New-York tribune., 1906-07-13
CONDITIONS TN CUBA.
LaScs IN State of Chaos - Big
Trouble Bresoing.

/ mas closed its session several months before the
! date set for opening the following Hereto
fore, no more than ten or twelve days have inter-
vened between one session and another. The
country. however. has derived no benefit from
! the apparently close devotion OF Congress to
business. as is shown by the fact that some
OF the most important laws have not yet been
enacted, and the administration has been and
is stin carried on through temporary arrange
ments adopted when the government OF inter
vention withdrew from the island.
Such is the case In regard to the COURTS the
executive departments, the municipalities and
other minor matters. The Cuban Constitution,
following that OF the United States. creates an
independent judiciary; but no law having been
passed providing for the organization Of the
courts, the executive has been attending to it at
its own discretion, with this very natural as
we'll as very serious result. namely. that the
judiciary has become appendix 20 the
executive. and has actually lost its indepen-
dence.
It is a matter OF very frequent occurrence for
judges of the inferior courts. and even Of the
higher ones, not excluding the justices Of the
Supreme Court. to call at the palace to inform
the President about the progress made in cases
in which he is politically interested. and to hear
such recommendations as he may wish to make.
The majority of Cubans do not seem to attach
much Importance to this Objectionable procedure
Under the Spanish regime thay were accustomed
to look upon the judiciary as occupying posi-
ton subordinate to that of the executive. and
they have not yet been able to acquire a clear
notion Of what judicial independence is. AS
rule the judges feel that 1t is their duty 70 graft
ify the wishes OF the President and his secreta-
ries and so unconscious are they Of the tmpro-
pTiety of thus acting, that at the time OF the
assassination of Congressman Villuendas. at
Cienfuegos, last September the Judge in charge
of the Interior asking for instructions as TO how
he should proceed in the matter.
CONGRESSMAN Villuendas a devoted ad-
herent Of the Presidential candidate opposed by
Senor Estrada Palma The Judge thought that
he was bound to conduct the case in such
manner as would be most beneficial TO the po-
litical interests Of the candidate-Sehor Estrada
Palma-whom he looked upon as his chief ano'
not knowing how he could best attain that end'
desired to be instructed. The dispatch was pub
lshed in the newspapers it was briefly COM
mented upon. and no further notice was taken
OF it,
AS already stated. there Is no law regulating
the functions Of the six secretaries composing |
the Cabinet and they proceed about their busi- |
ness as they see fit as they are directed by /
the President. They entertain very high notions |
about their independence. and on sundry occa- |
sions have refused to furnish Congress with data 4
partments.
No municipal election has been held since the i
republic was established The mayors and mu-
nicipal councils elected under the government
of Intervention are yet In existence. Neither
mayors nor councils represent the people. They
are mere creatures Of the central government
The local elections have been delayed on the
pretext that no municipal law has been passed.
but it is generally believed that legislation has
been held back. both in this case and in that OF
the judiciary, to enable the executive to control
the courts and the municipalities. II such was
the object it has been fully attained.
During the session just closed Congress has
distributed the public moneys with q free hand,
and the surplus which had accumulated in the
Treasury has been wholly disposed Of. while the
estimated surplus for the present fiscal year will
scarcely suffice to meet the appropriations which
have been voted against 1t. The ordinary ex-
penditures Of the republic, shown by the
budget approved by Congress. will amount to
about twenty-six million dollars; but adding to
them the extraordinary appropriations, that is
those not included in the budget it is estimated
that the total expenditures during the present
fiscal year win not be under forty million dol
lars. It is feared that before long the republic
will have to face deficit, as both the Congress
and the administration seem TO be impelled by
an Irresistible desire TO expend money.
Sugar cane grinding has ceased throughout
the island for the season. In quantity the crop
is about equal that OF last year. that is about
one million one hundred tons; but there will be
a. very great difference in the cash result. Last
year the planters made some money; this year
the great majority OF them will not even cover
expenses. This means that they will be unable
to repay the advances made to them by bankers
and merchants, that they will be compelled to | !
pay very high rate Of interest to obtain an ez-
tension Of time. and that they will experience
great difficulty in getting financial accommoda- ]
ton to meet the expenses of cultivating their
cane fields and OF making preparations for the ]
next crops
Such accommodation they may obtain will
cost them very dear, as their estates. with few
exceptions are more or less encumbered and
the supply Of capital to lend is rather limited
Only a small number OF the largest sugar CEN
trails mostly owned by Americans have made
a little money by the superior facilities at their
command and the improved methods of admin
istration. In the general management OF the
estates owned by Cubans there is yet too much
of the old and wasteful routine which unneces- =
sarIly enhances the cost of production.
Owing to the disastrous results of the sugar >
crop and to the smallness Of that Of tobacco g
the two principal crops Of the island-the gen
eral economical and commercial condition of the c
country is not satisfactory. No talk OF pros II
perlty is now heard. Debt collection is slow: v
the dlstributive movement Of merchandise is 4
falling off and many hands idle. Several =
Of agricultural laborers wander about 9
the country in search Of work, and although 8
willing to accept any wages they find no employ
lnent, the planters having money There is
visible discomfort and unrest in two or three Of
the provinces. The next six or seven months | A.