The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-30
SAYS is VERY LIBERAL
CO.ArARES IT WITH POWERS
GIVEN TO CANADA.
CONSIDERS 1T FAR LESS STRINGENT
Spain Is to Appoint Only Half of the Members
of the Upper House, and There is No
Property Qualification for
Elactors

''~fS'y XN>'''~'' 49,
Electors.
Washington, d. c., Nov. 29.-Senor
Du Puy De LONE, the Spanish Minister
has received long dispatches from Madrid
showing in detail the plan of autonomy
which Spain is about to apply to Cuba.
While these do not give the text OF the
| new law, they explain all important fea-
lures and clear up doubts which had
risen from the unofficial reports which
have come from Madrid. Speaking of
the laws, the Minister said to-day;
II regret that much misapprehension
has risen over the new law owing to
the very meagre reports heretofore re-
ceivqd concerning it. ! must admit also
that have been astonished at the dis
position in some quarters to criticise
small technical features without looking
at the broad, general character of the
new reform law. 1t is a measure which
will stand the closest scrutiny, and | am
very desirous that the American people
should look into it with care, study it
and compare it with other constitution
al methods of governing colonies. Such
study, | am sure, will fully vindicate the
law and commend it to the people OF
this country. outside of those irreconcil-
abes and who are always to be met
with One of the recent criticisms is
| that the plan of autonomy is the same
as the old plan, with some change III
| detail As matter of fact, the new
| plan is complete realization of the
policy and platforms of the Autonomist
party during the lats twenty years. The
| old plan of autonomy gave to Cuba an
advisory body. 1t did not have final au-
/ thority in making laws but merely ad-
! vised as to those laws. Now, however,
/ the new law proposes to give Cuba
arliamentary body of full law-ma<ing
| power The completeness of this legls-
/ lative power is as great, if not greater,
/ than that enjoyed by Canada or by any
i State Of the United States. This is
readily demonstrated by comparing the
| plan of the new law with that of the
1 British North American act of 1867,
/ which establishes the present parliament
4 airy system of Canada. According to
1 the Canadian law, the Canadian parlia-
j ment 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 in
come of $4,000. The provision for the
new Cuban upper house is along the
\ same general lines, but is far less strin-
j gent Instead of the crown appointing
t all of the upper house, as in the case
! of Canada. the Spanish crown is to APP
point only one half of the memers of the
upper house of Cuba. The other half
are to be elected by the people of Cuba
every five years. There is a $4,000 pro
: perty qualification for membership of the
upper house of Cuba, which is the same
i. as that in Canada. The same comparison
: hold good between the proposed lower
house in Cuba and the lower house III
: Canada. There is $4,000 property
qualification for members of the lower
house in Canada and also qualification
: as to those who may vote for such mem
bers. But in the new plan for Cuba,
there is no property qualification as to the
electors. 1t is one man, one vote; the
same be he black or white.
eff the new home rule law is compared
; with the system prevailing in the several
: States in the United States it will be
: found that Cuba is to have far greater
measure of control of her own affairs
, than do the several States in this count
ry. For instance she is given contro
of her postal affairs, control Of her bank
ing and currency and control of her
customs"
When it was suggested to the Miaister
> that among certain classes no plan OF
autonomy was acceptable, he said:
Certainly, there are irreconcila-
F.. bles on both sides-Spanish ire,
> concilables and Cuban irrecOncila.
ables. But they are not the ones to
be considered. The Cuban irreconcilablt
says he will not accept this new law. H<
does not point out it's defects, or sug
gest remedies. He simply declines to ac
cept it. Such men are out Of court. They
are not open to argument or reason.
'There is another feature which should
: be noted. For the first time the gov.
ernment has said officially that Spair
4 will assume a part Of the debt of Cuba
: The payment of this debt is to be ar
: ranged by the Cortes, but it is to be on
: basis satisfactory to both parties.'
Recurring to the legislative powers
which Cuba would enjoy, the Minister
was asked If this was not qualified to
some extent by the right Of approval
reserved to the governor general in GER
tain cases.
at will be found on examining the
!. new law" answered the Minister. ''that
i the governor general has this reserved
, right only in three specific cases, while
the general rule is that the laws go into
effect without reserve. Furthermore.
4 these three reservations are the same as
4 those given to any colonial executive,
! This will be found to he the case by ex-
amining the British American act of
pfr 1xvy 20 In