New-York tribune., 1905-11-07
C[IBAN CONGRESS MEETS.
President Palma Says the Island Is
PrOsDerous and TRANQUIL

Havana. Nov. s-The last session Of the present
Congress opened this afternoon with quorums In
both branches. OF sixty members of the House
there less than dozen absentees the Liberals
by ~enerally attending assisting to make more
than the two-thirds quorum necessary for the open
ing of any periodical session. Fifteen of the TWEEN
ty-two Senators were present. Sehor Zayas the
Liberal leader, who is Vice-Presdent of the Sen
ate presided in the absence Se1or Sanguiliy the
President.
In the House Garcia Canizares. the Liberal hold
over Speaker presided. II was evident that enough
Re presentatives had changed from Liberal TO lnde-
pendent Moderate to give the government ord;-
carily working majority in the lower house, even
before the election which It is believed will great
y strengthen the ModerStes.
There important action by either house
beyond the reading of President Palma's message.
The house voted devote the day TO euogies of
Congressman Enrique Villuendas the Liberal
leader. who shot and killed In a conflict be-
tween political adherents of the Liberal and Mod
crate parties at Cienfuegos on September %.
President Palna's message is mainly review of
governmental affairs. Concerning the agftations
in portion of the Presidential campaign the mes
sage saws they only the trials which all free
people must undergo in the course of the exercise
of their electoral rights. and adds that it was in
days of political campaigning that the capac
ity OF Cubans for self-government was MADE most
manifest. ,,.or.,,or+
President Palma says postal receipts have trebled
since the republic was established. owing to the
country's prosperity and the increased railroad
facilities He urges Congress to make approprla-
tions for urgently needed extensions and improve
ments of the telegraph lines
The islands death rate is given in the message
at 1857 in LOCO. While there were a few deaths
from yellow fever. all the were imported and
all We're promptly isolated. Dengue fever had
been epidemic. but only two deaths resulted from
the disease. President Palma says that il the in
ternational sanitary agreement adopted by the
American Medical Congress should be adopted
by the Cuban Congress some changes must be
made in the present maritime health regulations
Treating of foreign relations, President Palma
expresses confidence that the United States Senate
will ratify the treaty conceding Cubas sovereign
ty in the Isle of Pines. He again urged a modih-
cation of Cuba's tariff to make her eligible
to membership in the Brussels Convention. The
message does not mention the signing of the
Anglo-Cuban treaty.
ports was $50 COO an increase of s138O.00o Sixty
Ave per Of this increase was on fmportatlons
same period $50 1Go0eo an increase of s6eDG0.
Exports TO the United States increased $1,5ele0.
and TO England. 100000, and diminished TO o1ner o
countries especially Germany, which shows Sl,3to'-
coo less
ment and development Of agricultural facilities.
especially by the encouragement Of the lnlmlgra. &
ton of labor. He urges Congress to realize that
Cubas richness OF soil and her climate would
shortly make her vast centre for diversified agrs
cultural production SINCE the country hao reaSlso
a point where it had sufficient money to pay off the
revolutionary army the message says the tll1e mas
arrived to concentrate efforts and use the treas
urT surplus toward permanent improvements IN
rural districts and 70 facilitate the CONSTRUCTION OF
railroads, the building Of roads and prloSes ana
the Improvement OF harbors 1t advises the crea-
ton of agricultural banks and eAperlmen5 s.suons -
in every province. and suggests tha5 al persons
should endeavor TO increase the good feeling pc
tween Cubans and foreigners It urges legislation
for the assistance of immigrants VINO VIII make
their homes in Cuba