The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-15
CONDITIONS IN CUBA
REMUNERATION OF GOMEZ so FAR
 SUCCESSFUL.
There Has Been No Untowafd Incident to Confirm Prediction That Cuban
 achievement Would

Havana. March 1l.-While the first month in the life of the restored Gu ban republic has not been one of achievement, 1t has at least not been marked by any untoward incident call culated to confirm the oft-repeated prediction that the experiment of Gu ban self government was destined to speedy failure.
 On the other hand, the Government of General Gomez has still the assur-
 ances of Its ability to wisely and frm- ly conduct the destinies of the island. The one fact which seems to be estab- lished is that Cubans of all parties
 are for the time being determined to forget their political differences and pull together so as to avoid. as long as possible. what all dread-another American intervention.
 At the close Of the provisional gov ernment, one of the most prominent officials expressed the fear that the Gomez administration would collapse
 within three months. but he added
 that if 1t survived that time 1t prob- ably would endure indefinitely. For this fear there now appears no
 warrant. for apart from the mutter- ings of the displaced oficfals. there is no }dissatisfaction with the new Government.
 Only once has there been even the faintest rumor of an uprising. This was three weeks ago. when three dis charged officers in Santiago de Cuba were reported to have taken to the
 woods. The rumor was untrue.
 Thus far the new Congress has done little and this is one of the most dis couraging features of the situation, suggesting, as 1t does,, repetition of that inability to agree in legislative matters which produced the deadlock in the last Cuban Congress, compelled President Palma to legislate by de- cree. in violation of the consultation. and finally precipitated the uprisings in August. 1906. which were followed by the intervention of the United states and the Appointment of MT. Taft as provisional Governor.
 Should General Gomez find himself forced into the unhappy position of his predecessor. 1t Is most probable that[he will not shrink from dealing with the malcontents with all the se- verity the occasion demands and nip any insurrectiophry movement in the bud.
 A discouraging feature of the Con- kressional situation has been the mul- tiplicity of trivial measures introduced. Among these were bills to rescind the military orders of the first intervention against cock fights and bull fights; to establish national lottery; to found orders of military merit. the members of which may wear a decoration in re- cognition of eminent services in war" and to-change the name of the revenue cutter service to that of "the Cuban navy"
 The general amnesty bill. which was signed by General Gomez a few days ago, gavA liberty to hundreds of con- victs throughout the republic, all but the perpetrators of the most atrocious crimes being included in It's provisions One of the most recent amendments. which was accepted by the House. gravely delares that all homicides and "suicides except those serving life sentences for a second offense shall be included in the amnesty" This led to the pertinent inquiry whether Cuban suicides have as many lives as a cat?'
 Among the more recent recommended tions of President Gomez to the Con- gress was one to provide for ire main- tenance of the new "permanent army" This force consists at present Of the original corps of coast artillery. sup plemented by one field battery, one ma chine gun detachment and two battai- ions of infantry transferred from the rural guard.
 It numbers about 1,700 men and its creation has not involved any increase In the armed forces of the republic. the slightly decreased rural guard be- ing now composed of little less than 5000 men.
 General Pino Guerra whose head quarters are at the Cabanas fortress, Is now busily engaged In getting his little army into shape and, on the departure of Major General Barry with the last of the troops of the army of Cuban pacifcation on April l. Intends to oc- cupy the vacated quarters at Camp Co., lumbia General Monteaguedo of the rural guard. has command distinct from that of General Guerra but 1t Is pro- posed to bring both forces into close touch by the appointment of an in- spector general who will rank both Guerra and Monteagudo and will in ef- feet be Secretary of War and comman- der-in- chief. not only of the land forces but in all probability of the fleet Of the revenue cutter service. which will be included under the general head of the armed forces of the republic"
 General Machado probably will re- ceiye this important post.
 Peace prevails throughout the island and no storm clouds are visible on the Cuban horizon,