New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-07-06
CUBAN GOVERNMENT WORK
Continued from page ;.

of the government TO keep down Chinese immi-
grafton.
Already it has been developed that series Of
extradition treaties will be among the earliest
necessities of the Cuban republic. The island is
convenient refuge, geographically speaking.
for criminals from many countries that its
own protection enforces the need of extradition.
One OF two cases recently have arisen which
emphasize this necessity. Comfy with other
nations as well as self-protection also re-
quires IL
Leaving the executive out Of view. the legis-
Iatiye branch Of the government also : to toe
seen in its actual workings The Cuban Con-
gress is getting to be an important factor ana
knows its own Importance. At times II shows
an aggressive spirit but the general disposition
Is TO cooperate with the executive wherever
this is possible The Congress. however, has
made clear that on subjects of general policy it
has it's own views, and may originate legisa-
ton in conformity with those views This IS as
it should be The more independent the Con-
gress is the more fully it recognizes its own re-
sponsibiIity for the present and future welfare
OF Cuba.
Both the Senate and the House now have
completed their rules and settled down TO the
routine Of legislation. Both bodies have DIVIDED
hp into what they GALL sections which in a
long code of rules has been adopted. 1t was
criticised by one member for being mere
adaptation OF the rules Of the American House
of Representatives the italian Parliament, the
Spanish Cortes and the French National AS
semby. But, though the rules themselves are
very strict. they do not seem to be a serious
limitation on the members in their actual legis-
iative work. House and Senate often go into
secret sessions. The House does this apparent
~ with greater frequency than the Senate. The
practice is not so likely 10 die out as it did IN
the American House of Representatives CEN
fury ago
During the initial sessions OF the Congress
strong tendency was shown toward academic
discussion of abstract principles. This is wear
ing away The need of considering concrete
matters displaces il. The Congress has to CHS
cuss measures for the relief of the country. and
the demand is too mperious for abstraction.
Members hear from their constituents and read
in their local newspapers the demand that con-
sress do something" 1t makes them Thought
ful
What the final judgment of Congress Viii be
on the relief measures submitted by the eXecu-
tive cannot be determined. The Congress itseH
has many projects which have not received the
Endorsement of the executive, though some OF
them might prove acceptable. Various propo-
sitions made are as wild as schemes at dlner-
ent times submitted to the Congress Of the
United States but these are far from being
enacted into legislation; and until that is done
their mere introduction and discussion is not
a fair basis for passing judgment on the ca
nacitv Of the Cuban Congress TO grapple with
fundamental economic and financial problems
It was to be expected that various plans
would be proposed for emitting money Tor the
benefit of everybody. Yet it should be stated
in fairness that these are not so numerous as
in the Congress Of the United States or in the
legislatures of Western States during times OF
crop failures and agricultural distress
The scheme of a mortgage bank, or bank Of
hvpothecation. as they call it, appears in va
rious forms In some cases there is a striving
after the national bank system of the United
States while an other instances the Bank OF
France furnishes the idea The sugar planters
want some kind of state bank to aid them. but
the sentiment of Congress does not seem to
favor their wishes.
More immediate than any project Of mortgage
banks or state measures Of relief is the pro-
posed Cuban tariff. This is essentially the
function Of the Congress. The present feeling
is 10 take the Spanish tariff of 1891 as the basis
leaving out the preferential schedules which it
contains in favor of Spain. This old Spanish
tariff bore heavily products from the United
States It was swept away by the schedules
which were established under the American
military authority. and which gave special ad-
eantages 10 American products. If President
Palma and the Cuban Congress should find that
the old Spanish tariff with some additional pro-
tective features, would give sufficient revenue
for the needs of the island, it may be re-
enacted.
The Congress has before it several measures
providing loans and other of paying
the army. That is a very important subject,
which cannot he delayed indefinitely, yet it
must wait on tariff and other legislation which
has for its object relieving OF the present in
dustrial distress
NFW GRADE or U4PKSV4NSHTP