The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-07-19
CUBAN CONGRESS ENDS
ADJOURNS AFTER A SESSION LAST
ING FROM MAY 20, 1902.
Postal Treaty Is Ratified, but the
Platt Amendment Goes Over
Until Next Session.

HAVANA, July 1S.-Congress this even
ing adjourned sine die after an almost con-
tinuous session since the beginning of the
Cuban republic on May 20. 1902. One of the
final acts of the Senate was the ratification
of the postal treaty with the United States,
and an act was passed also providing for
the adherence of the republic to the Uni
versal Postal Union.
The permanent Platt amendment treaty
was not acted on. A report recommending
its unreserved ratification had been pre-
pared, but was not completed in time to
be considered either in committee or by
the Senate. The senatorial leaders informed
President Palma that it had been agreed
that there was no need for crowding the
ratification of the treaty into this even
ing's session since it's provisions, in their
present shape as part of the Constitution,
are as effective as they will be were it
ratified.
In the House of Representatives the
agreement to adjourn this evening was not
reached until afternoon and. no quorum
was present at the night sitting. Deduct
ing the two months brief recesses which
had been taken, the session of the House
lasted a year, though not a great deal of
legislation was enacted until the last few
weeks. Most of the sittings of the Senate
were of an hours duration and were held
on alternate days. The House theoretically
held brief sittings every afternoon, but
quorum was frequently lacking Both the
Senate and the House latterly met daily
for from two to five hours.
While considerable legislation has been
accomplished, several important bills have
gone over to the next session, which will
open next November. Among these are
al
for half the members of the House will be
held in December. The Republican ma
jority in the Senate shelved the bill be-
cause the Nationalsts in the House in
sisted upon the provision for minority re-
ports in certain districts. The bill for the
organization of municipal governments
was passed by the House too late for the
Senate TO act upon 1T. Municipal elections,
however, were not contemplated until May
81 next. The bill intended to eliminate the
obnoxious provincial taxes by giving the
provinces federal support was passed by
the Senate but shelved by the House. The
governments expense budget was not acted
upon by either body, but ample executive
authority is provided for ali expenditure.
What is considered the most important
legislation enacted during the session is
that covering the proposed loan OF S3oOOO,0OO
and the process of auditing and paying the
claims OF the revolutionary soldiers, all of
which has been carefully considered and
thoroughly provided for.
Considers able confusion attended the ad-
journment of Congress. The Senate, 1t ap-
pears, adjourned without advising the
House of its action. The latter sent to the
Senate a resolution providing for the ex-
tension of the Presidents authority in the
matter of the proposed loan by empowering
the executive to accept any proposal for
securing the loan, whether through adver-
tisement or through the loan commission.
The Vice President refused to resummon
the senators, and Senior Portuondo, the
speaker of the House, will ask President
Palma 20 call special session of the SEN
ate TO act on the resolution.