The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-15
CUBAN REPUBLIC
 MAKES FAIR START
Closes First Month Without
 Notable Event
CONGRESSIONAL MEASURES
Many Are TrivaI and Show Disposi- ton To Break Away from Laws of the Provisional Government.
 Gomez Holds Firm Hand.

Havana, March Awhile the first month in the life of the restored Cuban | republic has not been one of achievement, 1t has at least not been marked by any untoward incident, calculated to confirm the oft-repeated prediction that the ex- pertinent of Cuban self-government was | destined to speedy failure. On the other hand, the government of General Gomez has still to present assurances of it's ability to direct wisely and firmly the | destines of the island. The one fact which seems to be established 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 Amer 1 ican officials expressed the fear that the Gomez administration would collapse within three months, but he added that if it survived that time it probably would endure indefinitely
 For this fear there now appears no warrant, for apart from the mutterings of the displaced officials there is no dis. satisfaction with the new government.
 Rumor Is Untrue. Only once has there been even the faintest rumor of an uprising. This was three weeks ago, when three discharged officers in Santiago de Cuba were re- ported 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 eouraging features of the situation. sug- gesting, as 1t does, repetition of that in- ability to agree in legislative matters which produced the deadlock in the last Cuban congress. compelling President Palma to legislate by decree, in viola ton or the constitution and finally pre- cipltated the uprisings in August, 1906. which were followed by the intervention of the United States and the appont- ment of MT. Taft as provisional gov ernor.
 Should General Gomez find himself forced into the unhappy position of his predecessor, 1t is most probable that he VIII not shrink from dealing with mal- contents With all the severity the occa- sion demands and nip any revolutionary movement in the bud.
 Trivial Measures.
 A discouragng feature of the congress slonal situation has been the multiplicity or trlvial measures introduced Among these were bills to rescind the nilitarv orders of the first interventions against COCK lights and bull fights to establish d national lottery; to found orders of
 
 may wear decoration in recognition of
 eminent services in war;; and to change the name of the revenue cutter service to that of the Cuban navy" Ihe general amnesty bill, which was signed by General Gomez few days ago. gave liberty to hundreds of convicts throughout the republic, all but inc ner- petrators of the most atrocious crimes being included in it's provisions. One of the most recent amendments, which was accepted by the house, gravely declares mat all homicides and "suicidesn ex cept those serving life sentences for a second offense shall be included l., tha amnesty Ihis led to the pertinent in qulry whether Cuban suicides have as many lives as a cat"
 Restrict Foreigners. Another bill which was the subject of much discussion and msunderstanding was that introduced by Congressman Ar teaga to restrain the further acouieitIo, or real estate by foreigners. It was assumed that the purpose of the bill was to prohibit the ownership by aliens not only Of real estate, but of yarious other Kinds or property. and to compel the for eign owners of more than four-fifths of the sugar plantations of the island to ac cept Cuban citizenship or to relinauish their estates, but the bill served merely to place on record the patriotic asnira, tions of a few extremists, for it was ra- jected.
 Among the more recent recommenda tions of President Gomez to the congress was one to provide for the maintenance Of the army. This force consists at present of the original corps of coast ar tillery, supplemented by one field hat tery, one machine gun detachment and two battalions of infantry transferred from the rural guard.
 It numbers about 120O men and its creation has not involved any increase Tn the armed forces of the republic. the slightly decreased rural guard being now composed of little less than 5000 men Gets Army in Shape. General Pino Guerra, whose headouar ters are at the Cabanas fortress is now busily engaged in getting his little army into shape and, on the departure os ~'~eJSi NNieioi ioeils WltH the ldSt Of the troops of the army of Cuban pacification. on April l, intends to occupy the vacated | quarters at Camp Columbia. General Monteagudo chief of the rural guard. has command distinct from that of | General Guerra, but it is proposed to bring both forces into close touch by the appointment of an inspector general who will rank both Guerra and Montea- l guido and will fin effect be secretary of war and commander-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 re-
 public" General Machado will probably receive this important post
 1 Peace prevails throughout the island and no storm clouds are visible on the | Cuban horizon.
 pr. Price at Meridian.