The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-04-07
CUBAN CONGRESS.
At Opening There Was Wild Disorder
in House-Message of President
Palma.

Palma.
Havana. April 6.-The scene in the hous.
Of representatives yesterday was one of
wild disorder. AS a matter of fact there
was no formal opening of the house, ow-
ing to the inability to muster a quorum,
for the reason that every nationalist was
absent from the floor, fearing that if the
question of contested seats arose they
would be outvoted by the coalition likely
arranged between the republicans and
moderate liberals. The national!stS, how
ever, came into the building accompanied
by several hundred local followers, who
crowded into the audience part of the
chamber and into the halls and streets adj
| joining, shouting "Vivas." for the nation
alist party. The republicans and moder-
| ate liberals for the most part remained in
their seats.
During the confusion the speaker of the
house, who is a nationalist, not being
| present, the vice speaker called upon the
sergeant at arms and the employees of the
| house to preserve ORDER, but the crowd
was too great to handle.
AS the disorder continued, Representa-
tive BOA, himself a nationalist, addressed
the people to the effect that such a DEM
onstration in the house was not only UNI
lawful, but outrageous. and he counselea
them that no redress of grievances coulo
be had by such means. The people there
upon began to withdraw quietly, Just as
a squad of police entered the building. b
In the crowd were many negroes, but
the more intelligent of the race IN Havana
was not represented.
President Paima's Message.
Owing to the fact that there was no
session, President Palma's message &c
congress was not read in the house.
President Palma's message, which Was
read in the senate, was chiefly a feVle"
Of existing conditions. 1t made rev Gen
mite recommendations, and contained nc
direct reference to the frauds alleged t
surround the election returns. The presl
dent said he had abstained from lnterVen
ton in all questions arising out Oh lh'
elections, leaving their settlement to othe'
and proper authorities. He cited the fac
that 65S questions in dispute arising iron
the elections had been referred to tn
courts as a proof of the desire OF tn
people to settle these questions through
t the constituted authorities instead or nav
: ing recouse to violence, and said 1t wa
l reassuring to find that the Cubans wer
seeking to regulate the suffrage ana $
: make it a salutary instead OF a dahSerou
t force
: IF" said the message. the ofliclal
designated to make returns falsely the
commit the crime of high treason b
e usurping the rights of voters, lessenln
e the efficiency of the suffrage. turnln
4 the hest people away from the polls an
Il causing liability to anarchy or a dlt
tatorship."
Would Increase Rural Guard.
: President Palma commended the e1
:, fciency of the rural guards, and rec
commended that that forcea now nun
, boring 5000, be increased by 1000, an
= he added that the reorganization OF III
artillery was being carried out.
- Tho praSi16nt rannrted that Ile CD
- met had agreed that the time had a
rived when the state should be r.
lieved of the burdens of supporting u
provinces Notwithstanding the Ia
10 that the provinces not having yet pr
Y pared their budgets lacked the meal
&c at present to meet their current e
io penSes.
N He asked for an extension of thr
l. months time for the work of the cor
IS mission reviewing the revolutlona
st soldiers claim lists, as there are ST
he 1O.4OO claims which have not been act
upon. He said that the executive w
4 placed in an embarrassing position
nc the endeayor to pay soldiers Propoilio
an ately out of the $31 900 900 loan, Wh
the amount of so many claims RENAL
is ed unixed, and that the difficulty
n making a pro rata division was iamel
able owing to the fact that SO ma
q veterans were selling their claims
'id a tremendous discount, IN MANY Gas
amounting to IS per cent.
he President Palma outlined the SIT,
an ton of the Isle of Pines treaty w
he Washington as the only point comp
'e- hended by the Plat amendment
les naming unratified.
President Palma recommended a g.
eral revision of the code of laws p
mulgated by the United States COVE
ment of intervention, and also OF
Spanish laws, and also a systematic
:, of the judicial establishment.
Education was reported to be Pr
ressing admirably.