Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-02
SPANS FORM or AUTONOMY.
Concessions tn Cuba Decided on by
Council of Ministers.

| willing 10 grant TO Cuba was decided upon
in Madrid Thursday at a council Of
the Ministers presided over by the Queen
| Regent The decree still lacks the official
| endorsement of the COrtes, but this II Is
believed will be easily obtainable when
| conditions have reached such "a point that
! the Spanish authorities believe the re-
! forms can be Introduced in Cuba without
disturbance and turmoil from any dis
contented factions. This information
/ reached the Spanish legation at Wash
| ngton Thursday night. and Minister De
| Lone was authorized to make public the
concessions agreed upon. These reforms
are to 20 into effect Immediately in
/ Porto Rico and were announced Thurs
/ day i'm the desire to promulgate them as
a NewYears gift to the citizens Of Porto
| Rico.
These same measures Of relief, it is
| said. win be announced in Cuba so soon
| as the pacihcatiOn of the island is such
| that the reforms can be brought about
| without such revolt as would now be
caused by the insurgents. It is claimed
/ that should the rebellious portions Of the
/ island indicate their willingness TO ac-
| cept the system Of home rule suggested
/ by Spain and cease the Instruction the
/ reforms would Immediately 80 into effect.
Though the decree announced Thurs lay
| is intended az present for Porto Rico
alone when they are effected in Cuba
they will be on an enlarged scale, and
Porto RICO will also be favored with the
larger rights allowed Cuba. Friends OF
the Spanish legation here state that these
reforms were not brought about by the
intermediatiOn of the United States.
TALK WITH DE LONE.
Senior De Lone said Thursday night in
Washington: "The reform law was
voted by the parties i'm February, 1893.
II was then accepted by the autonomist
PARTY. ana received a unanimous vote IN
the Cortcs Among the voters were such
conspicuous autonomists as Mentro,
Giberga. Labra. Ferry. Fernando, and
Gonzales. AN Cubans. The leaders OF
the aut0nOmist party Of POr.o Rico nave
been I'm Madrid this winter and the royal
decree entirely meets with their app
prevail What has been printed as new
plan of reform is nothing but the law OF
1895 Published by the Span sh legation
in May last in the pamphlet entitled /
Spanish Rule in Cuba" The restrictions /
or the appointment OF councillors are not
against the people. but restriction OF /
tine powers OF the government Nearly
all the councillors appointed by the crown 4
are 10 bee taken from the people that I,
have received votes from the electors or I
have been prominent I'm the business /
community or are among the principal /
taxpayers. Enrique Narona. the mem /
Der of the New York Junta and even /
people now IN the field. could bee app .
pointed councillors by the Crown, and. OF ,
course. elected
The object Of the reforms I'm cuba ana /
Porto Rico is 70 transfer TO the Council /
OK Administration" of each island powers .
which hitherto have been attributes OF
the government officials, and exercised In
Madrid. The reforms as announced state .
that this council OF administration is 70 +
be- composed, in the case Of Porto Rico,
Of sN provincial assemblymen Of the
region I'm which the next biennial mo-
tions shall take place and six councillors
appointed 10y the supreme government.
appointed by the Supreme Government.
COUNCILLORS QUALIFICATIONS.
The councillors appointed by the gov
eminent must be qualified as follows:
To be or to have been president Of
chamber of commerce. of the Economic
Society of Friends Of the Country. or Of
the Association Of Aericulturists.
To be- or 10 have been director Of the
Institute Of San Juan. or dean Of the
corporations Of lawyers of San Juan de
Porto Rico.
TO be or to have been for four years
previously one of the nth principal tax
payers of the island.
To have been a Senator or Representa-
tive TO the Cortes i'm two or more legis-
laturcs.
To have been elected two or more
times President Of the Provincial Assent
bly, or two years Mayor Of San Juan de
Porto Rico.
The council is to deliberate upon the
general estimates OF expenditures and
revenues of the island upon the general
accounts which the Finance Department
of the island must present annually with
I'm the six months following the end OF
the financial year; upon the removal or
suspension Of Mayor or aldermen. and
upon the petitions for legislative re-
forms that emanate from the Provincial
Assembly.
Porto Rico consists Of one province d.
vided IN two regions: in this il differs
from cuba, which is divided into six pro-
vinces.
The Provincial Assembly is to consist
Of twelve assemblymen-six from each re-
gion.
Term OF Office, four years The cleo
ton TO oil the vacant seats IS TO take
place every two years; the region Of
San Juan voting at one election, and the
region of Ponce at another. The Pro-
vincial Assembly TO elect its own Pres-
dent TO judge OF elections. returns. and
qualifications Of the assemblymen, and TO
decide all questions referring 10 its own
organization under the law
only the Supreme Court OF the island
shall have jurisdiction over the appeals
from the decisions OF the Provincial As
sembly in these questions.
PROVINCIAL ASSEMBLY.
The Provincial Assembly shall resolve
in accordance with the laws and regu-
lations whatever il may deem proper for /
the management in the whole island, Of
public works, posts and telegraphs, rail- ]
ways and navigation. agriculture, manu-
features. trade. immigration and colo
nizaton. public instruction. charities. and
the health department, without preju- I
dice of the supervision and OF the powers
inherent 10 the sovereignty Of the ma \
ton, which the laws reserve the supreme /
government. Each year ii shall prepare o
and approve the estimates and sufficient 2
for those departments. a
and shall exercise the functions that I.
these laws of municipalities and other
special laws shall attribute TO 1t. II
shall audit. and I'm the proper cases, r
approve the accounts Of the provincial +
revenues and expenditures, which ac- =
counts shall be rendered every year by y
he section OF local administration. and u
shall determine the liabilities therein in
;urrcd by officials.