The herald., 1896-12-25
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
70 THE COLONIES
The Spanish Queen Will
Grant Reforms
CONGRESSES ARE PROVIDED FOR
Which Will Really Represent
Colonial Sentiment
NEW PLAN OF HOME RULE
includes Full Cnban Coutrol 10 Mskiag
Tariff Laws
Signing Of Reform For Porto Rice Will Taks
Place Today
His Reform in Letter and In Spirit, bue
the Cuban Insurgents Insist Upon
Full and Complete
NEW PLAN OF HOME RULE
includes Full Cnban C0utrol ID Mskla9
Tariff Laws
Signing Of Reform For Porto Rice Will Ta1s
Place Today
His Reform in Letter and In Spirit. buo
the Cuban Insurgents Insist Upon
Full and Complete
Independence.
Associated Press Special wire


WASHINGTON, Dec. 24-Ancther
important step toward the plan Of homo
rule for Cuba has been taken by the
Spanish authorities. The former plan.
proposed, but not executed, some
months ago, provided for q Cuban con-
gress Of thirty members, of whom the
queen regent was to name fifteen ana
the people of Cuba were to elect fifteen
1t is now proposed to do away with that
part providing for the naming Of men1-
bers by the queen regent, 80 that the Az1-
tine Cuban congress will be elected by
the Cuban people. This and the entire
control given to Cuba in making the
tariff laws of the island will constitute
the essential features of the new plan
of home rule. The giving the people the
election of the congress is felt to carry
out in spirit as we'll as in letter the idea
of home rule.
Thus far only the general nature OF
the proposed changes have been made
known 20 the officials at Washington,
and the plan OF reforms has not been
received, nor is it likely to be completed
until after the completion of the Porto
Rico reforms, which will be signed by
the queen regent tomorrow as a suitable
Christmas act. Under the Spanish ey6-
tenn it will be necessary to submit the
foregoing changes to the Spanish cortes,
which is not now in session and not like
ly to meet before February.
The Christmas day reforms for Porte
Rico are allied with those for Cuba,
being the second section Of the same
law. They give Porto Rico q congress,
the province of San Juan and Ponce
alternating every two years in choosing
members for q term of four years. The
congress is given control of the whole
island. The home government will con-
tinue to be represented by a captain
general. who will exercise supervisory
powers and be the local delegate to the
minister of colonies. The foregoing was
the plan approved by the cortes but ae
in the case Of Cuba, 1t Is believed the
plans will be enlarged SO as to make
the congress wholly representative OF
the people of the island. The definite
action of the queen in signing the Porto
Rico reforms tomorrow Is believed by
officials here to be the prelude to similar
action for Cuba.
A REPORTER IN TROUBLE.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-The state
department has been asked to take an
interest in the case of Enrique Delgado,
the American reported to be captured
Wirile lying wounded in the Cuban hos
pital. and believed to be in danger OF
of the New York Mail and Express
waited upon Secretary Olney today and
claimed the protection of our govern-
ment for Delgado, whom he described
as correspondent for that newspaper,
and in no sense a combatant
Te!egrams have also been received BY
the secretary from some Of Delsado's
A
Stokes, begging him to rescue the man
from the peril in which he stands. In
structiens have been cabled TO Acting
Consul General Springer at Havana ~
make inquiry Immediately into the
facts.
The matter was laid before Secretary
Olney through the following dispatch,
signed by R. E. A. Il. Dorr. publisher
of the New York Mail and Express:
Harry Delgado. the correspondent OF
the New York Mail and Express. who
reached Cuba early this month. was
captured on December Is in a hospital
camp Of the insurgents In Pinar del Rao
province. He is an American ciuzen.
who has a passport. He was unarrned.
and not uniformed He had letter
stating his authority to act ~ cores
pendent of the Mail and Express. and Q
letter of introduction to Aaceo and .
letter of introduction to Spanish enn-
eral He had tramped ECO Hnles rom
the coast to the place where he was
captured. He has been taken 20 Havana.
and unless already executed, il in 4oro
castle Make strong representattene -
the state department thiS morning. &9-
ing them to cable to Havane 10 release
and expel from the island II they cnoooA
or to ct least delay execution until FUR
ther inquiries are made
DELGADO'S RECORD.
SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. M.-Ths eor.
respondent of the Associated Press has
made special inquiry in oModal circleo
regarding the condition OF Henry Del
eado, correspondent Of the New YORK
Mail and Express. who was captured -
Pinar del Rio during . raid on the In.
surgent forces. 1t Is learned that MN
Delgado was formerly purser on .
Ward line steamer. and according -
official information afterward a hlibuo-
terer and still later accorded the title q
major of artillery on Maceo's STAN. He
was recently captured in an inAurgont
prefecture by the Spanish forces undqr
Gen Malquiso. in the province of ftnak
del Rio, with Americans ana GermAnos
and was brought to Havana. ~
1t was learned that his wounds aRo
being tenderly cared for at the GDontah
hospital of Santa Ambrosia.
Mr.. A. S. DOLE, the deputy couGplo onue
eral of the United States, vtei1e9 ~.
hospital today but could nat - d.
sado. pending the daclaFdn<Ano - -
taken by the aufherit1es ohAx1&4 ~