Evening star., 1897-02-06
A HOLLOW MOCKERY
How the Cubans in This City Regard the
Alleged Reforms.
Senior Quesnda Suspects the Preroga-
tfves of the Captain GeneraI-SOme
of the Propositions.

Senior Quesada, charge d'affafres OF the
Cuban legation in this city. does not care
to talk today about the alleged reforms
offered by the Spaniards to the Cubans- A
text of the reforms was sent out from
Madrid yesterday, but Senior Quesada does
not believe II is full text, and he desires
to reserve comment until he sees the full
text He regards with suspicion the fact
that nothing is sent out of the prerogatives
of the captain general, which is an I'M
portant thing to the Cubans. He thinks
this portion Of the decree has been pur-
posely kept back.
Cubans gene rally in the city look upon
TIE alleged text as a hollow mockery, and
Trey point to the fact that notwithsrand-
Ing a council of administration is granted
the cortes will be the final Judge of all
Things, thus taking what power is granted
away from the people.
Council of fAdministratfon.
The council of administration provided
for by the new decree is to be composed of
thirty-fve councillors. Twenty-one of
these are to be elected directly by the peo-
pie and the remainder will be composed of
Spanish officials. This is the principal re-
FORM granted. The criticism made of this
oy the Cubans here is that of the TWENTY
DeODIG
the probability is that the Spaniards wonId
eject some of these, enough to give them
control of the body
BESIDES the council of administration. the
p,os ,uces are permitted assemblies and the
municipalities are allowed to elect mayors
me assemblies will hay, the right To aIact
their presidents ~ eiee'
Inc governor general of the island will
pc honorary president of the council of sd-
mnlstraticn. and will nominate the octua,
No
council The council will be allowed 70
eieut e., us own officers and clerks.
Inc power of the council of adm,nistr.
as follows D. WHICH Is
The cortes will determine the amount of
the expenses OF sovereignty dmI,erja1 ey
Pehses) and will determine the total of tho
~ 10 meet that amount the council
~ aulhiihstratlon Will accord every wear
tne taxes and revenues necessary to s,innI,,
.he expenses approved by the cortes ONLY
III the case of the council of admiuistration
~ no' having approved and voted by the LIST
VI July the taxes and revenues necessary
10 meet the budget approved by the cortes
tne governor general will decree them will
the advice of the intendente"
The Customs Tariff
Under rule is the following:
The customs tariff will have the follow
ing form: 1t will consist of two columns.
one Tor revenues only. equally applied in
'he same proportion to foreign and home
products. and the other column will con-
slst OF differential duties imposed on all
foreign products, and where there will he
margin OF protection for the national in
dustry, with a maximum that the cortes
Will establish. The government will fix. for
the nrst time. the articles Of the tariff
Whlch Will make up the differential COL
umns. Ihe taxes will not exceed 20 per
cent of the value of the articles
The commercial treaties or conventions
affecting the tariff Of Cuba will be special.
In oroer 10 establish reciprocity there will
not be in them the most favored nation
clause or its equivalent.
The council of administration will be
consulted over the advisability of nego-
5lating commercial treaties and conyen-
tions which 1t is the intention of the gov
ernment to negotiate, and this will be done
before the final drafting of the treaty and
It's presentation for the approval of the
cortes.'
Mayors of Frincipalities.
Ihe governor general will be authorized
to name delegates in the municipalities to
exercise executive functions, but in no case
VIII be allowed to interfere with the proper
functions of the mayors Of the municipai-
tiles.
Ruie refers to the members of the ju-
dietary, who will be only appointed
~ "oAh' Vi PeiSous HdVing re-
sized two years in the island. The mu-
nlclpal judges Justices of the peace) will
De appointed by election by the members
OF the municipalities. supplemented by a
number OF electors chosen by the people.
RuIe o. The council Of administration will
respect the actual pending contracts and
at the expiration of the same will have the
rlght to accept or to repeal them The
council VIII also have the power of enforc-
ing in the island the treasury laws of the
peninsula, and of entering into contract
with the Bank of Cuba. A special decree
which VIII be submitted to the cortes will
contain the rules for the maintenance of
public order and the suppression of seces-
sionist movements.