The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-30
DELOME ON AUTONOMY.
TINE SPANISH MINISTER EXPLAINS
SOME or THE FEATURES.
MisapprehensIon Prevails. He says-He
Compares the Canadian Law with the
Cubap--The IrreconciIabIe

De LONE the Spanish Minister here. 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 feat
| ures and clear up doubts which had arisen
from the unofficial reports which have
come from Madrid. Speaking OF the new
laws, the Minister said to-day:
II regret that much msapprehension
has arisen over the new law. owing to the
| very meagre reports heretofore received
| concerning IL. | must admit also that
have been astonished Al the disposition in
some quarters to criticise small technical
! features without looking at the broad.
| general character of the new reform law.
A REVERSAL.
1T is "A measure which will stand the
closest scrutiny and ! am very DESTROYS
that American people should look into II
| with care, studying II and comparing IL
with other constitutional methods OF gov
| erning colonies. Such study. | am sure
| will fully vindicate the law and commend
| II 10 the people of this country outside Of
| those irrecOncilables who are always to
be met with. one of the recent criticisms
| Is that this plan OF autonomy Is the same
az the old plan with some changes Of de-
tail. AS matter of fact, the new plan is
a complete reversal Of the policy and plat
forms OF the autonomists during the last
twenty years
an advisory body. II did not have final
authority I'm making laws. but merely ad-
Nised as to those laws. Now. however.
the new law proposes TO give Cuba par
liamentary body OF fun law-making pow
er. The completeness OF this legislative
power is as great If not greater than that
enjoyed by Canada or by any state OF
the United States. This is readily dem
til "a
new law with that OF the British North
American act OF 1867. which establishes
the present parliamentary system Of Can
ada. 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
member holding a life tenure. with -
| qualification that no member ~ eligible
unless enjoying an income Of A,0Do. The
new Cuban upper house Is along the same
general lines. but IS far less stringent
Instead of the crown appointing all Of
the upper house as In the case Of Can
ada. the Spanish crown is to appoint only
half the members OF the upper house
Of Cuba. The other half are to be elect
ed by the people Of Cuba. every five
years.
CUBA AND CANADA.
There is a $1,000 property qualification
for membership of the upper house OF
Cuba. which is the same AZ that I'm Can
ada. The same comparison holds good
between the proposed lower house In
Cuba and the lower house in Canada.
There is a 81 800 property qualification for
members Of the lower house in Canada,
and also a qualification as to those who
may vote for such members. But I'm the
new plan for Cuba there is no property
qualification as TO THE electors. II Is one
man. one vote: the same. be he black or
white.
"If the new home rule law is compared
with the system prevailing in the sey,,,
eral States of the United States II VIII
| be found that Cuba Is TO have far
| greater measure of constitution of her
| own than do the several States in this
country. For instance she is given con-
| troll Of her postal affairs control OF her
| banking and currency, and control OF her
| customs.
When IT was suggested TO the Minister
! that among certain classes no plan or
| autonomy was acceptable. he said;
Certainly. there are irreconcilables on
| both sides-Spanish irreconcilables ana
! Cuban rreconcilables But they IRE NOT
| the ones 10 be considered II Is the people
| at large ar the material interests OF
| Cuba that are TO be considered. The Gu
ban irrecOncilable says he Will not accept
this new law. He Goes not point OUT us
| defects or suggest remedies. He simply
| declines 20 accent IL. such men are OUT
of court They are not open to argument
There IS n feature which should be
| noted For the first time the Government
a part of the debt Of Cuba. The pay
| ment of this debt Is 10 be arranged bN
the Cortes. but IT IS 10 be.on basis sat
| isfactorv To both parties.
RrGFpN ATTcNS
Recurring TO the constitutional privi-
lees cuba would enjoy. the Minister was
asked II this was not qualihed 10 some
extent by the right Of approval reserved
to the governor-general III certain vi
III will be found. on examining the
new law" answered the Minister mat
the governor-general has this reserved
right only in three speclhc cises, VIII
the general rule Is that the laws go into
effect without .eserve. Furthermore.
these three reservations are the same as
those given 10 any colonial executive.
This will he found 10 he me cas-. ,Sc-
aiming the British American act or lSbi'
already referred TO. In snort tnere y,
nothing unusual in these reservations III
a few specific cases OF national charac-
ter but Il Is the universal prlnclple lh
! the constitutional government OF colohl'0.
THAT honest investigation or the new
law will show its broad scope and liberal
provisions is shown by a dispatch ! nave
lust received from friend IN MADRID
continued the Minister.
I. Gle states that Mr. Gihcrga has
statement in the Liberal strongly APPROX
ing the new law. This Mr.. blperEa -
one of the most prominent autononlstS %.
Cuha He was elected as an autonOHiS'
Ia the Cortes. but declined owing to ms
hostility to the former government Late-
ly ne has been in Paris and now gives inns
strong approval Of the home rule Jaw
cAPTAIN-GENER CABINET.
Senior Dupuy De LONE. the Spanish MIN
lister. had an interview with Assistant
Secretary Day to-day. II is the plan or
Captain-Gencral Blanco 10 take steps Tor
the immediate execution OF the reform
schemes of the Madrid Government and
to do this legally a provisional arrange
ment will be made. Captain-General
Rlanco will appoint directly full acting
cabinet. composed Of a Secretary Of the
Interior and Justice who will be the
Premier. n Secretary Of Finance. Sec
retary of Public Instruction a Secretary
Of Public Works and finally a Secretary
of Agriculture Industry and Commerce.
With this Cabinet the Captain-General
will have at his hands the means for fully
equipped legislative government. which
will last only until the elections shall
have resulted in the choice OF new
government. These elections are DELAYED
II Is said only by reason OF the lack OF
an accurate census of the population ~
Cuba. which is essential IN order 10 ap-