The record-union., 1897-01-10
Tne Prosecuting Attorney Makes a Strong
Plea Against the Prisoner,
insisting That Defendant Deserved a
Life Sentence,

Skirmishes Reported i'm the Island,
i'm Which Spanish Troops Suffer
Small Losses.
HAVANA, JAN 9.-The trial of Luis
Scneillan, a naIturalized American clu-
zen, who is charged with conspiring
against the Spanish Government, was
continued at l o'clock this afternoon.
Official duties prevented dConsul-General
Lee from being present, but he sent a
representative to watch the proceed
ings in the interest of the accused.
After the witnesses had concluded
their testimony, which contained moth
ing material TO support the the charge
against the prisoner, the prosecuting
attorney made a long speech that was
full of patriotic Spanish sentiment. He
said he despised those citizens of the
United States who had enrolled them
selves under the flag of a great and no.
bic nation for the sole purpose of pro-
tecting themselves in their conspira-
cies against nation with which the
United States was at peace and on
friendly terms.
He declared that if the material
charges against Someillan had not been
clearly proved, there was a moral con-
viction that he was guilty, and was
therefore deserving of being imprisoned
for life. With much vehemence he urged
the Judges to remember Spain's honor
above all other considerations and to
decide the case according to their con-
victions.
The court then adjourned until Mon
day, when counsel for the defense Will
be heard.
The report that Domingo de Ia Cara,
a Mexican citizen, had been murdered
by Spanish troops in Guanabacoa on
the occasion of the demonstration there
in honor of Colonel Fondeville, the mil
itary commander of that town, IS un-
true. The Mexican Consul here says
that De la Cara was killed in q. drunk
en- brawl and that no political signifi-
canoe can be attached to his death
General Arolas has arrived in Ha-
vana from Pinar del Rio. 1t is said that
he has been ordered to proceed to the
central trocha, which extends from Ju-
caro- to Moron in the province of Pu-
erto Principe.
The Queen Regent has conferred upon
Senor Don Prudencio Rabell, promi-
nent member of the Refornist party,
and managing director of ''Diario de la
Marina" the title of Marquis Rabell-
She has also conferred the great cross
fer naval merit upon the Mayor of Ha-
vana. Senior Don Antonio Quesada; the
great cross for military merit upon
Senor Don Jose Maria GalveZ, Chair
man of the Autonomist party, and the
White Cross for military merit upon
the correspondent of a. New York news
paper whose dispatches always favor
the Spanish cause, have created a de-
cided impression in his favor among
the military commanders here, who
urged General Weyler to recommend to
the Queen Regent that he be honored
for his services in the interest Of Spain.
TALKED OF REFORMS.
NEW YORK, Jam "a special to
the World" from Madrid says: The
decisive stage is rapidly approaching
for ascertaining the real drift in the re-
lations between Spain and her West In
dian colonies and between Spain and
the United States The issue now rests
entirely with the Madrid Government,
as all aspects and the eventualities Of
erately, fully and frankly laid before
the Duke of Tetuan and Premier Cano-
vos very lately.
1t is no secret in political and diplo-
matte circles in Madrid that the Amer
lean Government cannot accept the re-
forms decreed for Porto Rico. But the
United States Executive might induce
Congress- and public opinion in the
Tni4 4a6 70 fn 70 a a def
mite formula Of what Spain intends to
place on record as her final concession
for the settlement of the Cuban ques-
ton People outside of Spain jumped
at the erroneous conclusion that the
Madrid Government was on the high
road to granting the West Indian colo
nies self government similar to that of
Canada and Australia Nothing of the
kind was ever intended, either by the
present Gov vernTnent 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 go so far in her colonial
reforms as to establish a Canadian re-
gime. Autonomy in the English sense
of the word was not contemplated by
Senior Sagasta as Premier and Senior
Abar1Iza as Colonial Minister, when
they requested and explained the as
sent of all the Spanish parties in jan
uarv. 1895. to the famous bill which
Premier Canovas and his Minister for
the Colonies made use of in issuing ON
New Years Day, 1897, DEGREES reorgan-
izing and increasing the powers of the
Governor and granting only admins
trative municipal and provincial re-
forms in Porto Rico.
In fact, under these DEGREES the mu-
nicipal and provincial councils there
viii be organized on much the same
lines as the Spanish Provincial Coun-
ellis and municipalities, with about the
same control over purely local matters
and over that part of the revenues
from taxation destined for public works.
education and strictly local administra-
ton, subject, however, to the super
vision and the veto of the superior au-
thorities and the Governor appointed
by Spain. The majority of the Insular
Council are to be composed of nomi-
nees of the crown. The minority is to
be elective.
This Council it not intended to be in
any way a legislative body, but an as
sembly which will be consulted in we'll
defined cases, and may express wishes
or opinions not at all binding on the Gov
erunlent. The Insular Council is not
parliament, but a consulting assembly,
with limited control over the acts of the
Provincial and Municipal Councils
1oor+n pfcn will continue 10 he repre-