New-York tribune., 1903-07-19
CUBAN CONGRESS ENDS.
Plat amendment Not Ratified
Work of the Session.

Havana, July IS.-Congress this evening ad-
journed Sill die, after an almost continuous ses-
sion since the time of the inauguration of the
Cuban Republic, May 20. 1902. One of the final
acts Z the Senate the ratification of the
postal treaty with the United States. and a bill
was also passed providing for the adherence Of
the republic to the universal postal union
The permanent Platt amendment treaty was
not acted on A report recommending it's unre-
served ratification had been prepared, but was
not completed in time to be considered either in
committee or by the Senate The Senate leaders
informed President Palma that it had been
agreed that there was ! need for crowding the
ratification of the treaty into this evenings ses-
sion since its provisions, in their present shape
as parts of the constitution are as effective as
they would be were IL ratified
In the House of Representatives the agree
ment to adjourn this evening not reached
until this afternoon, and no quorum was pres
ent at the night sitting. Deducting the two
months recesses which had been taken, the
sessions of the House lasted year, though not
a little 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 sit
tings every afternoon, but a quorum was ire
quently lacking Both the Senate and the House
While considerable legislation has been accom-
plished. several important bills have gone over
to the next session of Congress, which will open
next November. Among these are the electoral
law, under which elections for half the mem
bers of the House will be held in December
The Republican majority in the Senate shelved
the bill because the Nationalists in the House
insisted upon the provision for minority repre-
sentatives in certain districts.
The bill for the organization of municipal gov
ernments was passed by the House too late for
the Senate to act upon it. Municipal elections,
however, were not contemplated until May 81
next The bill intended to eliminate the obnox~
ious provincial taxes by giving to the provinces
federal support was passed by the Senate, but
was shelved by the House. The governments
expense budget was not acted upon by either
body, but ample executive authority is provided
for all expenditure.
What is considered the most important legis-
lation enacted in the session is that covering
the proposed loan of S35 100000, and the process
of auditing and paying the claims Of the reVo-
lutionary soldiers.
Considerable confusion attended the adjourn
ment of Congress. The Senate, it appears. ad-
journed without informing the House Of its ac-
ton. The latter body later sent to the Senate
resolution providing for the extension of the
Presidents authority in the matter of the pro-
posed loan by empowering the executive to ac-
cept any proposition for securing the loan,
whether through advertisement or through the
loan commission. The Vice-President refused
to resummon the Senators. and Sehor Portu-
ondo, the speaker Of the House, will ask Presi-
dent Palma to call a special session of the SEN
ate to act on the resolution.