New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-05
TUMULT In CUBAN HOUSE.
NATIONALISTS OBSTRUCT.
Partisa1s Crozrd Chamber-Presi-
dent Palma's Speech.

n, REPRESENTATIVES to-day was one Of wild dis
order There was no formal opening. owing to
the inability to muster a quorum. for the rea-
son that every Nationalist member refused TO
enter the chamber. fearing that if the question
of contested seats arose the party would be
outvoted by the recent coalition between the
Republicans and the Moderate Liberals. The
Nationalists, however. came into the building
ACCOMPANIED by several hundred local followers.
who crowded into the audience part OF the cham
Der and into the halls and the streets adjoining.
shouting "vivas' for the Nationalist party. The
Republicans and Moderate Liberals. for the most
rart. remained in their seats.
The Speaker Of the House. who Is a National
list. not b ing present. the yice-Spealker called
upon the sergeant at arms and the employees of
the House to preserve order. but the crowd was
too great to handle. Lionaz Castillo. a prorni-
nent Nationalist. who one of those elected.
mounted the reporters table, and, addressing
the crowd, assured 1t that justice would be done
and that the Representatives who had been
frauduIently declared elected would never be
permitted to take their seats.
NATIONALIST PLEADS FOR ORDER.
AS the disorder continued Representative
Boza, Nationalist, addressed the people. say
ing that such demonstration In the House was
not only unla wful, but outrageous, and that no
redress Of grievances could be had by such
means The people thereupon began to with
draw quietly, Just q squad Of police entered
the building.
In the crowd were many negroes but the more
intelligent class of the race in Havana was not
represented.
Owing to the fact that there was no session,
President Palma's message was not read in the
House
Since the coalition Of the Moderate elements
the Nationalist have shown no desire to submit
party questions to vote. They have made
various proposals to the Moderates to compro-
misc the OF Representatives proclaimed
elected 10 seats from contested districts in
the provinces of Havana. Pinar del Rio and
Santa Clara. but are unwilling to settle the
question OF membership from Santiago and
Puerto Principe provinces. except by an investi-
cation Of the merits of the respective cases.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
President Palma's message. which was read IN
the Senate. contained sixteen thousand words
and was chiefly review OF existing conditions.
1t made few defnits recommendations. and con-
tanned no direct reference to the frauds alleged
TO surround the election returns.
President Palma cited the fact that SIS ques-
lions in dispute arising from the elections had
been referred to the courts as a proof Of the
desire OF the people TO settle these questions
through the constituted authorities. instead Of
having recourse to violence, and said Il was
assuring to find that the Cubans were seeking
to regulate the suffrage and so make It a salu-
tory instead of dangerous force. He added:
II the officials designated to make returns
make them falsely, they commit the horrid
crime OF high treason by usurpng the rights
OF voters. lessenins the efficiency Of the suf-
frage, turning the best people away from the
polls and causing liability to anarchy a die
tatorship.
In this connection President Palma recon-
mended that the electoral law be so amended
that the will Of the people shall not be thwarted-
INCREASE OF RURAL GUARDS.
President Palma commended the efficiency Of
the Rural Guards and recommended that that
force now numbering 5000. be increased by
1000 He added that the reorganization OF the
artillery was being carried out.
President Palma asks for extension Of
three months time for the work of the COM
mission reviewing the revolutionary soldiers
claim lists, as there are still 1O,4O0 claims
which have not been acted upon. He said that
the Executive was placed In an embarrassing
position in the endeavor to pay the soldiers pro-
rortionately out OF the 100000 OF the loan
while the amount Of so many claims remained
unfxed. ard that the difficulty OF making a pro
rata division was lamentable owing 10 the fact
that many veterans were selling their claims
at tremendous discount. In many cases amount
ing TO 75 per cent The President asks Con-
gress to determine the manner Of distributing
the S31. 100000 in three payments. to be made in
June. September and December respectively.
PLANS FOR TRADE IMPROVEMENT.
In long comments on agriculture the Presi-
dent commended the establishment Of the ex-
perimental station in charge Of an expert fur
nished by the United States government He
reiterated that the need OF more roads and
bridges most important. The message gave
recent figures OF the value and quantity of the
sugar and tobacco crops. both OF which. Il says,
are exceeding all previous records. and expert
ments IN cotton and fruit were commended.
The President pointed with pride TO the nota-
Bile continuance of public health, no single case
of yellow fever smallpox having originated
in Cuba The death rate IN Havana was 2OS2
q thousand, and the mortality last year was the
lowest since 1920. The death rate Of the island
did not exceed 10 thousand.
In the message the Recommendation IS re-
newed that commission visit South American
countries in the interest OF closer relations
The President outlined the situation OF the
Isle of Pines treaty with Washington the
only comprehended by the Platt amend
ment remaining unratihed. He also recon-
mended. IN accordance with the report OF the
Congress committee favOring II. adherence to
the Brussels Sugar Convention.
The message says that the United States and
Cuba agree that goods from either country to
other countries should. re-exportatiOn 10 the
United States or Cuba, receive the benefits OF
reciprocity IL they were imported direct.
FOUR TREATIES PENDING.
Treaties of friendship and commerce. the mes
sage said. had been concluded with Italy and
pending with the United States. Great
Britain. France and Spain
A general revision of the code OF laws put into
force by the United States government OF inter-
vention. and also of the Spanish laws. and a sys-
tematizins Of the judicial establishment were
recommended.
mrably. There are now 3. 100 common and
u special schools in the island.
The message said the new internal revenue
taxes were proving sufficient for the payment
of interest the Ss}3 0eOOfD loan The Treas