The result of the deliberations of the Constitutional Convention is a highly creditable instrument.  It contains a well-devised Bill of Rights, and makes all necessary provision for governmental organization and conduct.  One feature, however, seems open to criticism.  In their desire to avoid that form of centralized control, of which they had somewhat too much under Spanish power, the new institution provides, perhaps, for too much local government, for a too extensive provincial and municipal system.  It has already fallen down in some respects, and it has become necessary to centralize certain functions, quite as it has become desirable in several of our own matters.  Cuba has, perhaps, an undue overload of officialdom, somewhat too many public officers, and quite too many people on its pay-rolls.  The feature of Cuba’s Constitution that is of greatest interest and importance to the United States is what is known as the Platt Amendment.  The provision for a Constitutional Convention in Cuba was made in what was known as Civil Order No. 301, issued by the Military Governor, on July 25, 1900.  It provided for an election of delegates to meet in Havana on the first Monday in November, following.  The convention was to frame and adopt a Constitution and “as a part thereof, to provide for and agree with the Government of the United States upon the relations to exist between that Government and the Government of Cuba,” etc.  Against this, the Cubans protested vigorously.  The United States had declared that “Cuba is and of right ought to be free and independent.”  The Cubans held, very properly, that definition of international relations had no fitting place in a Constitution “as a part thereof.”  Their point was recognized and, under date of November 5, Civil Order No. 310 was modified by Civil Order No. 455.  That was issued to the delegates at the time of their assembly.  It declared as follows:  “It will be your duty, first, to frame and adopt a Constitution for Cuba, and, when that has been done, to formulate what, in your opinion, ought to be the relations between Cuba and the United States.”  Taking this as their programme, the delegates proceeded to draft a Constitution, leaving the matter of “relations” in abeyance for consideration at the proper time.  Yet, before its work was done, the Convention was savagely criticized in the United States for its failure to include in the Constitution what it had been authorized, and virtually instructed, to leave out.  The Constitution was completed on February 11, 1901, and was duly signed by the delegates, on February 21.  A committee was appointed, on February 11, to prepare and submit plans and proposals regarding the matter of “relations.”  Prior to that, however, the matter had been frequently but informally discussed by the delegates.  Suggestions had been made in the local press, and individual members of the Convention had expressed their views with considerable freedom.  Had the United States kept its hands off at that time, a serious and critical situation, as well as a sense of injustice that has not yet entirely died out, would have been averted.