Omaha daily bee., 1897-11-30
BROAD SCOPE OF AUTONOMY
spanish Minister at Washington Analyses
Cuba's New Law.
MAKES LIBERAL CONCESSIONS TO ISLAND
Drafted After the Rules Governing
Canada IL Goes Further In some
a. Particulars Toward Gem
crnl Liberty.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-Senor Dupuy dc
LONE. tho Spanish minister, has received
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 inn
portant features and clear up doubts which
had arisen from the unofficial reports which
havo come from Madrid. Speaking Of the
new law tho minister said today:
al regret that much apprehension has
arisen over the new law owing to the very
meager reports heretofore received concern
ing 1t. | must admit, also that | have been
astonished at the disposition in some quar-
ters to crlticise small technical features
without looking at the broad general char
acter of the new reform law. IL Is a meas
ure that will stand the closest scrutiny and
] am very desirous that the American people
should look into It with care studying 1t and
comparing 1t with other constitutional meth
DDS OF governing colonies. Such study, l am
sure. will fully vindicate the law and com
mend II TO the people Of this country out
side OF those irreconcilables who are always
to be met with.
DIFFERS FROM THE OLD LAW.
"One OF the recent criticisms is that this
plan of autonomy is the same the old one
with some changes of detail AS matter OF
fact the new plan is a complete realization OF
the policy and platforms of the autonom!st
party during the last twenty years. The old
Vlan of autonomy cavo to Cuba an advisory
BODY. It did not have a final authority in
making laws, but merely advised as to those
laws. Now. however the new law p opcses
to give Cuba a parliamentary body of full
lawmaklng power. The completeness OF this
Legislative power is great, If not greater,
than that enjoyed by Canada, or by any state
OF the United States.
This Is readily demonstrated by compdr-
ing the plan of the new law with that of the
Brtish North American act of 1867, which
establishes the present parliamentary sys-
TEN of Cuba. According to the Canadian
law the Canadian Parliament consists of two
bodies The upper house is made up Of
members appointed by the crown, each mem
Der holding life tenure, with a qualifca-
tion that no member is eligible unless he has
an income of 1900. The provision Of the
new Cuban upper house Is alcng the same
general line, but is far less stringent. In
stead of the crown appointing all OF the
upper house as in the case of Canada, the
Spanish crown Is to appoint only one-half
of the upper house of Cuba. The other half
Is to be elected by the people of Cuba every
five years. There is $4,000 property quail
fcaton for membership Of the upper hou9e
of Cuba, which Is the same that in
Canada.
UNRESTRICTED FRANCHISE.
There is a $25OO property qualification
for members of the lower house in Canada,
and also property qualification as to those
who may vote for such members. But in
the new plan for Cuba there are no property
qualifications as to the electors 1t Is one
man, one vote, the same be he black or
white.
"If the new home rule is compared with
the systems prevailing in the several states
OF the United States ii viii be found that
Cuba is to have a far greater measure OF
control OF its own affairs than do the eev-
oral states in this country. For instance, 1t
is given control of it's currency and customs
This last feature is most important. 1t
gives to the Cuban Parliament entire ccn-
troll of the tariff, with the condition that
there shall be preferential duties for Spain
not exceeding 35 per cent
at should be understood that these prefer
ential duties are not an unusual thing Ever
under the last reciprocity treaty between the
United States and Cuba, which is conceded tC
have been the most satisfactory reciprocity
treaty made by the United States, there was
a preferential duty of so per cent to Spain
Under the new law this is cut to 30 per cent
Moreover, 1t should be understood the prefer
entail duties do not cover all the tariff sched
ules as they did when the United States and
Cuba had reciprocity treaty, but cover only
limited number of articles These articles
doubtless will be SO chosen as not to affec
the trade between the United States ant
CUBA, so IndJ WHlie SPAIN tne PiSiSi
ence from its colony it will not be prefer
ence as against the United States.
ASSUMES PART OF CUBA'S DEBT.
"There is another feature which should
be noted. For the first time the government
has said officially that Spain will assume 8
part of the debt of Cuba The payment OF
this debt Is to be arranged by the Cortes
but 1t is to be on a basis satisfactory tc
both parties"
Recurring to the legislative powers which
Cuba would enjoy the minister was asked Il
these were not to be qualified to some eXten
by the right OF approval reserved to the gov
ernor general in certain cases.
at will be found on examining the new
law" answered the minister, that the gov
ernor general has this reserved right only il
three specific cases, while the general rule
Is that the laws go into effect without re
serve Furthermore, these three reservations
are the same as those given to the governor
general of Canada to any other colonia
executive. This will be found to be the case
by examining the Brltish-American act O.
1867 referred to-