The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-06
TnE REFORMS IN CUBA
Promises Made by Spain to the
l Dissatisfied Islanders.
nor AUTONOMOUS GOVERNMENT.
But tho Powers of the Spanish Governor
/ General Arc Greatly Curtaiied and tho
Government Practically Placed in the
Hands of q Cuban Council.

s unut tuo EoWers VI tne spanish Governor
General Arc Greatly Curtaiied and tho
Government Practically Placed in the
Hands of Cuban Council.
Madrid, Feb. 6.-The official gazette
ee-day prints the full scheme of Cuban
reform as approved by the queen re-
TENT In formal decree. The decree is
in substance as follows.
The municipalities and assemblies OF
khe six provinces of the island of Cuba
will enjoy all the liberties compatible
with the laws and the respect of indi-
vidual rights.
The assemblies, will have the right
70 elect its presidents. In each assem-
bly, there will be an executive commit
tee, elected by the assembly, every six
months, and its president will be elect
I'd by said committee.
y The mayors and deputy mayors will
be elected by the municipalities from
among the members. They will exer-
eise. without limitation, the active
Functions of the municipal admins
tration as executors of the decisions
pf the municipalities.
The provincial assemblies will have
the right to suspend the decision of the
municipalities when they go beyond
the limits of the municipal rights,
but In this case the municipalities will
have the right Of appeal to the highest
bourt Of the province.
< The provincial assemblies will have
large powers in matters of taxes, IN
hccotdance with the general and local
systein Of taxation. The appropriations
Tor the provinces and municipalities
will be separately made.
The governor general and the civil
governors of the provinces will only
have right of intervention in matters
i@f public instruction to assure the full
hllrhent of the general laws and COM
patibility of the municipal and pro-
bsihcial appropriations with the ex-
Sepses Of those establishments.
The council Of administration of the
aslAnd Will be composed of thirty-five
councillors, twenty-one of whom will
be elected directly by the people. Nine
pthers will be the presidents of the
University Of Havana, the Havana
Chamber of Commerce and the presi-
dents of certain Industrial and educa-
6onal associations, one representing ali
the trades associations Of Havana, two
designated among tie taxpayers of
the province of Havana and the other
nve will be senators or representatives
to the cortes who have been elected
by the island of Cuba in a greates
humber of general elections.
The governor general will be hon.
Drary president of the council and the
actual president will be nominated by
the governor general from among the
members of the council The members
pf the cortes, during their term, can
pot be councillors of administration.
In order to be elected councillor it is
iecessary to have the same qualfica-
ions as are required to be deputy to
ne cortes. and it is necessary to have
Asided two years in the island.
y The cortes will determine the amount
4 the expenses of sovereignty Qmpe-
fal expenses) and will determine the
otal of the budget. Only in the case
pf the council of administration not
Saving approved and voted by the
hrst of July, the taxes and revenues
necessary to meet the budget approved
BY the cortes. the governor general
tVfll decree them with the advice Of tho
tntendente.
The council Of administration will
hx all rules for the application of GUS
tom duties, will decide what Is most
convenient regarding taxes on exports,
hnd win fix or modify the fiscal du-
ties for revenue on importations In the
island.
National products directly imported
10 Cuba will enjoy indispensable pro-
lection, taking into consideration that
The taxes on foreign products will be
for revenue only: taxes for revenue
established by the council of admin
tsiration will be applied alike to for
eign and to national products taxes
on exports will be equally levied and
will not be diiferential, but it will be
fsossible to except from the rules the
direct exports of Spain for home con-
sumption; no prohibition on exports
will be imposed upon products directly
exported for home consumption in
Spain.
The council of administration will be
consulted over the advislbility Of ne
gotiating commercial treaties and con-
vcntions. which it Is the intention of
the government to negotiate, and this
will be done before the final drafting
Of the treaty and its presentation for
approval of the cortes.
Governmental employees must be Gu
ban born or peninsuars, who have re-
sided at least two years in the island.
These appointments will be made by
the governor general, with the advice
and consent of the council of adninis-
tption, and with regards to the legal
and proper qualifications of the nomi-
nees.
From this rule are only excepted the
secretary general intendente, comp
troller, director of local adminstra-
tinn, director of postal and telegraph
service and the civil governors of the
six provinces,
The governor general will be author
fred to name delegates in the munich
pelities to exercise executive functions,
but In no case will be allowed to inter-
fere with the proper functions of the
mayors municipalities.
The date for the application to Cuba
OF the law of 1895 and the present de-
cree to Cuba and Porto Rico will be
fixed by the government as soon as the
state of war will permit 1t.