Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-14
Senior Quesada Dissects the Plan for
Cuban Autonomy.
TEE DECEITS IN SAGASTA'S DECREE
The Proposed Reforms Will Never
Be Accepted by Cubans.
SPANS LAST CARD PLAYED

Senior Gonzalo de Quesada, charge daft
flares Of the Cuban republic, was visited by
a reporter for The Star this morning in his
apartments at the Raleigh and asked for
his views upon the effect of the plan
for autonomy in Cuba recently promulgat-
ed by Premier Sagasta. Senior Quesada
was much disinclined to talk but, after
persuasion, consented, realizing that the
matter was Of great Importance to repre-
sentatives and senators, who might be
brought to the consideration of the Cuban
question at any time
1--WE have at last received the official
text of the so-called home-rue reform
which Spain has announced she has ex-
tended to Cuba" said Senior Gonzalo de
Quesada. TT came in the mail last night
and occupies the whole issue of the I'M
parcial of November 81. Its perusal shows
that all claims made regarding it by the
Cubans are borne out. 1t is mere trick
TO delay the inevitable action of the United
states IN recognizing the independence Of
Cuba and to dupe, if possible, the Cubans
now in arms.
THE very preamble addressed to the
queen gives away the Spanish case" con-
1nued Quesada. fer Sagasta in it, speaking
about the powers that will remain to the
Spanish government. says that nothing
which is essential to the sovereignty has
been forgotten. In nothing is the central
authority SPAIN diminished or lessened.'
In this same preamble Sagasta speaks about
the right of Cuba to make it's tariff, which
has caused such a protest in SPAIN and
Sc sure is he that the Cuban chambers
made up of men favorable to Spanish in
terests will arrange this tariff in conformi-
ty with Spanish desires that he says: If the
iESular government was already constituted
and we could arrange a system of com
mercial relations with 1t there would be no
Iced to give this question proportions
winch 1t has not, or to announce ruin
misfortune. The Spanish government to
calm the alarms has anticipated events.
and instead of leaving the determination of
this question to the natural workings Of the
new constitution has fixed from now the
basis of the future mercantile relations be-
tW cen Spain and Cuba.
Further on" said Senior Quesada, "in
article 40 of the laws of the reform, the
differential duty in favor Of Spanish prod
ucts is put at the modest figure of 30 per
cent. Another point touched in Sagasta's
preamble is the most important one of the
debt, and here we are told that it will be
distributed with equity when the termina-
tion of the war will allow it's final total to
be determined
Full of Subtcrfuge and Deceit.
AS We shall see further on in discussing
more fully the decree of the alleged reform
1t Is filled with subterfuges and deceits.
In order to put these DEGREES into opera
of Spain to Cuba has been promulgated
At first sight, this would seem to be a
great concession, but when we consider
that In Spain itself the government in DOW
er always obtains control of the elections
determining beforehand the number and
the names Of the deputies who shall be re-
turned to the cortes, the emptiness of the
cner can be readily seen. In order that /
will not seem to be partial in this opinion
he continued, Il will quote the words Of the
Inc v>ia ord ~
to this and to the law of public order
which can be promulgated according to the
decree whenever the governor general of
Cuba sees fit: We 0he Spaniards) here and
there take advantage of and defeat the
intention Of even the best laws. The Gu
bans cannot fail to fear that the general
government of Spain will not only use to
its own advantage the law of public order
but that it will thwart the will Of the Gu
ban as the ministers constantly do in Spain,
Notwithstanding the many precautions
taken to prevent it. The want of conf
dence that Spanish colonies have in Spain
will not be the least obstacle to the success
of the effort to get the Cuban rebels to
give up their arms
The Cuban Parliament.
Continuing his discussion of the decree,
Senior Quesada said:
Coming to the section which provides
for the composition Of the upper Cuban
chamber, called the council of adminstra-
ton, 1t declares that eighteen members
shall be elected and seventeen members ap-
pointed by the governor general in the
name Of the king. Any impartial observer
can see that this upper chamber will be
always controlled by Spain, and If we fur
Their consider the requisites for membership,
no doubt can remain as to this. 1t Is neces-
sary to have an annual income Of $1,000
for men to be either elected or selected
to the the council of administration,
he hot
wealth and not wisdom or ability is
the prime requisite for such preferment.
This income requirement would keep out
the great ma jority of representative Cubans
of the professional classes, such as lawyers,
physicians, journalists and the other brainy
men who are usually selected for such po-
sitions. and would open the doors TO many
Spaniards, who have gained ill-gotten for
tunes by reason Of the Cuban war. Amer
leans can judge from this If the decree does
not seek legislation in favor of the privi-
legged few, who will strive to maintain their
monopoly of Cuban affairs at all hazards.
Article 7 of the decree" he continued,
goes on to enumerate the different posi-
tons which the councillors to be appointed
by the governor general must have occu-
Lied in order to make them eligible. This
again reduces the number of possible Gu
bans to such an extent that 1t can be safe
ly asserted that, even II the crown wanted
to be liberal with the Cubans, not one-thlrd
of the council could be nominated from
Cuba Is the only requisite fer the appoint
ment of a councillor, and this, 1t can be
seen, will not work to the detrimcnt of
Spanish appointments.
Conditions May Be Changed.
Article shows in more emphatic way
the subtlety Of the Spanish intention to ap-
pear sincere when 1t provides that tine con-
ditions necessary for the appointment of
councillors may be changed by a law OF
the kingdom on the petitioa or request of
the insular chambers as If it would be so
easy for the insular chambers to agree to
deprive themselves of the sinecures they
enjoy. Further, there Is nothing In the
whole decree to tell us whether, in case the
chambers do petition for such changes or
fer anything else, and Spain does not ac-
cede to the request, what way will be left
to force such desired changes or requests.
Spain's Subtle Intentions.
ut is provided that members Of the Gu
ban house of representatives. good name,
by the way, for American consumption
shall be elected for five years. This con-
clusively shows that Spain intends thet for
at least the first five years it will have q