Evening journal., 1897-01-01

Go Into Eject When the Insurgents
Sarrender-Promises to Puerto Rico.
WASHINGTON, Jan 1.-The form of au-
tonomy which Spain is willing to grant to
Cuba has been decided upon in Madrid at
a council of the ministry presided over by
the queen regent The decree still lacks
the Official Endorsement Of the cortes, but
uhis, it is believed, viii be easily obtain
able wnen conditions have reached such
poino that the Spanish authorities believe
Tho reforms can TO introduced in Cuba
W 5hout disturbance and turmoil from any
discontented factions This information
has Just reached the Spanish legation, and
Minister de LONE was authorized to make
public tho concessions agreed upon These
reforms are to 80 into effect Immediately
IN Puerto Rico and are announced in the
desire 20 promulgate them rs a New Years
gift 90 the citizens of Puerto Rico.
1hese same measures of relief, it is said
VIII be announced in Cuba so soon as the
paciheation of the island is such that tho
reforms can be brought about without
such revolt as would now be caused by the
Insurgents. 1t is claimed, should the
reneilious portions of the island indicate
Uheir willingness to accept the system of
home rule suggested by Spain and cease
the instruction, that the reforms would
Immediately 60 into effect
Though the decree announced is intend
ed at present for Puerto Rico alone, when
shey are effected in Cuba, they will be on
an enlarged scale, and Puerto Rico also
will be favored with the larger rights al
lowed Cuba Friends Of the Spanish lega-
ton here state that these reforms were not
brought about by the intermediation Of
the United States
Senior de LONE said last night. 'The
reform law was voted by the parties in
February, S95. 1t was accepted. then by
tho Autonomist party and received a unan-
lmous vote in the party Among the
voters were such conspicuous Autonomsts
as Mcntero, Giberga, Labra, Ferry, Fer
Dando and Gonzales, all Cubans The lead
ers OF tho Autonomist party of Puerto Ri
60 have been in Madrid this winter and
the royal decree entirely meets with their
approval What has been printed as a new
plan Of reform is nothing but the law of
1895 published by the Spanish legation in
May last in the pamphlet entitled Span
ish Rule In Cuba. The restrictions on the
appointment of councillors are not against
tho people, but a restriction Of the powers
OE the government. Nearly all the coun-
'cilors appointed by the crown are to be
taken from people that have received votes
from the electors or have been prominent
in the business community or are among
Che principal taxpayers. Enrique Varona,
the member Of the New York iunta, and
oven people now in the field. could be ap-
pointed councillor by the crown, and, Of
course, elected
Object of the Reforms.
The object of the reforms in Cuba and
Puerto Rico is to transfer to the council
of administration of each island powers
81 which hitherto have been attrlbutioas of
the government officials and exercised in
Madrid. The reforms as announced state
that this council of administration is to
be composed in the case of Puerto Rico,
of six provincial assem- blymen Of the re-
gion in which the next biennial election
shall take place and six councillors ap-
pointed by the supreme government.
The councillors appointed by the govern
mont must be qualified as follows
To he or to have been president of
chamber of commerce of tho Economic So
cety of Friends Of the country or Of the
Association of Agriculturists.
To be or to have been director of the In
stitute Of San Juan or dean of the CoTpo-
rations OF Lawyers of san Juan dc Puerto
Rico.
To DO or to have been for four years
previously one of the 80 principal taxpay-
ers of the island.
To have been a senator or representative
to the cortos in two or moro legislatures.
To have been elected two or moro times
president of the provincial assembly or
two years mayor of San Juan de Puerto
Rico.
The council is to deliberate upon tho
general estimates of expenditures and rev
enues Of the iEland; upon the general ac
counts which the finance department Of
tho island must present annually within
the six months following the end of the
financial year; upon the removals or sus
pensions of mayor or aldermen and upon
the petitions for legislative reforms that
emanate from the provincial assembly.
Puerto Rico consists of one province di-
vided into two regions IN this it differs
from Cuba, which is divided into six PROV
inces.
The provincial assembly is to consist Of
19 assemblymen, from each region
terms Of office four years. The election to
ill the vacant seats is to take place every
two years, the region Of San Juan voting
at one election and the region Of Ponce at
another
The provincial assembly to elect its own
president to judge of the elections, re-
turns and qualifications of the assembly
men and to decide all questions referring
to its own organization under the law.
Only the supreme court Of the island
shall have jurisdiction over the appeals
from the decisions of the provincial as.
scmbly in these questions
The Public Works Department.
The provincial assembly shall resolve in
accordance with the laws and regulations
whatever it may deem proper for the man
agement in the whole island of public
works, posts and telegTaphs, railways and
navigation, agriculture, manufactures,
trade immigration and colonization, pub
lie instruction, charities and the health
department without prejudice of the SUI
pervision and of the owners inherent to
the sovereignty Of tho nation, which the
laws reserve to the supreme government.
Each year il shall lvcparo and approve
the estimates, with sufficient appropra-
tions for those departments and shall ox-
nrcise the functions that the law Of munic-
rt,d ~ bn. n |r1,,