The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-30
Comparing It With That Of the Canadian
Government,
CUBA IS VERY MUCH BETTER OFF
And in Some Respects Has More of Self-Gov-
eminent Than the Several States in the
Union-Span viii Assume
Part Of the Debt.

Washington, Nov. 29.-Senor Dupuy De
LONE, the Spanish minister, has re-
ceivsd long DISPATCHES from Madrid,
showing in detail the plan of autonomy
which Spain is about Ito apply to Cuba.
While these do not give the' text of the
new law, thsy explain all important fea-
lures and clear up doubts which had
arlssn from the unofficial reports which
have come from Madrid
Speaking of the new laws, the minister
said today: 1.-THE old plan of autonomy
gave to Cuba an advis5ry body 1t did
not have final authority in making lawl7
but mtrely advised as ito those laws.
Now, however, tbs new law proposes to
give Cuba a parliamentary body of full
lawmaking powers. The completeness
cf this legislative power is as great, if
not greater, than that enjoyed by Can
ada CIR any state of the United States.
This frs readily demonstrated by compar-
ing the plan of the new law With that of
the British North American act of 1867
which established the present parlia-
nlentaf-y law of Canada.
Compared to 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 a Ifs tenure with a
qualification that no member is eligible
unless he has an income of $4,000. The
provisions of The new Cuban upper house
is along the same general line, but 1t is
far less stringent Instead of the crown
appointing am Of THE upper house, as in
n II a,0FC I.
to appoint only one-half of the members
of tbs upper house of Cuba. The other
half are to be elected by the peoples of
Cuba every five years. There is a $4,000
property qualification fer membership of
the upper house of Cuba, which is the
same as that in Canada.
The same comparison holds good be-
twlaen the lower house in Cuba and the
lower house In Canada. Thlsre Is $2,500
property qualification for membens of the
lower house in Canada and also a quail
fication as tho:e who may vote for such
memhrs. In the nlew plan for Cuba
there is no property qualification as ~
electors. It lis one man, one vote, the
same, be he black or white.
Cuba viii Fare Better Than Others
If the new home rule law is compared
with the systems prevail ng in the sew raj
states of Llhe United States it Will be
found that Cuba Is to have a far gusater
M: assure of control of her own affairs
than do the several shaItes in this coun-
try. For instance, sine is given control
of her postal affairs, control of her bank
ing and currency, control of her GUS
toms. This hast feature, as l haVe re-
ceived it from Madrid, is as follows.
The insular palslJlnlent will form it's
own tariff, fixing beth export and import
duties. The home government, together
with the inslllar government will make
a schedule of such peninsulaT and insuhar
products as by coimmon agreement shall
enjoy "a preferential duty over similar
foreign products, which in no case shall
exceed 35 per cent. In case of disagree
rnent In 1.-THE preparation of such schedule,
the point in dispute sFiaIll BIZ submitted to
a comml tee of members of the cortes,
Consisting of am equal number of pendn-
sulars and Cubans.
Entire Control of the Tariff
1t will be observed that this gives to
the Cuban parliament entare control of
ths tariff with the condition that there
shah be preferential duties for Spain not
exceeding 30 per cent. IL SnOubu De uH-
derstood that these preferential Duties
are not an unusual feature. In the tariff
under the last reciprocity between the
United States and Cuba, which is CON-
ceded to have baen the most satisfac-
tory reciprocity treaty made by the
United States There was a preferential
duty of so per cent. to SpaIn- Under the
new law this is cut down to 35 per cent.
Moreover it should be understood the
preferential duties do not cover all the
tariff schedules as they did with the
United States and Cuba under the recf-
procfty treaty, but covers only a limited
number of articles. These articles doubt
less will be 50 characterized as not to
affect The trade between the United
States and Cuba, for while Spain enjoys
the preference of hsr colony, 1t will not
be a preference that will operate against
the United States.
For the first time the government has
said officially that Spain will assume
a part of the debt of Cuba. The ray
ment of this debt is to be arranged by
the cortes, but it lis to be on basis
satisfactory to both parties