The record-union., 1896-05-04
Thought to be Also a Special Com
missioner.
The Queen Of SPANS Speech 10 the
Cortes Next Monday.
1t is Expected to Outline Definitely
the Government Cuban Policy
Statutory Concessions of Spain
to Cuba Since the Ten=Years'
War-A Western Syndicate Bids
for $2,OOO,OOO of Cuban RevOIu-
tionary Bonds.

for $2,OOO,OOO of Cuban RevoIu-
tionary Bonds.
WASHINGTON, May 3.-Since the
passage by both houses of Congress on
April 9th last of the Senate concurrent
resolutions declaring that a state Of
war existed in Cuba and that in the
opinion of Congress the President
should recognize the belligerency of the
Cubans and tender his good offices to
Spain to bring about a recognition OF
the independence of the Cuban Repub-
lie, no overt action has been taken by
the United States SO far as is known,
unless the appointment of so prominent
a parsonage as Ex-Governor FitzhuSh
Lee as Consul General to Havana can
be SO regarded. There is a widely pre-
vailing impression that General Lee
will go to his post of duty in the double
capacity of Consul-General and special
commissioner, empowered to report di-
rectly to the President as to the exact
condition of affairs in Cuba. This i'm
preston has been deepened by the pro-
tracted conferences which General Lee
held with Secretary Olney and Mr..
Cleveland yesterday.
Meanwhile considerable interest is
felt as to the probable outcome Of the
matter.
The Queen of Spain's speech to be de-
lvered at the opening of the Spanish
Cortes at Madrid on Monday, May 11th,
is expected to outline definitely the
Cuban policy of the Government. 1t is
awaited with considerable interest here
especially as informal assurances are
believed to have been given to the Ad-
ministratiOn that Cuba is to be rendered
almost as great a degree of autonomy in
purely domestic affairs as the Dominion
q Canada now enjoys in its relations
with Great Britain. The reform meas
ures for the civil government of Cuba
promulgated by the royal decree of
March II. 1895, which We're not prompt
j. put into operation, because. as it is
claimed, the present revolution pre-
vented the necessary local elections being
held to provide the officials named in
The decree, are expected to be enforced
without much further delay, now that
elections for the Cortes have ostensibly
been held throughout Cuba during the
past month.
Supplementary to these elections. lib
eral legislation by the new Cortes is also
anticipated by those well informed as
to the Spanish programme. In this con-
nection the statutory progress of
Cuba towards liberal Government since
the close of the ten years war is to be
shown by an official compilation of the
colonial laws, which is now in course
of publication. This compilation dis
closes the fact that in the treaty of Ell
Zanjohn, which terminated that war in
1913, the insurgents stipulated only for
the freedom of those slaves who had
served in their ranks. The law of Feb
1uary 13, 1880. put an end to slavery in
the island, declaring all without distinc-
tion to be free minors. however, to re-
main under patronage" until 1883
when even that feature was to be abol-
ished. Two years before that time ex-
pired the negroes were set at liberty by
the decree of October Z. 1856, and the
last vestige Of slavery was obliterated
The Spanish Constitution of 1876 was
promulgated in the island April !. 1881
All public liberties and the rights of
citizenship then enjoyed in Spain were
thereby granted to Cuba, involving the
radical change in it's political regime
that laws were thenceforth enacted for
IL,
whereas the island had previously been
governed by direct orders from the
crown. Since that time Cuba has been
represented in the National Cortes by
its Senators and Representative
Provision for the enforcement in Cuba
of the Penal Code of the peninsula was
made by royal decree on May 23. 1879.
of the Civil Code by decree of July 81
1889. of the law concerning civil prose-
cution by decree of September -. 1885.
and by decree of October 10. 1883. the
law of criminal prosecution was amen
ded so as to require prosecutions to be
conducted orally and in public instead
of by written examinations in private
direct measure of reform which had
only just been established in Spain it
self
The Spanish code of examinations
was extended to Cuba January -.
1856. and in addition to numerous
laws of minor Importance extended to
the island. the special banking law was
made operative August IL, 1873. and
that of landed property May Is, 1879.
and as amended July H. 1893. Most
important probably has been the de-
velopment of the principal political
laws following upon increased liberty
guaranteed by the Constitution of
1876. The law Of June 10 1880. regu-
lating the right of meeting as pro-
claimed in Article MIL of the Consti-
tuition, was made to embrace the island
OF Cuba by the royal decree of Novern-
Der !, 1881. This authorized peaceful
meetings to be held exactly as in Spain.
and provided that twenry-four hours
notice be given to the Governor of the
province concerning the place. hour and
time of meeting.
The Spanish law of June 80. 1887,
concerning liberty to form partnerships
was made applicable to Cuba by de-
cree of June i, 1888, and that of Jariu-
ary Z, 1879, for the freedom of the
press was extended 10 the island April
z. 1881 When that law was amended
on more liberal lines in Spain June -,
1888, its additional liberties were given
to Cuba November II, 1886 This stat
ute maintained that the provisions Of
the common law were sufficient to pun
jsh offenses of the press. and gave the
ordinary courts full jurisdiction. The
law of civil marriages. providing for
the religious toleration guaranteed by