Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-31

Duration of His Ministry Depends on Re
forms in Cuba.
THEIR SUCCESS WILL BE HIS TRUMP H
Favorable Reception Means Long Life to
His Cabinet
WEYlER is DOOMED IN ANY EVENT
Will Be Sacrificed for the Sake of Political
Harmony.
ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEGREES lMPENDS
Extraordinary Council of the Ministry
Will Approve the Cuban Reforms
on Wednesday of the
Present Week.

Copyright 1897, by Press Publishing Company.)
MADRID, Spain (by way of Bayonne,
France), Jan. 3O.-(New York World Cable
gram-Special Telegram Though rumors
of an impending ministerial crisis increase, I
believe they are unfounded. At least think
there will be no crisis until after the pub
lcation of the proposed reforms for Cuba
and the official announcement of the CONNER
clal understanding with the United States
there. If these measures are favorably re-
ceived in Spain, Cuba and the United States
the present ministry is likely to remain in
office a long time.
Most military men, as we'll as politicians
and diplomats, believe that General Weyler
will be superseded in Cuba before the rainy
season sets in unless he strikes some de-
cisive blow or succeeds through a party in
obtaining the submission of the rebels or
bribes the insurgent leaders, as was done
in the insurrection of 1S6S-7S Gossip names
several persons for the succession. Besides
General AZcarraga, now the minister Of war,
who is talked of for the governor-general-
ship alone, General Marin, the governor
general of Porto Rico; General Primo Ri
vera, the captain general of Madrid, and
even General Campos are frequently men
toned. General Weyler has made himself
unpopular with all the Cuban parties, and
with many of his own lieutenants, who are
returning to Spain on the plea of health.
If the governments reform policy and
tacit derstanding with the United States
make paciicaton easier with the assist
ance of the autonomists, the marquis of
Apezteguia says General Weyler ought to be
recalled to concliate public opinion in Cuba.
REFORMS SOON TO BE ANNOUNCED.
An extraordinary council of ministers will
approve the Cuban reforms next Wednesday.
Afterward the council of state will be con-
suited regarding the principal decree and its
preamble which have been drawn up en-
tirely by Premier Canovas Then on Thurs
day, at the weekly council in the palace, the
queen regent will sign all the DEGREES, and
these will be gazetted Friday and Saturday.
Premier Canovas is quoted by El Impair
cial as saying: "The reforms will be pub
lished shortly, but they will not be put in
force Immediately because from their very
nature they require that the majority of the
provinces of Cuba shall first be cleared of
insurgents. How could reforms be enforced
in municipalities during war? Only when
a majority of the provinces are pacifed will
the moment come to carry out the reforms.
And then we will decide upon the proper
person to undertake to execute them. In
view of recent representations we will also
have to decide whether the person who shall
have pacifed the island is or is not better
able than any one else to execute the reforms
afterward Anyhow, it strikes me the solu-
ton of so important a problem requires a
man of great prestige to have the necessary
authority. The government will consult the
marquis of Apezteguia as soon as he reaches
Madrid, which will be tomorrow"
The ministerial press today tries to ex-
plain away the statements the marquis of
Apeztegua made on landing in Cadiz, which
dlspleased those in high places especially his
remarks betraying strained relations with
General Weyler.
ARTHUR e HOUGHTON