The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1897-02-10
THE SCHEME APPROVED BY SPAIN |
FOR CUBAN REFORMS.
The Text Of the Original Articles Made
Public.


scheme OF Cuban reform, ns approved by the
queen regent In formal decree. Tho follow
ing is full extract OF the decree proper.
without the preamble. article by articles
Article The laws Of March 10, 1895, will
be ampliiied In accordance with the follow
Ing rules, which will be developed In by
laws.
Rule First The municipalities and assemb-
lies OF the six provinces OF the island OF Cuba
(Pinar del Rio, Havana, Matanzas, Santa
Clara, Puerto Principe and Santiago dc Cubn)
will enjoy all the liberties compatible with
tho laws and respect OF, individual rights.
The assemblies will have the right TO elect
its presidents. In each assembly there will
be nm executive committee, elected by the as
sembly every six months, and its president
will be elected by said committee. The
mayors and deputy mayors will be elected by
the municipalities from amongst the NOM
bcrs. They will exercise without Limitation,
the active functions OF the municipal nd
minstration ns executors ofthe decisions OF
the municipalities. The provincial assemb-
lies will have the right to suspend the de-
cision OF tho municipalities when they go
beyond the limits OF tho municipal rights;
but In this case. the municipalities will have
the right OF appeal TO the highest court Of
the province The provincial assemblies will
have large powers in matters Of taxes In nc
cordance with the general and local system
OF taxation.
Thirty-Five Councillors.
Rulo Socond-The council of ndminstrn-
tion OF the island will be- composed OF 30
councillors; II OF them will be elected di-
rectly by tho people, with the same condl-
tions and census that elects the provincial
assemblies and the municipalities, according
to the rule established In article III. OF tho
law ot March l5 1896. Nine will be as fol-
lows: Tho president Of the University Of
Havana, the president OF the chamber OF
economical societies Of the friends OF the
country OF Havana, the president Of the
Planters association, tho president OF the
Tobacco Manufacturers Union, ono member
representing the chapters Of the ca,hodrals
Of Havana and OF Santiago do Cuba, ono rop-
resenting nll tho trades associations Of
Havana, two designated among the taxpay-
| ers Of the province OF Havana.
Tho other ilvo will be senators or repre-
sentatives to the cortes, who have been elect
ed by the island OF Cuba In greater num-
bor OF general elections.
The govcrnor-general will be honorary
president of tho council and the actual pre-
sldent will be nominated by tho governor
general from among the members OF the
council. The members OF the cortes, during
their term, cannot bo councillors OF admins
| tration.
| Bulo Third--The cortcs will determine tho
amount of expenses OF sovereignty Imperial
| budget.
! Rule Fourtli-The attributes OF the council
| OF administration, as regards tho customs
tariff, will Jo as follows:
! Frst-It will flx all rules for the applica-
/ tlon OF the custom duties.
/ Socond-It will decide what Is most con-
| venient regarding taxes on exports.
Thlrd-It will fix or modify the fiscal du-
| ties for revenue on importations In tho ISL
and.
| Fourth-It is to be heard in nm advisory
manner regarding tho rules. classiiicatlons
and selection OF duties.
These rights will have the following limi-
! tations;
! First--Natlonal products directly imported
to Cubn will enjoy indispensable protection,
taking into consideration that the taxes on
I foreign products will be for revenue only.
! second-Taxos for revenue established by
! the council OF administration will be APP
! piled alike to foreign and to national pro-
| duets.
! Third-Taxes on exports will be equally
! levied and will not be dfferential; but It will
| be possible TO except from these rules the
| direct exports to Spain for homo consump-
! tlon.
rhe custom tariff will have the following
| form. 1t will consist Of two columns; Ono
for revenue only, equally applied and In the
samo proportion to foreign and home pro-
ducts, and the other column will consist OF
I
products, and where there will be margin
! OF protection for the national industry, with
maximum thatthe cortes will establish.
The government will fix. for tho first time,
the articles OF the tariff which will mako up
| the diiferential columns. Tho taxes will not
exceed 20 per cent OF the vaus of the articles.
Rule Fifth-Refers to tho powers OF the
| goyernor-general to appoint employees In
the offices Of the general government, and In
the offices OF the civil governors OF the pro-
! vinces.
Rulo Sixth--Reiers to the secretariat of tie
general government; the powers OF the in
tendante (head Of treasury comptroller,
| director Of local administration; names the
clerks In their offices.
| Rule Seyen--Refers to tho appointment OF
government employees by tho governor-gen-
| erai, who must be Cuban born or peninsulars,
! who have resided at least two years in the
island. These appointments Will ba made
| with the advice and consent OF the council OF
administr alton, and with regard to the legal
and proper qualifications OF the nominees.
! Rule Eight-Refers to the members OF the
Judiciary, who will be only appointed among
Cuban born or persons having resided two
| years In the island. The municipal judges
| Justices OF the peace), will be appointed by
election by members OF tho municipalities,
supplemented by II number OF electors chosen
by the people.
! Rule Ninth-The council OF administration
will respect the actual pending contracts, and
VI the expiration OF the same will have the
right to accept or to repeal them. The coun-
\ ell will also have the power OF enforcing In
the island the treasury laws OF the peninsula
nnd OF entering into q contract with the
Bank OF Cuba A special decree, which will
be submitted to tho cortes will contain the
rules for the maintenance Of public order,
and the suppression OF secessionist move
| ments.
Article 1.-THE government will embody
In a single decree the present rules and those
of tho laws OF May is. 1895. developing both
In bylaws, which shall not change the strict
sense OF the present decree.
Article III.--Disposes that the above men,
toned rules will apply also TO Puerto Rico.
Article Iv.--The date for tho application
to Cuba of the law OF 1895 aud the present
decree to Cuba and Puerto Rico will be fixed
by tho Government ~ soon as the state OF
the war will permit It