Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-30
AUTONOMY FOR CUBA
DETAILS OF THE PLAN PROPOSED
by SPAIN.
MINISTER DE- LONE EXPLAINS
lie Says IL Accords Greater Men-
sure of Home Rule Than IL En-
Union.

|
autonomy which Spain is about to apply
to Cuba. While these do not give the
| text of the new law, they explain all i'm
portant features and clear up doubts
which had arisen from the unofficial re-
ports which have come from Madrid.
Speaking Of the new laws, the Minister
said to-day:
81 regret that much misrepresentation
! has arisen over the new law, owing 10
| the very meagre reports heretofore re-
ceived concerning il. / must admit, also,
that / have been astonished at the dispo-
| sition in some quarters to criticise small
technical features, without looking at the
| broad, general character Of the new re-
form law. IL is a measure which Will
stand the closest scrutiny, and l am very
| DESTROYS that the American people should
look into it with care, studying 1t, ana
comparing it with other constitutional
methods Of governing Colonies. Sucn
study. / am sure, will fully vindicate the
law and commend it TO 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 IL the same as the old plan,
with some changes Of detail. As a mat
ter of fact, the new plan is a complete
reversal OF the policy and platforms OF
the Autonomst party during the last
twenty years.
''The old plan Of autonomy gave to Cuba
an advisory body. 1t did not have final
authority in making laws, but merely adj
vised as to those laws. Now, however
the new law proposes to give Cuba a
parliamentary body Of full lawmaking
power. The completeness Of this legisla-
tive power is as great as, if not greater
than, that enjoyed by Canada or by any
State of the United States. This is
readily demonstrated by comparing the
plan of the new law with that OF the
British North American act Of 1861, when
Established the presem parliamentary
system Of Canada. 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 q LIE
tenure with the qualification that no
member is eligible unless enjoying an in
come of $4,000. The new Cuban upper
house is along the same general lines,
but is far less stringent. Instead of the
Crowns appointing all Of the upper
house. as in the case of Canada, the
Spanish Crown is to appoint only one
half the members Of the upper house OF
Cuba. The other half is TO be elected by
the people Of Cuba every five years. There
is a $1,000 property qualification for mem |
bership of the upper house of Cuba, |
which is the same as that in Canada.
THE same comparison holds good be- |
tween the proposed lower house in Cuba |
and the lower house I'm Canada. There |
is a $3.50 property qualification for MEM |
bers Of the lower house In Canada, and |
also a qualification as to those who may |
vote for such members. But in the new
plan for Cuba there is no property quail
fcation as TO the electors. 1t is one
man, one vote; the same be he black |
or white.
FREER THAN OUR STATES
'If the new home-rule law is COM
pared with the system prevailing in the
several States OF the United States, it
will be found that Cuba is 10 have far
greater measure Of constitution of her
own than do the several States in this
For instance, she is given con-
troll OF her postal affairs, control of her
banking currency, and control Of her
customs.
when it was suggested to the Minis
ter that among certain classes no plan
)f autonomy was acceptable, he said
Certainly, there are irreconcilables
IN both sdes-Spanish irreconcilables
md Cuban irrecOncilables. But they are
lot the ones TO be considered. 1t is the
people at large and the material in
erests OF Cuba that are to be consi-
Tered. The Cuban irreconcilable says he
viii not accept this new law. He does
Tot point out it's defects or suggests
emedes. lie simply declines TO accept
t. Such men are out Of court They
re not open to argument or reason.
There Is a feature which should be |
oted. For the first time the govern
nent has said officially that Spain will
ssume a part of the debt of Cuba. The
ayment of this debt is to be arranged
y the Cortes. but it is TO be on basis
satisfactory to both parties"
Recurring to the constitutional priyi-
eyes Cuba would enjoy, the Minister was
sked If this was not qualified to some
xtent by the right OF approval reserved
o the Governor General I'm certain cir
umstances.
1T will be found, on examining the new
lw," answered the Minister, that the
GOVERNOR General has this reserved right
My in three specific cases, while the |
eneral rule is that the laws 80 into ef-
ect without reserve. Furthermore. these
lree reservations are the same as those
iven to any Colonial executive. This
ill be found to be the case by eXamin- e
X the British-American act of 1867, al q
eady referred TO. In short, there Is z
othing unusual i'm these reservations in
few specific cases Of "A national char ,
ctcr but il is the universal principle I'm
le constitutional government of Colonies.
THAT honest investigation of the new
w will show its broad scope and liberal ,
is shown by dispatch have
st received from a friend in Madrid
,ntinued the Minister. He states that
r. Giberga has a statement in the | d,
LIBERAL, strongly approving the new law. | n
his Mr.. Giberga is one OF the most prom
ent Autonomists of Cuba. He was II
ected as an Autonomist to the Cortes | D,
1t declined, owing to his hostility to
e former government Lately he has Is
zen In Paris. and now gives this strong q.
,proval of the home-rule law" q
ACTING CUBAN CABINET.
ID. c.. November %
nor Dupuy de LONE, the Spanish Min y,
ter had an interview with Assistant q
cretary Day to-day. 1t is the plan Of W
lptain-General Blanco 10 take steps for "
e immediate execution OF the reform ei
hemes of the Madrid Government. and r,
do this legally, provisional arrange "A
emit will be made. Captain-General 81
anco will appoint directly a full acting ii
binet composed OF a Secretary OF the
terror and Justice, who will be rhe
emer, a Secretary Of Finance, a secre-
~ of Public Instruction, Secretary OF A
lblic Works, and finally, Secretary OF III
,riculture, Industry, and Commerce. | 81