Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-29
CUBAN CONDITIONS
Reciprocity Not Yet a Politi-
Cal Question.
CONGRESS- IN SESSION
APPROPRIATIONS ASKED BY
PRESIDENT PALMA TO BE MADE.
Revising the Army List - The Com
mercial Situation - Ban Against
Cock Fighting to Remain.
CONGRESS- IN SESSION

mind pretty full at this time. In quiet
way there is talk. query and speculation
about the future. But no one has become
wildly excited.
Reciprocity is not yet a political or
party question. Minister SQuiers and Spe-
cial Commissioner Bliss making some
Roadway while there is no lessentng of the
hostile activity of the foreign diplomatic
and consular Representatives. They show
a very keen realization of what 1t would
mean to them to have $12.O00.000 to $15,-
100000 trade transferred to the United
States in the brief period of two or three
years. That will happen with the making
effective of a genuine commercial reciproc-
ity between Cuba and the United States.
The subject has not defined itself fully
enough for party alignment here The
alignment cannot take place until the issue
be made whether or not treaty is to
be ratified and whether this is to be 1oi-
lowed by further legislation in the line OF
the Plat amendment.
Cuban Congress Now in Session.
The Cuban congress will be in session at
the same time that the American Congress
is meeting IN Washington. Under their
constitution the two branches Of the Cuban
congress which met after a recess in No
vember, can quit at the end of forty days,
If they feel like it. Then they will have
constitutional provision is that two sessions
shall be held yearly.
But the Cuban congressman are not going
to quit at the end of forty days in order to
avoid reciprocity. If they felt like that,
they would restrain their feelings because
other subjects of great moment to them
must be acted on within the next few
months. 1t should be said, though. that
they do not show much desire to avoid the
issue of reciprocity. They are simply SLOW
in getting to It, as was the American Con-
gress last winter. Instead Of proddlng
President Palma to hurry up that reel
procity treaty, they tell him to take his
time. With sugar holding high level they
can afford to give this advice.
In the party sense the radical coalition
controls the camara. or house, and the
conservative coalition keeps in power in the
senate. 1t was thought that the success of
the coaltionists in the house would under
mine the conservative elements in the SEN
ate; but thus far this has not been the
case.
The nationals and radicals in the house.
after changing the committees so as to give
themselves a majority in all those bodies,
elected a new speaker, Rafael Portuondo,
also of their party. This, they said,
to establish the precedent that the term Of
the speaker and the committees was merely
for a single session and not for the life of
whole congress. Having affirmed their
control of the machinery of the house, and
perhaps incidentally added somewhat to
their patronage, the radical coalitfonistS are
proceeding very TRANQUILITY, even conserva-
lively. Business goes on about as in Wash
ington, or as in the state capitals when the
legislature is in session
Appropriations Will Be Made.
II was said that the radical coalition
meant TO attack the administration on the
budget, and to make the appropriations the
basis for some sharp criticism which would
show that they really were the opposition
party. Their leaders say this is not so.
They will scrutiniZe the budget with some
care and here and there an objection may
be made; but the appropriations asked by
President Palma will be granted with little
change This will be a practical vote Of
confidence.
Many of the members want to vote more
for public works than is asked by the ex-
ecutive. In its way this Is not bad sign.
1t shows a due regard for developing the
material interests of the island. L notice
that most of the measures now introduced
are for repairing building highways.
Cuba needs roads badly and the congress
men could do worse than to make requisi-
lions on the treasury for this purpose. They
have not yet reached the point Of punching
all the bills for public roads into a general
measure like the river and harbor bill In
the United States, but they will do that
ultimately. Then there will be one ap-
preparation which always wifi be sure Of
majority.
The proposed payment OF the army is one
Of the reasons why the Cuban congress will
forty days. The status Of this matter is
Of as much interest to the United States as
In Cuba. but Is not understood. Therefore
/ give 1t briefly.
The senate passed one bill authorizing the
executive to negotiate loan of SIS, 900 600
Of which S5.OOO.OOO was to be for the benefit
Of agriculture and the balance to pay
the army. The house passed q similar bill
different in form. This satisfied the vete-
rams that something was to be done for
them. The actual legislation of the con-
gress was to authorize the executive to ap-
point commission to revise the army lists
ana when that was done, the president was
TO report to congress so that 1t could have
abe basis of negotiating for a national loan
Revising the Army Lists.
General Maxine Gomez was appointed
the head OF the commission, whose work
IL to be concluded by January 1, so that
the report may be made to the executive by
January Is. No one doubted that il the
loan was to be kept within bounds. General
Gomez was the man to pass on the army
lists. / do not know any American politi-
clan who would take the responsibility of
passing on applicants for PENSIONS and GER
tainly none who would reject their claims
by the thousand. But this Is what General
Gomez and his fellow-commissioners have
been doing. The names Of those VINO claim
to have served in the army Of liberation are
published In the newspapers that no one
can avoid publicity.
1t Is now clearly understood that the Gu
ban army, for the payment OF which a ma
tional loan Is to be negotiated, will not be
an enormous assembly. and that s35, 900 900
will not be required. What provision the
congress will make Is yet to be settled, and
President Palma will not formulate his
recommendations until he has a clear basis
His ultra-conservatism in keeping the Gu
ban treasury solid financially makes 1t sure
that his recommendations will be cnuserya-
tive. 1t will be six seven weeks before
a definite plan for the loan can be made
public.
One reason why no haste has been made
in revising the army lists and in preparing
for the loan has been to enable the country
to reach a sounder financial condition
which would strengthen the credit of the
Cuban government. Improvement Is slow
especially in the country, but 1t is sure and
that Is the main thing. The present period
Is one OF almost universal liquidation. This
goes on so quietly that an American has
little idea Of 1t. There are failures every
day. but these failures are without news
paper or other publicity.
Sixty days ago the estimate OF the lead
Ing commercial agency regarding general
commercial conditions throughout the is
land was that So per cent of Insolvency was
as close to the truth could be got De-
mands were not presented because II would
do no good: but with the shortage In the
European beet sugar crop and the Increa SO