The record-union., 1897-01-01
GENERAL WBYLER
In VERY BAD ODOR,
Continued from First Page)

oS~'y
IN which it is proposed to deal with the
island. Reforms of a similar character
II is maintained, We're prepared for both
LSiahdS nearly two years ago, but their
PRONUNCIATION was delayed on account
OF msurrection which almost immedi-
ately followed, and which the Spanish
Ministry assert was began in order that
they might not be applied.
Speaking tonight of the action of the
Spanish Ministry, Dupuy de LONE said:
The reform law was voted by the Cortes
in February 1895. 1t was accepted
then unanimously by the autonomist
party. Among the voters were such
conspicuous autonomists as Montero.
Giberga, La Bra, Ferry, Fernando Con
2alez, all Cubans. The leaders of the
autonomist party of Porto Rico have
been long time in Madrid this winter,
and the royal decree meets entirely
with their approval. The restrictions
on the appointment of Councillors are
not against the people, but are a re-
striction of the powers of the Govern
ment. Nearly all the Councillors APP
pointed by the crown are to be taken
from the people who received votes
from the electors, or have been proni-
nent in the business community, or are
among the principal taxpayers. Enrique
Varona, the member of the New York
Junta, and even people now in the
field, could be appointed Councillors by
the crown and officers elected.
'"The object of the reforms in Cuba and
Porto Rico is to transfer to the consejo
de administration of each island powers
which hitherto have been attributes of
the Government officials, and exercised
in Madrid. The essential features of the
reforms are herewith given:
This consejo administration is to be
composed of citizens of Porto Rico of six
provincial Assemblymen from the region
in which the next biennial election shall
take place, and six councillors appoint
ed by the Supreme Government. The
councillors appointed by the Govern
ment must be qualified as follows: To
be or to have been President of a Cham
Der of Commerce, of the Economic So
ciety of Friends of the Country or the
Association of Agriculturists; to be or
San Juan or dean of the Corporation of
Lawyers of San Juan de Puerto Rico;
to be or to have for four years previously
been one of the fifty principal tax-pay-
ers of the island to have been a Senator
or Representative to the Cortes in two
or more Legislatures; to have been
elected two or more times President of
the Provincial Assembly, or two years
Mayor of San Juan de Puerto Rico.
Some of the attributes of the council
are these: The Council is to deliberate
lures and revenues of the island; upon
the general accounts which the FL
nance Department of the island must
present annually, within the six months
following the end of the fiscal year; upon
the removals or suspensions of Mayor
and Aldermen; upon the petitions for
legislative reforms that emanate from
the Provincial Assembly.
puerto Rico consists of one province
divided into two regions. In this it
differs from Cuba, which is divided into
bly, is to consist of six Assemblymen,
SIX from edcn region, WITH d term or
office of four years. The election to fill
the vacant seats shall take place every
two years, the region of San Juan vot-
ing at one election and the region of
Ponce at another The Provincial AS
sembly is to elect its own President to
judge of elections, returns and qualifica-
tions of the Assemblymen, and to decide
all questions referring to its own organ
ization under the law"