The Chanute times., 1906-10-05
When Cuban Congress Failed. to
Accomplish Results Taft Or
der Troops Ashore.
LAST OF CUBAN CONGRESS
Joint Session of Senate and House Re
ceived Resignation of Officials but
Failed to Act-No Quorum
at Night Session.


Friday night, but Secretary TAFT
proclamation, creating himself proyi
sional military governor was not is
sued until Saturday.
Up to the time that congress tool
recess at 5 o'clock Friday after
noon the day was a day of waiting
After that hour various probabilitie.
became certainties. By $3.50 Presi
dent Palma definitely and firmly an
nounced to his political follower!
that his resignation was absolutel1
irrevocable Following this announce
ment the moderates held a long con
sultation at the residence of Senator
Dolz, president of the senate, at which
it was decided that no moderate should
return to the session after the recess
thus precipitating condition in which
no provisional president could be
elected. This throwing up of their
hands would practically give over
the control of affairs to the American
commissioners
No sooner was the failure of Friday
nights adjourned session of congress
and the declared intention of the gov.
ernment officers no longer to serve
reported to Secretaries Taft and Ba-
con than the preparations forarmed
intervention were put into operation
A telephone wire had been laid from
the American legation to the battle
ship Louisiana, and as soon as the or
der was received from Secretary Taft
80 marines were landed at the sort's
wharf and proceeded quickly and qui-
city to the treasury building. where
they went on guard.
Meantime, Capt Albert R. Couden,
commander of the naval force; Capt.
Seaton Schroeder, of the battleship
Virginia; Brig. Gen. Funston and
Maj. Ladd were in conference with
Messrs. Taft and Bacon completing
plans for the guarding of the city and
arranging for the occupation Satur-
day Gen. Rodriguez, commander of
all the Cuban armed forces. is acting
in perfect harmony with the American
commissioners.
1t was in spirit of utter apathy
that a joint session of the senate and
house received the designations of the
president, the vice president and the
members of the cabinet Friday after
noon This attitude was due in
great measure to despair that any ac-
tion would result in making Ameri-
can intervention less probable After
a brief but confused debate congress
decided on the final and forlorn hope
of an appeal to Palma to reconsider his
decision to retire. Although the ses-
sion had been called for 2 o'clock, 1t
was nearly before the members be-
gan to arrive, and at that hour the
improvised gallery in the long bare
chamber, formerly work room in a
big tobacco factory, contained only a
sprinkling of spectators. Over the
presidents rostrum hung the faded
and tatered folds of the original lone
star flag that was first raised by
Carlos Cespedes in the ten years
struggle for independence. 1t was
now a witness to the closing of the
bries life of the first Cuban republic
From the broad street upon which the
house is situated small crowd of
loungers and workmen gazed silently
at the windows Of the building.
The assembly was called to order by
Senor Dolz at 1920 and roll call re-
yealed a quorum, IA senators and 4G
representatives being present The
designations of the members of the
cabinet tc President Palma were then
read. Thereupon Zayas entered a pro-
test. declaring that the president had
NO right to accept the designations of
the cabinet without appointing sue
cessors. Representative Manduley de-
clared that the president had acted
entirely within his rights. The resig-
nation of MendeZ Capote, the vice
president, was then read without COM
ment. Following this. and amid pro-
found silence. the resignation of Pres
ident Palma was read.
After the resignation had been read
II was decided to make an effort to
get President Palma to Withdraw his
RESIGNATION and congress adjourned
until Q o'clock for that purpose.
A delegation visited the president
Immediately and placed the PROPOSE
ton before him, but he positively and
firmly declined to consider such ac-
tion.
The night session was called for
Q O'Clock, but at 10 only four mem-
bers were present Senor Manduley
demanded a roll call to determine
whether there was a quorum. saying
II there was not he would move that
the session adjourn. General Boza,
a loyal LIBERAL said he was willing to
wait until midnight. However. as
neither President Dolz nor Genera
Freyre Andrads were present to open
the letter notifying the chair OF the
action of the moderate caucus, the
session simply dissolved.
At 1890 the lights were extin
o-,.rd ,,r.,con4