The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-03-04
BITTERNESS OVER
J. FIRST NEW LAW
IN CUBA
STRIPPING or CONSERVATIVE
MAYORS OF POWERS BY ACT OF
CONGRESS, EVIL SYMPTOM
uNpolNo AMERICAN WORK

HAVANA. March THE Cuban
congress passed and the president 'l
Cuba signed a bill amending che ma.
nicipal law framed by the adVisort
commission OF the provisional govern
ment and promulgated by The prov
ional governor. The bill so passed -
signed is designed 10 rob he consef'-
atiyes OF the victories gained bN them
I'm the municipal elections. The con
seryatives elected The mayors aud the
liberals the councils I'm most towns.
The bill takes all appointiNe power
away from the MAYORS and hands 7
over To the liberal councils.
The conservatives, who heretofore
have displayed laudable intention 20
cooperate with the administration IN
it's essay at government. are now very
angry ana the leading organ OF The
party. La Discussion. says of the hillt
III Is an unconstitutional a secta-
rian. an absurd. and a violent law.
1T is absurd because il places IRE
municipal administration in the hands
OF functionaries VINO cannot De an
pointed or removed by the one rc'
aponsible for the administration
1T is sectarian because It's sole pur
pose Is political advantage az one
Iarty.
III Is violent because by its meal s.
Is sought the crushing OF The con
sentative mayors who cannot subm'
10 the role prepared by It for them,
or risk compromising themselves
through the conduct of hostile dele
gates 10 their authority.
III provides that the employees who
shall have In their charge he munich
nal administration. for which they are
responsible 10 the mayors shall be
appointed by the councils whose IN
ierest II is To Dust the mayors.
But. as the constitution provides
that the mayors shall make these ap-
pointments OF his Office. the new law
takes the word office to mean merely
locality. a room. while the consttr-
tion means the municipal administra-
ton. and the new law says that tho
mayor shall appoint only his private
secretary and the latter's assistants
But the municipal law provides for
no such official as private secretary,
and naturally for no assistants OF the
same, whence the new law uf the con
gress provides that the mayor shalt
make no appointments whatsoever.
The mayor Is responsible for the whole
municipal administration. but X not
permitted TO appoint even the alcaldes
des barrio lieutenant mayors, who
by the municipal law are distinctly
declared TO be his delegates.
I'VE are now face TO face with the
following situation
I'm the palace is a president who
solemnly and repeatedly has declared
that he would not be- the president OF
any party. but Cuban president, that
he would govern in accordance with
the constitution ana with justice and
would protect the rights or all, perse-
cutting none. and being verify a chief
OF the Cuban state
And the committee OF the house
presented itself 10 him and said
Honorable Sir: In view of the
high.minded declarations which y1u
have made and which so fayorably
have affected the country. We nave
brought you here the first law con
tributed by the congress 10 the carry
ing out OF your plans for the salvation
OF the republic and OF the country
And the president opening the
racket containing the law. found there.
in law that is unconstitutional a law
that Is partisan. a law that is violent
in its persecution OF party which :
nobly collaborating In the work of re
storing the republic; in word law
which slaps in the face his declara
lions and avowed purposes. II Is not
TO he forgotten that, according to orr
system. government must be carried