The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-04
CUBA UNDER SPAINS CORTES.
MANY REFORMS CLAIMED AND
MORE PROMISED.

Also in the Role OF a Special Com
missioner-Meanwhf Considera-
bIe Interest Felt as to the Course
nj the Spanish AuthOrities-The
queens Speech From the Throne
an May II Expected to he ImpOr-
tant.
Washington, May 3.-Since the passage
bv both houses of congress on April 9
last Of the Senate concurrent resolution
declaring that a state of war existed in
Cuba and that in the opinion of congress
the President should recognize the bel
uzsrency Of the Cubans and tender his
good offices to Spain to bring about a
r4cognitiOn of the independence of the
Cuban republic, no overt action has been
taken by the United States so far known,
unless the appointment of so prominent
q parsonage as Gen. Fitzhugh Lee as con-
sul general to Havana can be 80 regarded.
There is a widely prevailing impression
that Gen. Lee will go to his post of duty
in the double capacity of consul general
ana special commissioner empowered TO
report directly to the President, as to the
exact condition of affairs in Cuba. This
impression has been deepened by the pro-
tracted conferences which Gen. Lee held
with Secretary Olney and Mr.. Cleveland
yesterday.
Meanwhile, considerable interest in felt
as TO the probable course Of the Spanish
authorities. The Queen of Spain's speech
10 be delivered at the opening OF the
Spanish cortes at Madrid on Monday, May
il, Is expected TO outline definitely the
Cuban policy of the government. 1t Is
awaited with considerable. interest here,
especially as informal assurances are be-
heved to nave been given TO the admins
tration that Cuba is to be rendered almost
as great degree Of autonomy in purely
domestic affairs as the Dominion of Cana
da now enjoys in its relations with Great
Britain. The reform measures for the
civil government of Cuba promulgated
by the royal decree of March 1j 1885 which
We're not promptly put into operation be-
cause, as II IS claimed, the present reVO-
ludOns prevented the necessary elections
being held to provide the officials named
IN the decree, are eXpectd to be enforced
without much further delay now that the
elections for the cortes have ostensibly
been held throughout Cuba in the past
month.
supplementary to these laws liberal leg
islaton by the new cOrtes is also antici-
pated by those well Informed as to the
spanish programme. In this connection
The statutory progress of Cuba towards
liberal government since the close of the
Ten years war is to be shown by an Off
cial compilation of the colonial laws which
is now in course of publication. This COM
paiion discloses the fact that in the
treaty OF nj LdIJOQ, Wnlcn terminated that
war in 1875 the insurgents stipulated only
for the freedom of those slaves who had
served in their ranks. The law of Feb.
II, 1880 put an end to slavery in the island
Qeciaring ali without distinction to be
IIee minors, however. to remain under
patronage" until 1885, when even that fea-
lure was to be abolished. Two years be-
fore that time expired, the negroes were
set at liberty by the decree of 1856. and
the last vestige of slavery was oblit-
Grated.
The Spanish constitution of 1876 was
Promulgated in the island April T. 1881
All public liberties and the rights of cit
izenship enjoyed in Spain We're thereby
granted TO cuba, involving the radical
change in its political regime that laws
were hencefOrth enacted for il by the
representatives of the nation, whereas the
island had previously been governed by
direct orders from the crown. Since that
time Cuba has been represented in the ma
uonal cortes by its Senators and repre-
sentatiVes
Provision for the enforcement in Cuba
Of the penal code of the peninsula was
made by royal decree of May %, 1879; of the
ciVll code by decree of July 81 1899; of the
law concerning civil prosecution by decree
OF Sept. 25 1885, and by decree of Oct 49,
leSS, the law of criminal prosecution was
amended so as to require prosecutions
10 be conducted orally or in public instead
OF by written examinations in private
an important measure of reform which
Aad only Just been established in Spain
The Spanish code of commerce was ex-
tended to Cuba Jan 28, 1886, and in ad-
diton to numerous laws of minor impor-
tance extended to the island, the special
banking law was made operative Aug.
p l8lS and that of landed property May
10 1873 and was amended July II, 1893
Most important probably has been the
development of the principal political laws
following upon increased liberty guaran-
Iced by the constitution of 1876. The law
Oh June Is, 1880, regulating the right of
meeting, as proclaimed in article 10 of
he constitution, was made to embrace
lae island of Cuba by the royal decree
Of Nov l. 1881 This authorized peaceful
meetings to be held exactly as in Spain
and provided that twenty-four hours no
lce be given to the governor of the prov
nee concerning the place purpose and
Tine of meeting. This provision differs
AJue from the laws and regulations pre-
Valllng in the United States, where Ii
senses or permits have to be taken out
4 ;;om municipal authorities for any pub
Ae gatherings.
The Spanish laws of June 80, 1887. con-
etrnlng liberty to form partnerships was
Iade applicable to Cuba by decree of
4 S1ne Y, 1888, and that Of Jan. Z, 1879, for the
HeeGom of the press was extended to the
+ sand April Z, 1881. When that law was
Il amended in more liberal lines in Spain,
June 26, 1888, its additional liberties were
sven TO Cuba, Nov. II, 1886 This statute
maintained that the provisions Of the
t'luihon law were sufficient TO punish OF
-gAses of the press and gave the ordinary
0yIrts full jurisdiction.
. Ihe law of civil marriages providing for
seventh article of the constitution, was
Poc.aimed Nov. 13, 1886. The provincial
i4 municipal organizations of the colo
7S were made to conform with those of
e peninsular June 21 1878. Reforms in
e Ie right of suffrage have been difficult to
i + -0hp!lsh wherever the negro race IS in
jug majority, but the law concerning vO-
t' IN elections for Cuban representatives
m 1- l4e cOrtes, promulgated Dec. p, 1892,
55,o'l'es that every citizen 25 years of age
Sl0 pays the sum of So to the state shall
rase the right to vote, and this right is
lived BY negroes as well as white 0iti-
I;ts lH cuba. In this law are likewise pro-
of 'ffsqnS which secure the representation
VI lae minority
ir1r-e i-e laws relative to educa tion are also
,'I Jg ldnt AS long ago as 1880 autonomy
s6I sranted to the University of Havana,
ei SIcn ample provisions We're grant
b5,t,o i that but one university in the
iag'su ula Chat of Madrid) enjoys privi-
on equally great, High schools through
sr5liIe lslanu We're organized in 1888, and
prc'E IN 1887 freedom of education was
as S.n Spain ''''0 -
,=l,.s Gu1an budget, it is shown. has been
l,--5 from S46,000,000 for the fiscal year
l-.r', lhe closing of the last war, to a
Tt more than $23 600 for 1888
Sr4j systems of taxation in Cuba and
e5soti, lJ IS claimed, could not be made