New-York tribune., 1906-12-26
NEEDED LAWS N cURA

Governor M3goon has taken a long step
toward fitting Cuba for resumption Of autono
my, and also toward making the second essay
at autonomy permanently successful in ap-
pointing n commission 10 revise the laws of the
island. Perhaps il would be more accurate 10
describe II as commission TO formulate GER
tain new laws which are urgently needed and
which the Cuban constitution requires 10 be
enacted. but which the late Cuban Congress-
with factional faulty, refused, declined, or at
any rate failed 10 enact In thus failing it
grossly neglected Its constitutional and patri-
otic duty. and there can be little doubt that it
thereby contributed IN great measure to the
precipitation OF that chaotic and ntolerahle
state OF Affairs which made necessary the in
Gerrenaon OF the United States
The ostensIble-and largely real-grounds OF
the Liberal insurrectiOn against the Palma ad-
minisURtion were three, TO wit: That it had re-
moved Liberal judges and filled their places
with Mocerates; that it had appointed Mod
crate municipal officers IN Liberal communities.
instead OF leaving the choice of them 10 the
people. and that It had interfered with and
controlled the conduct OF elections. All these
grave charges were true. But the state Of af-
fairs Of which they complained would have
been impossible had the Congress done its
duty. ss the constitution directed and as Presi-
dent Palma himself repeatedly urged. For the
constitution prescribed the enactment Of laws
covering those very topics-prOviding for per-
manence OF judicial tenure. for election OF mu-
nicipal officers by the people. and for freedom
Of elections from government control Il was
only In tbe absence OF such laws that the Palma
administration WAS R-ble % do the things which
81 die
We may. of course, cay that even In those cir
cumstances the administration should have
acted otherwise. II should have respected the
intent OF the constitution even in the absence
OF laws giving that intent effective force. But
IN Low many couSirfes. even those longer
grounded In principles OF self government, arc
public officers more viTtuous and mors gener-
GUS to their partisan opponents than the laws
reqUIrei Moreover, in some cases the admins
tTatlOn practically bad 10 do it did. Until
there was q law for tie election OF municipal
officers there was really nothing 10 do but to
go on appointing them In the old Spanish style
and II Was only human nature for the appoint
ing power 70 select men % It's own party. Dc
not our own federal and state governmental as
8 rule. ali appoiEtive Ofaces-unless the Law
3therwise prescrlbes-uith men OF their owu
parties. regardless Of the partisan predilections
OF tie communities concerned?
Whatever blame may be attached 10 the lat.
administration In Cuba a very large measure
must also be placed upon the failure OF tbs
insular Congress to do It's duty In the ennct
ment OF these laws. President Palma advised
II TO enact them. pleaded with IL 20 do So urged
Il % DO SO; and IL was only when he was com
PEELED 20 forsake all hope OF its doing so thai
he threw In bis lot with the Modsrntes and be
came q partisan instead Of q non-partisar
PrssiGsnt In al tie procsssss OF ths Amsxscaz