The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-07-19
Has Been in Session Since
Birth Of the Republic
MUCH BUSINESS FINISHED
Postal Treaty With the United States
Is Ratified, But Action on the Platt
Amendment Is Postponed
indefinitely.

Havana, July 1S.-Congress this evening
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 adherance of the repub-
lie to the universal postal union The
permanent Platt amendment treaty was
not acted on A report recommending its
unreserved ratification had been prepared
but was not completed in time to be con-
sldered either in committee or by the
senate The senatorial leaders informed
President Palma that 1t 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 parts of the constitu-
tIon are as effective as they would be
were 1t ratified.
In the house of representatives, the
agreement to adjourn this evening was
not reached until this afternoon, and no
quorum was present at the night sit
ting.
Session Lasted Year.
Deducting the two months brief re-
cesses which had been taken the session
of the house lasted a year, though not a
greal 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 a quorum was ire
quently lacking. Both the senate and the
= far fr1yn n
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
the electoral law4under which elections
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 nationalists In the house insist
ed upon the provision for minority reports
in certain districts. The bill for the or
ganization of municipal governments was
passed by the house too late for the senate
to act upon ii. Municipal elections, how
ever, 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.
Expense Account Not Acted Upon.
The governments expense budget was
not acted upon by either body, but am
pie executive authority Is provided for
all expenditures. What is considered the
most important legislation enacted dur
ing the session Is that covering the pro-
posed loan of thirty-fve million dollars
and the process of auditing and paying
the claims of the revolutionary soldiers,
all of which has been carefully consid-
cred and thoroughly provided FOR
Considerable confusion attended ad-
journment of congress. The senate. it
appears, adjourned without advising the
house of its action. The latter later sent
to the senate a resolution providing for
the extension 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 advertisement or through the
loan commission. The vice president re-
fused to resummon the senator's and
Senator Portuondo, the speaker of the
house, will ask President Palma to can
special session Of the senate to act on
the resolution.