Salt Lake Telegram | 1936-12-22 | Page 1 | Cuban Senate Acts to Oust Nation's Head

CUBAN SENATE ACTS TO OUST I NATIONS NATION'S HEAD Organizes as Courto Court Cour to Try Imp Impeachment Impeach Impeach- ach- ach ment merit Case HAVANA Dec 22 UP UP- UP President Miguel Marian Mariano Gomez impeached last night nigh by the house of representatives tives went on trial tria before the senate today on charges charge of The senate met at noon to constitute constitute constitute con con- itself a court of impeachment impeach impeach- ment meat and to notify the president formally of the charges against him President Gomez w was a a t the e n given 24 hours to prepare his defense defense defense de de- de- de and engage counsel Thi This wi will wUl delay the presentation of testimony until noon Wednesday Under the procedure adopted b by bythe bythe the senate in night all-night session both both the prosecution and defense wi will wUl present testimony Then the senat will go into secret session to reach a verdict The decision as to whether er President Gomez must quit o or remain in office will be based o oa ona on ona a simple majority when the senate senat vote is taken Groomed r omed for Office Ready t to step Into the job groomed by several conferences during during dur dur- during ing the last few days with Batista the sergeant who seized power in 1933 1933 was Vice President Federico Federic Laredo Bru year old army array fa fa- fa- fa Politicians vied with one another to place favorites in the 1000 government government gov gov- government jobs that will wUl be affected by the change in administration and in cabinet posts which it was wa was understood would be resigned th the moment Gomez goes out The entire Gomez cabinet with the exception of ot the secretary o of national defense Rafael Montalvo it was reliably reported has already written its resignations Montalvo a strong Batista supporter supporter sup sup- supporter porter will be permitted to remain The impeachment ends Cubas Cuba's brief briet period of political peace observers observers observers ob ob- ob- ob servers said and will set up if it behind behind behind be be- hind the scenes a military dictatorship dictatorship dictatorship dictator dictator- ship headed by Colonel Fulgenci Batista the islands island's strong man Opposed Su Sugar ar Bill It was his opposition to the sugar suga tax bill which w ich brought Gomez into direct conflict with Batista The bill Imposing a cent 9 tax on each bag of sugar and providing for mill mill- tary ary control of the schools was vetoed ve ye- toed oed by Gomez after passage by the Cuban house and senate The impeachment charges Gomez with personally summoning some representatives and influencing their vote against the sugar tax threatening threaten- threaten ing ng in some cases expulsion from parliamentary committees There was vas no specification of concrete violations vio- vio lations other than the alleged attempt attempt at- at tempt empt to influence the tives ives I