The news & observer., 1896-12-25
HOME RULE PROPOSED.
CUBA WILL BE ALLOWED TO
MAKE HER OWN LAWS.
Spain Sees the "Handwritirg" and Will
Now Allow Cubans to Govern
Themselves.

Now Allow Cubans to Govern
Themselves.
Washington, Dec 24.-An important
step toward the plan of home rule for
Cuba has been taken by the Spanish au-
thorities. The former plan proposed, but
not executed, some months ago, provided
for Cuban Congress Of thirty members,
OF whom the Queen Regent was to name
fifteen and the people OF Cuba to elect
fifteen. 1t is now proposed to do away
with that part providing for the naming
of members by the Queen Regent, 50
that the entire Cuban Congress will be
elected by the Cuban people. This and
the entire control given to Cuba in maxi
| ing the tariff laws Of the island will con-
stitute the essential features of the new
plan OF home rule. That giving the peo-
pie the election of the entire Congress is
felt to carry out in spirit, as well as in
letter. the idea OF home rule
Thus far only the general nature OF the
proposed changes have been made known
| to officials in Washington and the draft
| of the revised plan Of reforms has not
| been received, nor is it likely to be COM
| pleted until after the completion Of the
| Porto Rica reforms, which will be signed
| by the Queen Regent tomorrow as a
suitable Christmas act Under the Span
| ish system it will be necessary to submit
| the foregoing changes to the Cortes,
| which is not now in session, and not likely
to meet before February.
The Christmas-day reforms for Porto
Rico are closely allied with those for
Cuba, being the second section Of the
same law. They give Porto Rico Con
| gress, the Province of San Juan and
| Ponce alternating every two years in
| choosing members for term of four
| years. The Congress is given control Of
| the whole island, public works, telegraph,
| postofice, railways and navigation, agri-
| culture, manufacture, trade, imnligru-
tion and colonixa tion, public instruction,
charities, the health department, etc. The
| home government will continue to be
represented by a Captain General who
| will exercise supervisory powers and be
| the local delegate of the minister of the
| colonies. The foregoing was the plan ap-
| proved by the Cortes but, as in the case
| Of Cuba, it is believed the plans viii be
| enlarged so as to make their Congress
| wholly representative of the people OF
L LuE lSldUus lat uGUHllE dNllDU UI IuB
| Queen in signing the Porto Rico reforms
tomorrow is believed by officials here to
be the prelude to similar action Of Cuba
TO RELIEVE DELGADO.
/ Washington, Dec. 24-The State De-
| partment has been requested to interest
| itself in the case OF Enrique Delgado, an
| American citizen reported to have been
captured by the Spaniards while lying
| wounded in a Cuban hospital and believ-
ed to be in danger Of summary execution
| A representative Of the New York Mail
and FyCSess called upon Secretary Onley
J 7. sd claimed the protection of our
Ament for Delgado whom he des-
/ cribed as a legitimate correspondent OF
that newspaper and in no sense a com
batant. kilograms also have been re-
ceived by Secretary Olney from some of
Delgado's relatives in New York, nota bly,
| from w. u. d. Stokes, begging him to
| act at once to rescue the man from the
| peril in which he stands. The depart
| ment 80 far has received no official news
| of the arrest, but in compliance with
!. these requests instructions have been
! cabled to acting Consul General Spring
er at Havana to make inquiry immediate
ly into the facts and do whatever law
| fully may be done for Delgado. 1T also
| happened that Senor De LONE, the Span
| ish minister here called at the State de-
| partment and Secretary Olney took ad-
/ vantage of the opportunity to bring the
/ matter to his attention with view Of pre-
I venting action in the case.
MISSION OF DELGADO.
New York, Dec. 24-The Mail and
/, Express says to-day:
Henry Delgado, an American citizen
Is a special correspondent Of the Mail and
Express detailed two months ago to join
the insurgent army in Pinar del Rio.
I Failing to reach General Maceo Mr..
Delgado was to have joined il he could,
the Spanish forces in the field This al
tentative did not become necessary.
THE correspondent who was landed
in Cuba by one Of the expeditions from
this country went strictly in his capacity
as a news commissioner for this newspa-
per, for the purpose of telling the truth
just as he found it. When he left here
, he carried letters of introduction to
Maceo and to another Cuban General.
When captured these letters were found
on him, together with an order from
Maceo to the prefect OF Lastumbas conn
mending the bearer to his consideration
and courtesy. These documents could
scarcely be regarded as discriminating"
MORE CABLE VICTORIES.
Havana, Dec 24.-General Hernandez
Velasco has made an extensive recon
rossance in the vicinity of Aurora, Taco
Taco and Paredon Delindio, province
of Pinar del Rio. On the heights of Del
Rio he dislodged force OF insurgents
and he destroyed camp of the enemy
at Lomapelada. AT Paredon Delindio,
the generals forces had an encounter
with the insurgents and destroyed exten-
siye deposits Of provisions, corn and to-
bacco and burned forty dwellings, inhab-
ited by insurgents.
The battalions OF Granada and Balair,
while engaged in~PEotecting the gather
i1o IoU fbo- re aut