The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-12-03
President HURLS BOMB
into CUBAN congress
SEATS OF MEMBERS OF SLCoND
SERIES TO BE DECLARED
VACANT.

Announcement Made by Governor Ma
gOon--Meets Strong Dissatisfaction
Leaders Declare Such Action Unfair
General Rivera Says Plan Ultimate
Iy VIII Lead to Another Insurrection
and Extinction of Cuban Independ-
cnce.
Havana, Dec. BY a decree to be
issued soon under specific authority of
the president of the United States, the
seats Of all members of the second Sc
ries of the Cuban congress elected in
1905 will be declared vacant"
This was the announcement made by
Governor rMagoon this morning to TWEEN
ty-fve senators and members Of the
house of representatives, whom he had
invited to attend conference at the
palace, After reviewing all the facts
developed by the peace commission sent
to Cuba by President Roosevelt in re-
sponse to President Palma's appeal for
Intervention, and with special reference
to the negotiations relating to the stat
us and final disposition of the Cuban
congress, Governor Magoon called the
attention of the members to the fact
that the determination as to the status
of the congress had been reserved by
the peace commission for consideration
at Washington. He then communicated
to them the final determination Of Pres
ident Roosevelt that the seats of all
senators and representatives elected in
1905 shall be considered vacant from
October Il, 1905 the vacancies thereby
created being filed by an election un-
der the provisional government in ac-
cordance with the proclamation Of Gov
ernor Taft September 20.
The first series of senator's and rep
resentatlves elected in 1904 will be con-
tinued in officeif moral peace tranquil
lity and public confidence be restored
to such an extent that an election for
the vacated seats may be held during
1897, and that there way be ait the same
time an election of the successors Of
the representatives whose terms expire
December 81, 1907, without shortening
these terms, thus avoiding ithe necessity
Of two elections. The salaries Of the
ousted members will be pad to October
H. the date fixed by the peace commits
sion
Governor fNagoon explained to the
members of congress that he considered
IL only fair and courteous to submit to
them the terms Of the decree prior to
the formal PRONUNCIATION, so that they
might decide what attitude they desir-
ed to assume After all the facts had
been placed before them, Senator'S Dolz
and Tamayo spoke in behalf Of their
colleagues, and the conference then ad-
journed.
The decree will probably be promul-
gated tomorrow 1t will not declare
the last election to have been illegal,
but will say that it is annulled in ac-
cordance with the terms of c0mprom-
ise arranged by the peace commission,
under which the rebels were induced to
lay down their arms.
After the conference former Minister
of the Treasury Fonts Sterling Senator
Dolz and other moderates expressed
strong dissatisfaction with the terms Of
the decree, which they declared was un-
fair, but they said they recognized the
futility Of any protest. General Ruis
Rivera said tonight to the Associated
Press that he realized the decree mere
ly carried out an obligation of interest
to the peace commissioners, but he
greatly deplored it, believing its effects
would be disastrous. He said he was
firm in the belief that the only means
of establishing peaceful conditions con-
sist in the selection of an entirely new
congress, whereas the proposed election,
which would result in turning over the
government to liberal control, would
surely result in q new insurrection the
moment the American troops were
withdrawn from the island. The fact
was, said General Rivera, that the
United States had ignored this. which
was patent to all Cubans, and pointed
irresistibly to the conclusion that if the
United States withdrew 1t would be
with the full recognition of the necessi-
ty for speedy return, and the con-
sequent extinction of Cuban independ-
encc.