the first bills
or projects of law introduced should be
for the payment of the army. The amount
proposed in this bill was $40 0O0,000. A few
months ago the amount was to be $S0,G00,
COO. The best opinion among the Cuban
leaders Is tndI ultimately q loan OF Slo,UJD
coo will be attempted as a means of paying
the veterans. 1t is one of the issues which
will have to be met and settled early.
Another project of law is for the creation
of the cabinet positions a different basis
from that which was inherited from the
military government. 1t is proposed that
department of war and navy be created as
an assertion that Cuba is sovereign rath-
er than because such a department is need
ed. This and other propositions are dis
posed of temporarily by laying them on the
table, However, tabling in the Latin par
liamentary practice does not mean to kill a
proposition, as it does in American legisla-
tive bodies.
The sugar planters have a number Of
projects which they want to bring before
the congress. 1t might be guessed that the
chief one is a government loan to them
selves. Pressed, they now are, they may
not be blamed for turning to the govern
ment for aid. but these schemes always
have had support among them. The almost
entire lack of banking facilities which
marked the Spanish rule gave encourage
ment to the idea of a state bank, or, as the
planters call 1t, agricultural loan
bank. The Idea Is the same that which
the Porto Rico coffee and sugar planters
had three years ago. The planters them
selves say that THEIR plan is based on the
Credit Foncier of Paris, but they do not
take into account the difference in condl-
tions between France and Cuba.