The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-01-10
PORTO RICO REFORMS
They VIII Not Be as Broad
as Expected.
ALL POWER STILL WITH SPAIN.

ALL POWER STILL WITH SPAIN.
Control VIII BE Only Given 10 Mu-
nloipai and Provincial Councils on
Purely Local Matters other Anairs
WIN he Governed the Same a. They
Always Have.
NEW York, Jan. Q. "A special to
The World from Madrid says the decis'
I've stage Is rapidly approaching for as
sertaining the real drift In the relations
between Spain and her West Iudian
,olonies and between Spain and the
United States,
The issue now rests entirely with the
Madrid government, as all the aspects
and tho eventualitios OF the question
have been kindly, considerably, fully
and frankly laid before tho duke Of Te'
tuan and Premier Canoyas very lately.
Il 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 tho
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 10 place ON
record NJ her final concessions for the
settlement Of the Cuban question.
People outside Of Spain jumped at
the erroneous conclusion that the Mad
rid government was on the high road 20
granting to the West Indian colonies
self government similar 70 that Of Can.
ada and Australia. Nothing Of The
kind was ever intended. either by tho
present government or by any spanish
political party. Premier Canovas only
expressed the sentiment Of the majority
Of the spaniards when he said recently
that Spain could never go 80 far In her
colonial reforms a. 10 establish \ Can.
adian regime.
Autonomy in the English sense Of the
word was not contemplated by Seniors
G.. SeagAsta and AsbarzuEa a. colonial
minister when they requested and OBJ
tanned the assent Of all the Spanish par
ties In January. 1890. to the famous bill
which Premier Canovas and his minis
ter for the colonies made use Of In issu.
ing on New Years day IN 1891, DEGREES
recognizing and increasing the powers
Of the governor. and granting only ad.
minis,raiive. municipal and provincial
reforms 20 Porto Rico
In fact, under these DEGREES, the mu-
nicipal and provincial councils there
will be organized on much the same
lines a. the spanish provincial councils
and municipalities, with about the sam'
control over purely local matters and
over that part Of the revenues from tax
alton destined for public works, eduoa'
ton and strictly local administration,
subject. however, 10 the supervision and
the veto Of the superior authorities and
the governor appointed by Spain.
The majority Of the insular council Il
TO BE- composed Of nominees Of the crown
The minority lie TO be elected. Thii
council Il not intended 10 be In any way
a legislative body, but an assembly
which will be consulted in well detnot
cases and may express wishes or opin
ions, not at all binding on the govern
ment. The insular council Is not a par
lament, but a consulting assembly
with limited control over the acts o
the provincial and municipal councils
Porto Rico will continue 70 be repre-
scntod In the Spanish cortes by two sen
aturs and ~ deputies, elected Ia the Is
7 land by a very restricted franchise.
The imperial parliament will oontinu
10 discuss and vote legislation, budget
and tariffs Tor the West Indies, draw
up and presented by the minister 70
the colonies. All branches Of the clvi
service, courts Of justice and custom
service will continue 60 be recruited Il
the mother country. The army, nav.
and police will remain In the hands q
the imperial government. and the gov
ornor will have full control Of the loca
militia and 'he volunteers
The imperial parliament above al
will retain power TO regulate the trad
and tariffs Of the colonios- whose treat
les Of commerce viii be negotiated b
the Madrid executive