New-York tribune., 1902-02-11
TROUBLE FEARED IN CUBA.
DELAY OF CONGRESS IN GRANTING
RELIEF DANGEROUS.
LIKELY TO HAVE AN UNFAvcRABLE EFF
Feet ON THE POLITICAL SITUA-
TION IN THE ISLAND
[BY TELEGRAPH To THE rRIBUxE.J

1 tb1 TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE
Washington, Feb lot is beginning 70 be
! feared in Washington that the failure of Con-
! gress promptly to respond TO the urgent de-
| mands for commercial relief to Cuba may have
! unfavorable and discoura ging effect on po-
! litical affairs in the island. As is we'll known
! Cuba is now on the eve OF undergoing a radical
! political transformation This phase Of the sit
| uation is causing some unessness in the SEN
| ate and the War Department. Just two weeks
| from to-day. on February "a. the electors
! recently chosen by popular vote will meet in
! Havana 10 ratify the election OF General Tomas
! Estrada Palma as the first President Of the
republic They will also elect at the same time
/ the Vice President and the Senate. This action
| should mark the beginning Of the end OF Amer
! lean control OF the government and occupancy
Of the island OF Cuba Whether it will in fact
is a question which is being asked with some
anxiety.
When the Cuban electors two weeks from to-
7 day have chosen their executive and completed
the election of their Congress-the House having
been elected last month--it will be the duty of
the present military governor Of Cuba, General
Wood to proclaim the new government and con
vane the Congress The first Monday in April
will be the day set for the converting Of the
Congress,
TREATY WITH CUBA TO BE FRAMED.
The first duty of the Congress will be 10 rat;fy
a treaty with the United States, embodying in
permanent form the stipulations of the Platt
amendment. An ordinance of the Cuban
constitution provides for the making of the
treaty but it will have TO he ratified by the
Cuban Senate before the deal is effectually
closed. That treaty will embody the following
agreements:
That Cuba shall never enter into treaty with
a foreign nation which will impair her indie
pendence.
That no debt or obligation shall be assumed
which the revenues of the island VIII be made
That Cuba shall give consent for the United
States to intervene 10 preserve the independence
of the island
That the acts of the temporary military gov
ernment shall he ratified.
That existing sanitary plans shall be carried
out far as possible.
That the title to the Isle OF Pines shall be de-
termined by a future treaty
That the government of Cuba shall sell or
lease TO the United States lands necessary for
Coaling naval stations
The uneasiness which is felt in Washington
over the outlook for the future rests on the pos
sibility of friction arising out of the desperate
industrial and economic situation threatened in
the island. 1t has been said that the prospect
is very alarming in that respect, and many we'll
informed people here fear that it will react un-
favorably on the political negotiations
MIGHT FORCE ANNEXATION.
gress who has been in any way connected with
the dramatic series of events designed for Cuba's
enfranchisement to put the Cubans in possession
of their own at the earliest moment possible.
They would regard it a national calamity, a
disbursement of the national honor. If political
freedom should he given to Cubans and at the
same time a commercial situation preciptated
upon them which would render that freedom
worthless and virtually force annexation as an
alternative to industrial ruin.
It is realized that when the Cuban executive
governments created. II will be within two
weeks. the industrial situation will come nearer
the crisis The desperate condition of affairs
will be made apparent. and when the
Congress begins its deliberations can
foresee the extent to which the discussion and
the criticism of the policy of the United States
might proceed.
Members of Congress think the ultimate an
nexation of Cuba by the United States is in
avitable But almost without exception they
want that day postponed to the uttermost, and
thev want Cuba finally to come of her own free
viii and accord. and not driven by despair. if
she comes at all. These men, therefore,
naturally anxious that everything possible
should be dore to launch the republic
promptly on career OF political freedom and
commercial prosperity. TO prove the assertions
of disintereste iness with which the United
States went into the war with Spain.
With the beginning of Cuban Independence
only two weeks off there to-day no move
by Congress in the direction of granting the
Industrial relief mperatively requested for
the Cubans So far an intimation of action
from the Ways and Means Committee is con-
cerned the Sphynx is a chatterbox in comparison
with that body, deep. dense silence is main
tanned by the members upon the question of
probable practical legislation. At the same time
there is still excellent reason to believe that
the Ways and Means Committee will report
bill for tariff concessions to Cuba within few
weeks
DOLLAR AN HOUR
"a dollars takes you New York 10 Niagara Falls