New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-30
PRICE THREE CENTS.
AUTONOMY FOR CUBA.
THE PLAN EXPLAINED IN DISPATCHES
TO SENIOR DE LONE.
A PARLIAMENT WITH FULL. LAwMAKING POWERS
FOR THE IsLAND-sPAIN TO ASSUME PART
OF THE CUBAN DEBT-LIMITED AU-
THoRITY OF THE GOVERNOR
GENERAL - THE TARIFF

from Madrid showing In detail the plan Of au-
tonomy which Spain is about to apply to Cuba
while these do not give the text Of the new law,
they explain all important features and clear up
Coubts which have arisen from the unofficial
reports which have come from Madrid Speak
Ing OF the matter the Minister said to-day:
L regret that much misa apprehension has arisen
over the new law, owing to the very meaRre
reports heretofore received concerning IT,
must admit, also. that have been astonished
az the disposition In some quarters to criticiss
small technical features without looking at the
broad. general character Of the new reform law
1t Is measure which will stand the closest
scrutiny. and am very desrous that the
American people shall look into 1t with care
studying 1t and comparing 1t with other consti-
tutiohal methods Of governing colonies. Such
study. am sure, will fully vindicate the law
ana commend 1t to the people OF this country
outside OF those irreconcilables who are always
to be met with
fo"ERs OF THE CUBAN PARLIAMENT
One OF the recent criticisms is that this plan
OF autonomy is the same as the old plan. with
some changes Of detail AS matter Of fact.
the new plan Is complete realization OF the
poiicJ ana Platforms OF the Autonomist party
ou'"s the last twenty years The old plan Of
autohohy gave to Cuba an advisory body Il
o'u hot nave nnal authority in making laws,
out "'erey advised as to those laws Now how.
ever. the new law proposes to give Cuba q par.
liamentary body OF full law-making power The
completeness OF this legislative power is a.
great as. II not greater than. that entoved nv
Canada or by any State Of the United Statea
ihis Is readily demonstrated by comparing the
pan or the new law with that OF the British
North american Act Of 1867, which Established
| 'he present Parliamentary system Of Canada
According to the Canadian law, the Canadian
fariament consists OF two bodies. The upper
house"is made up OF members appointed by the
| Crown. each member holding a life tenure with
a qualification that no member Is eligible unless
he has an Income Of $4,000. The provision for
the new Cuban upper house is along the same
general line. but is far less stringent Instead
OF the Crown appointing all Of the upper house,
as In the case OF Canada the Spanish Crown 10
to appoint only one-half Of the members of the
upper house Of Cuba. The other half are to bs
elected by the people OF Cuba every five years.
There is $4,000 property qualification for
membership Of the upper house OF Cuba which
is the same as that in Canada. The same com.
parson holds good between tine proposed lower
house in Cuba and the lower house in Canada.
| There is a $500 property qualification for
| members Of the lower house In Canada, and also
| a qualification as TO those who may vote for
such members. But In the new plan for Cuba
there is no property qualification to the
| electors. II Is one man. one vote; the same be
| he black or white.
| BROAD MEASURE OF HOME RULE
III the home rule law Is compared vita
the systems prevailing in the several States
Of the United States, 1t will be found that Cuba
is to have far greater measure Of control Of
her own affairs than do the several States In
this country. For instance, she is given control
| Of her postal affairs control OF her banking and
| currency. and control Of her customs. This last
feature is most important, and according to
dispatches have received from Madrid. II is a.
follows:
THE Insular Parliament will form its own
tariff fixing both import and export duties
The horne Government. together with the Insu-
lar Government will make a schedule Of such
peninsuar and nsular products as by common
agreement shall enjoy a preferential duty over
similar foreign products. which in no case shall
exceed 35 per cent. In case OF disagreement
in the preparation Of said schedule, the point
in dispute shall be submitted to a COMMITTEES
OF members OF the Cortes consisting Of an equal
number OF peninsulars and Cubans
"It will be observed that this gives to the
| Cuban Parliament entire control OF the tariff.
| with the condition that there shall be preferen.
| tial duties for Spain not exceeding 81 per cent.
1t should be understood that these preferential
duties are not an unusual feature. Even under
the last reciprocity treaty between the United
States and Cuba. which is conceded to have been
the most satisfactory reciprocity treaty made
! by the United States, there was a preferential
| duty Of 30 per cent to Spain. Under the new
| law this is cut down to 30 per cent. Moreover.
It should be understood. the preferential duties
| oil hn ariH
when the United States and Cuba had reci-
| procity treaty. but cover only limited NUMBER
| ~ articles These articles. doubtless, Will be 50
| chosen as not TO affect the trade between the
United States and Cuba so that. while Spain
| enioys the preference from her colony, II will
not be a preference as against the United
States
When Il was suggested to the Minister that
| among certain classes no plan OF autonomy was
| accountable he said: Certainly, there are ir.
| reconcilables on both sides-Spanish rrsconcila-
bies and Cuban rreconcilables. But they are
rot the ones to be considered II is the people
at large and the material interests OF Cuba that
| are 10 be considered The Cuban irreconciatio
| saws he will not accept this new law He does
not point out It's defects or suggest remedies
! He simply declines to accept 1t. Such men are
out Of court. They are not open to argument
| reason.
SPAIN TO ASSUME PART OF THE DEBT.
There is another feature which should be
noted For the first time the Government has
said officially that Spain will assume a part OF
the debt of Cuba. The payment OF this debt
is to be arranged by the Cortes, but it is to bs
| on a basis satisfactory to both parties"
Referring to the legislative power which Cuba
would enjoy the Minister was asked II this
was not qualified to some extent by the right
| Of approval reserved to the Governor-Generai
| in certain cases.
TT will be found on examining the new law"
answered the Minister. that the Governor-Gen-
eral has this reserved right Only in three specific
| cases while the general rule Is that the laws go
into effect without reserve. Furthermore these
three reservations are the same as those given
TO the Governor General Of Canada or to any
| other colonial executive. This will be found to
| be the case by examining the British American
Act Of 1857 already referred to- In short, there
is nothing unusual In these reservations In few
| snecidc cases Of q national character. but Il la