The herald., 1897-01-10
SPA|N'S INTENTION
TOWARD THE cUBANS
Does Not Include Local
Self-GOvernment
AyIONOiY N THE ENFlISH SENSE
Was Never Dreamed of by the
Spanish Leaders
THE PORTO PlCAN REFORMS
Known to Be Unacceptable to the United
States
THE PORTO PlCAN REFORMS
Known TO Be Unacceptable to the United
States
Il They Were the Insurgents Would DecIlas
to Accept
Testimony Taken In Someillan's Case.
The Dauntless Wants Clearance
Papers TO Cuba-Texas Rangers
Distinguish Themselves

Associated Press Special Wire
NEW YORK, Jan. "a special to the
World from Madrid says: The decisive
stage is rapidly approaching for ascer-
tanning the real drift in the relations be-
tween Spain and her West Indian colon
les, and with the United States The is
sue now rests entirely with the Madrid
government, as all the aspects and event.
ualities Of the question have been kindly,
considerably, fully and frankly Laid
before the duke of Tetuan and Premier
Canovas very lately.
1t is no secret in political and dfplo-
matte circles in Madrid that the Ameri-
can government cannot accept the re-
forms decreed for Porto Rico. But the
United States executive might induce
congress and public opinion In the Unit
ed States to take them as a definite for
mula of what Spain intends to place on
record as her final concessions for tho
settlement of the Cuban question. Peo-
pie outside Of Spain jumped at the err
roneous conclusion that the Madrid gov
ernment was on the high road to grant
ing the West Indian colonies self gov
ernment, similar to that OF Canada and
Australia. Nothing of the kind was
ever intended either by the present gov
ernment or by any Spanish political
party.
Premier Canovas only expressed the
sentiment of the majority of the Span
iards when he said recently that Spain
could never SO so far in her colonial re-
forms as to establish Canadian regime.
Autonomy in the English sense Of the
word was not contemplated by Senator
Sagasta as premier and Senor Abrausa
as colonial minister, when they request
ed and obtained the assent of all the
Spanish parties in January, 1895, to the
famous bill which Premier Canovas and
his minister for the colonies made use
of in issuing on New Years day, 1895,
DEGREES reorganizing and increasing the
powers of the governor and granting
only administrative municipal and pro-
vincial reforms in Porto Rico.
In fact, under these DEGREES the mu-
nicipal and provincial councils will be
organized on much the same lines as the
Spanish provincial councils and munici-
palities, with about the same control
over purely local matters and over that
tined for public works. education and
strictly local administration, subject
however, To the provision and the veto
OF the superior authorities and the gov
ernor appointed by Spain. The majority
of the insu1ar council will be composed
of nominees Of the crown. The minority
is to be elective. This council is not in
tended to be in any way a legislative
body, but an assembly, which will be
consulted in well designated cases, and
may express wishes or opinions, not all
binding on the government The insular
council is not a parliament but a con-
sulting assembly with limited control
over the acts of provincial councils.
Porto Rico will continue to be repre-
sented in the Spanish cortes by two
! senators and twelve deputies, elected in
| the island by a very restricted franchise.
The imperial parliament Will con tinue
to discuss and vote legislative budgets
and tariff for the West Indies drawn up
and presented by the minister for the
colonies. All the branches of the civil
service, courts OF justice and customs
service, will continue to be recruited, in
the mother country. The army, navy
and police Will remain in the hands Of
the imperial government and the gov
ernor VIII have full control of the local
militia and the volunteers. The imperial
parliament above all will retain power
TO regulate the trade and tariffs of the
colonies, whose treaties OF commercS
will be negotiated by the Madrid exec
utive.
SOMEILLAN'S CASE
HAVANA, Jan. 9.-The trial Of Luis
Someillan. charged with conspiracy
against the Spanish government, was
resumed this afternoon. General Lee,
consul l-general for the United States,
was not in attendance. A number of
witnesses We're examined and the prose-
cutting attorney summed up the case fos
! the government. He said that the tribs
unal should accept as proven the evis
! dence presented by the witnesses
against the prisoner and impose a. life
sentence upon Someilan. He recalled
| Sanguillys trial and said it was only a
similar act Of the great drama. In one
case, the arrogant soldier was apparNrt-
ly the chief character in the other case
the play centered around a common
laboring gman. Both, however were
working by dark and underhanded
means for O common end. Someillan