New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-11-28
PLAN OF REFORM FOR CUBA.
THE ROYAL DEGREES PUBLISHED IN
MADRID.

MADflD
POWERS OF THE GovERNoR-GENERAL AND lhh
INsULAR PARLIAMENT-FURTHER DETAILS
OF THE SCHEME GIVEN.
Madrid, Nov. 27.-"rhe Official Gazette" this
morning publishes the royal DEGREES granting
autonomy to Cuba and Porto Rico.
Article explains the principles OF the future
government OF the two islands.
Article II DEGREES that the government or
each island shall be composed of an insuar
Parliament divided into two chambers. while
a Governor General. representing the Home
Government, will exercise in It's name the SUI
preme authority.
Article III declares that the faculty Of making
laws Colonial affairs rests with the insuiar
Chambers and the Governor General
Article " directs that the insular representa-
ton shall be composed Of two corporations. with
equal powers-a Chamber OF Representatives
and Council OF Administration.
Article provides that the Council Of Ad-
mnistration shall consist OF thirty-fve MEM
bers, of whom eighteen shall be elected and
seventeen nominated by the Home Government.
Article VI provides that the members Of the
Council Of Administration must be Spaniards,
thirty-five years Of age. who were born In the
island or who have lived there continuously for
four years. 1t specifies numerous officials such
as Senators, Presidents OF Courts and Of Cham
bers Of Commerce and other bodies eligible
to election to the Council.
Articles VII to XIV, inclusive deal with
nominations and the conditions Of election to
Councils.
Article XIV empowers the Throne or the Gov
ernor-General to convoke, suspend dissolve
the Chambers. with an obligation to reassem-
bic them within three months.
Article XVI and the following articles deal
with the procedure Of the Chambers and grant
immunity to members
Article KIN empowers the insular Parla-
rnent to receive tho Governors oath and make
effective the responsibility OF the secretaries
FORMING the Governors Council. When the sec
retaries are impeached by the Chambers they
are to be judged by the Council OF Administra-
ton.
Negotiations for treaties Of commerce are to
be made by the Home Government with the as
sista a,,cs Of the secretaries OF the island,
posing OF customs duties
Article XII deals with the commercial rela-
lions OF the Island with the peninsula and pro-
vides that no import or export tax may dfferen-
tiate to the prejudice Of the productions OF
either island the peninsula A list will be
formed OF articles coming from Spain direct,
which will receive favorable treatment in regard
to similar articles coming from abroad, and the
same VIII DO done for productions Of the island
entering Spain, the differenta duty in no case
to exceed 81 per cent.
The remainder OF the decree explains the Gov
ernor- Generals powers He will exercise SUI
preme command. he responsible for the preser-
walton Of order. have free power to nominate
officials and his secretaries he will publish and
execute the laws and DEGREES international
treaties and conventions etc. and will have the
power OF pardonirg. suspending Constitutional
guarantees and ordering a state OF siege, should
| circumstances require IL.