The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-08
FEWER PENSION AGENTS
The Number TO be Reduced from
IL. Eighteen to Nine. 4-.4...
A LARGE SAVING IN EXPENSES.

Secretary Francis Says That There VIII
be . Gain to the Government Of $780,
900 Annualiy-The Cost Of Paying Pen.
sions.
Washington, Feb. 8.-"No colony in
the world, with the exceptions of Can
ada and New South Wales, will have
as large measure of liberty as Cuba
will have when the new reform scheme
is fully developed" said Senior Dupuy
De LONE, the Spanish minister. The
minister had before him the full pro-
ject for the reformation of the system
of government of Cuba as gazetted in
Madrid SATURDAY., and had been an
alyzing the document with this result.
He pointed out that under the project
there could no longer be complaint
that the island was governed by off,
Gals in Madrid or by people sent from
Spain for the purpose. and that here
after, II the plan is enforced, the citi-
gems of Cuba themselves would govern
their Island. He answered in advance
the criticism that the government had
undertaken to institute reforms, par
ticularly In the judicial system of the
island, that were beyond its constitu-
tional powers by the statement that
the preamble to the reform measure
showed that the government especi-
ally stated that 1t had acted in an an
ticipatory manner in this matter, but
that 1t pledged itself to submit to the
cortes, which body does have the neces-
sary power to make the changes. the
legislation required to give effect to
that portion of the reform scheme, and
also to do all In its power to cause the
ratification of its anticipatory action.
Looking generally over the scheme.
the minister called attention to some of
the most important features among
the provisions touching the granting
of electoral franchise. He said that
this would certainly result in a consid-
cradle extension of the right of suf-
frage in Cuba.
At present Cubans can vote IL they
pay a yearly tax amounting to, not
less than S.. Now, said the minister,
Spain probably would be willing to 60
further and permit persons to vote
even If they did not pay any tax, pro-
. yided they could read and write. In
other words, she would scarcely OBJ
ject to property qualification If the
Cubans themselves desire 1t. That this
might be the case was supposable
from the fact. as Mr.. De LONE ex-
planned, that large portion of the in
habitants of the interior of the island,
not numerous, however, were very il
literate.
That portion of the scheme relating
to the tariff of Cuba the minister re-
garded as of the utmost Importance.
not only to the islanders but also to
the merchants of the United States
who had trade relations with Cuba Of
enormous magnitude Under the new
plan, by far the largest number Of
dutiable articles were placed In a
column imposing uniform duty, and
one without discrimination in favor
even of Spain. America and Spain, as
serted the minister, stand on an
equality, therefore, in the contest for
such trade. In case of a small proper
ton Of articles In the second column a
discriminating duty Is allowed in IA
vor of Spanish preGicts. This rate of
discrimination, however, is claimed
not to be excessive.
Senior De Lone could not speak more
positively than did Senior Canovas as
to the date when the reforms will be
inaugurated, but directed attention to
the statement of the premier that this
will depend entirely upon the Cubans
themselves. Doubtless minor amend
ments In the plan might be made If
they are put in fashion to show that
they are reasonable and expedient.
In view of the fact that the reform
on Madrid
the minister consented to make public
the preamble to the document. 1t re-
cords the political history of the in
surrection, which from its very begin
ming, 1t says, had secessionist charac-
ter. One of the causes of the insurrec-
ton has been the false idea of Spain's
weakness, which the insurgents thought
would prevent her subduing 1t, and an
other was distrust OF being able to
achieve administrative autonomy by
peaceful means
The preamble says that the war,
with all it's errors, has ben rich in Sc
we're lessons, showing that in the end
peaceful and constant progress is pref
cradle to a violent triumph by whom
soever obtained.
1t says in several paragraphs that
although Spain has been obliged to de-
lay the application of ample reforms in
the administrative regime, she has
never abandoned the idea Of establish
ing reforms voted by the cortes.
This important document ends with
the following paragraph:
THE government has not sufficient
motive to Judge if the time before the
application of reforms in Cuba and
Puerto Rico will be short or long, al
though all the news is satisfactory and
the forecast of the incoming peace
general. But whatever the conditions
may be the government thinks that
it must be prepared to apply them
without the slightest delay when tho
opportunity shall arrive"