Chargé Sleeper to
the Secretary of State.
American Legation,
Habana, September 17,
1906.
No. 189.]
Sir: I have the honor to transmit to the
department herewith inclosed translation of a law approving the
President’s conduct of affairs during the present rebellion and
providing for a permanent increase in the military force of the
Republic, passed by the Cuban Congress at its special session of
September 14, 1906, and also translation of a notice of the adjournment
of Congress on the 15th instant.
I have, etc.,
Jacob Sleeper,
Chargé d’Affaires ad
interim.
[Inclosure 1—Translation.]
Executive Offices, Department of
Government.
I, Tomas Estrada Palma, constitutional President of the Republic of
Cuba, make known that Congress has enacted and I have approved the
following law:
- Article 1. All decrees, orders,
and regulations issued by the Chief Executive from the 20th
day of August last until this date are hereby approved and
considered as law, and they shall continue in force during
the time of the existing disturbance of order unless revoked
by the President of the Republic after consideration with
the cabinet.
- Art. 2. The Chief Executive is
hereby empowered during the existing disturbance of order to
raise and maintain forces in the form and manner he may deem
conducive to that end, to assist in the restoration of
public peace, reporting thereon to Congress at its next
session.
- Art. 3. In order to defray all
attendant expenses occasioned by the present disturbance of
order, the President of the Republic is empowered to use the
funds of the treasury, suspending all appropriations he
deems necessary, whether provided for by special legislation
or already specified in the budget, reporting thereon to
Congress, when normal conditions are reestablished so that
it (Congress) may make such provision as is deemed
expedient.
- Art. 4. The rural guard shall be
increased to 10,000 men and the artillery to 2,000. The
chief of the rural guard shall be chief of all the armed
forces of the Republic with the rank of major-general, and
the executive shall provisionally organize these forces by
means of decrees, with power to freely name, discharge, and
promote the chiefs, officers, soldiers, or guards thereof
until such time as Congress may provide for its definite
organization.
- Art. 5. This law shall be in
force from and after its publication in the Official Gazette
of, the Republic.
Given at the presidential palace in
Habana, the 15th day of September,
1906.
Tomas Estrada
Palma.
Rafael Montalvo,
Secretary of Public Works ad interim of
Government.
[Inclosure 2—Translation.]
Office of the
Presidency.
The president of the house of representatives informs the President
of the Republic that in session had on the 14th instant it approved
the resolution adopted by the senate adjourning the extraordinary
session called for that day.
Which, by order of the President, is published for the information of
the public.
Jorge A. Belt,
Secretary to the President.
Habana, September 15,
1906.
