New-York tribune., 1909-03-15
THE OUTLOOK FOR CUBA
4 MONTH OF SELF-RULE.
Congress Wasting Time-Pardon
for ".Suicides The Nezo 4rmy.

1n1f1HES Il
Havana March s-Whne the first month in the
life Of the restored Cuban Republic has not been
one Of achievement It has al least not been IhrFeu
by any untoward incident which would eohfrn
the oft-repeated prediction that the experiment or
Cuban seIf-government was destined to speedy
failure on the other hand, the government OF
General Gomez has still 10 present assurances OF
its ability to direct wisely and firmly the deS-
TIMES Of the island The one fact which seems 10
be established is that Cubans Of all parties are for
the time being determined 10 forget their political
differences and pull together. so avoid as
long as possible what all dread-another American
Intervention
At the close Of the provisional government one
Of the most prominent American officials expressed
the fear that the Gomez administration would col
lapse within three months but added that il II
survived that time it would probably endure IN
definitely. For this fear there now appears TO
warrant; for. apart from the mutterings OF olS-
placed officehoders there is not the slightest eNl
dence Of dissatisfactio with the government
Only once has there been even the faintest rumor
of an uprising when three discharged officials IL
Santiago de Cuba were reported to have taken 10
the woods about three weeks ago This was Hl-
true and all three prior 10 receiving deInaha
for their designations. had written to General
Gomez TO assure him of their loyalty
So far the new Congress has done little, and TINS
is one of the most discouraging features OF the
situation. suggesting il does repetition OF la'
inability agree in legislative matters WHICH
brought about the deadlock in the last Cuban Con-
gress. compelled President Palma TO legislate py
decree in violation Of the constitution and hnaly
caused the uprisings in August 1915. under f4ho
Guerra followed by the intervention OF the Uni'eo
States and the appointment Of Nj Iaft as fFo-
yisional Governor.
II General Gomez. however. should find Himself
forced into the unhappy position of mis- predecessor
II is highly probable that he viii not shrink from
checking the malcontents with all the severity
which the occasion demands and with the htue
army now in process Of organization at his back
he viii doubtless be able 10 nip any nsurrecuoaFy
movement in the bud.
POWERS OF MAYORS CURTAILED.
one OF the bills which has passed both houses Of
the Congress and received the Presidential sigma
ture deprives the alcaldes Of the various mun'ci-
palities Of The power Of making appointments and
vests this power in the Liberal party the councils
being p1a cticauy ali Liberal. while some OF the
alcaldcs OF the larger cities, particularly Havana,
are Conservatives.
\ liscc,Iraging feature Of the session has been
the multiplicity Of trivial bills that have been intro
duced Among these were bills to rescind the mill
tary orders Of General Wood against cockhghts
and bullhghts; estahlishe national lottery; 10
found orders Of military merit, be known as the
Order Of Barre and the order Of Iara the members
which may a decoration In recognition 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 signed
by General Gomez few DAYS ago gave liberty to
hundreds Of convicts throughout the republic, all
except the perpetrators OF most atrocious crimes
being included in Its provisions. one of the most
recent amendments, which was accepted by the
House gravely declares that all homicideS and sui
cides Chomicdio suicdio), except those serving
life sentences for second offence. shall be in
cluded in the amnesty This led to the pertinent
inquiry whether Cuban suicides have as many lives
a has
,yi1 he q
cllssion and misunderstanding that introduced
by Congressman Arteaga TO restrain the further
acquisition of real estate by foreigners. 1t was
assumed that the purpose the bill pro-
hibit the ownership by aliens, not only of real
estate. Of various other kinds Of property. and
to compel foreign owners Of more than four
7fths Of the sugar plantations Of the island to
cent Cuban citizenship relinQuish their estates,
but the bill served merely to place on record the
patriotic aspirations Of few extremists for It was
rejected
ARMED FORCES NOT INCREASED
Among the recent recommendations Of President
Gomez to the Congress was TO provide for the
maintenance Of the permanent army, created by de-
cree Of Governor Magoon. for the remainder Of the
fiscal year. This force consists at present Of the
original corps Of coast artillery, supplemented by
one field battery one machine gun detachment and
two battaIfons Of infantry transferred from the
rural guard. It numbers about seventeen hundred
men and its creation has not involved any increase
in the armed forces Of the republic. the slightly
decreased rural guard being composed Of
fewer than five thousand men.
General Pine Guerra. whose headquarters at
the CabaTa fortress. is busily engaged in
training nis little army into efficiency. and the
derarture Of Major General Barry with the last Of
the troops Of the Army Of Pacihcation. April !.
intends 70 occupy the quarters Camp Columbia.
General MOntea guido. chief Of the rural guard. has
a command distinct from that Of General Guerra,
but it IS proposed bring both forces into close
touch by the appointment OF inspector general,
who will rank both Guerra and Monteagudo and
viii in effect he Secretary Of War and commander
In chief not only of the land forces but in all prob
ability of tie feet of the revenue cutter service,
which viii be included under the general head Of
tn. armed forces of the republic" General Ma
cEado veteran of the last two revolutions. viii
probably be appointed - this important post.
Among the recommendations Of President Gomez
to enable the army and the guard 10 act effectively
in concert IS tho adoption Of new magazine rife
for both forces. Whether is intended increase
t,.e army ultimately is not known.
While the functions Of all the departments Of
government. especially the Postoffice and the Gus
tom House were seriously disorganized in the first
few weeks Of the administration by reason OF
the displacement Of number Of experienced men,
the machinery is now in reasonably good running
order Pe3ce prevails throughout the island and
no storm clouds visible the horizon.
Z4Y4S TO SEE WR. TAFT.