Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-27
Spain Announces Details Of Proposed
Government for Colonies.
GOVERNOR GENERAL Is STILL ABSOLUTE
Provision for a Partly Representa-
tive Colonial Parliament.
ESTION OF REVEN ES

MADRID. November 27.-The Official
Gazette this morning publishes the royal
DEGREES granting autonomy for Cuba and
Porto Rico:
Article I explains the principles of the
future government of the two islands.
Article = DEGREES that the government of
each island shall be composed of in
sular parliament. diviGeds into two cham
bers, while a governor general, represent
ing the home government. will exercise in
Its name the supreme authority.
Article declares that the faculty OF
making laws colonial affairs rests with
the insular chambers ard the governor gen.
eral.
Article directs that the insular repre-
sentation shall be composed of two cor
porations. with equal powers. viz. cham
Der of representatives, and a council of ad-
ministration
Article provides that the council of
administration shall consist of thirty-five
members, of whom eighteen shall be elected
and seventeen be nominated by the home
government
Article provides that the members of
the council OF administration must be Span
iards. AZ least thirty-five years of age. who
We're bora in the island or who have re-
sided there continuously for four years. 1t
specihtS numerous officials, such as sena-
tors. presidents of courts and of chambers
OF commerce and other bodies, as eligible
to election to the council.
Articles to II. inclusive. deal with nomi-
nations and the conditions of election to
councils
Article IL empowers the thrcne, or the
governor general to convoke, suspend
OlsSoEe the chambers, with an obligation
TO reassemble them within three months
Articles Ii to y deal with the procedure
OF the chambers and grant immunity to
members.
Article ~ empowers the insular parIia-
ment to receive the governors oath and
make effective the responsibility of the
secretaries forming the governors coun-
Gil Secretaries may be impeacned by he
chambers, in which case they are 10 be
judged by the council of administration.
Negotiations for treaties of commerce are
IL be made by the home government. with
TIE assistance of the secretaries of the
island.
Article 80 confers upon parliament the
imposing of customs duties
Article 10 deals with the commercial re-
lations of the islands with the reninsrla
and provides chat import or export tax
may dlnerent1ate to the prejudice of the
productions of either island the penin-
sula. A list will be formed of articles
coming from Spain direct, which will be
granted favorable treatment in regarl to
similar articles coming from abroad and
me same VIII be done for productions ot
the islands entering Spain. the differentiaI
duty in no case to exceed 81 per cent.
Inc remainder Of the decree explGins
the governor generals powers. He will
tAcitiSt supreme command, be RESPONSIBLE
Tor the preservation of order, have free
power TO nominate officials and his secre-
taries; he will publish and execute the
laws and DEGREES, international treaties and
conventions, &c, and will have the rower
OF pardonirg. suspending constitutional
guarantees and ordering state of seige,
Should circumstances require it.
Disappointing announcement.
The outline of the autonomy decree pub
haH ", y rha
ing gives a setback to those hopeful of
the settlement of the Cuban question under
policy of coaciliation. The decree is not
materially different or in any way more
liberal tran the propositions which have
heretofore been made for autonomy and
teen rejected on account of their hollow
ness 1t is in no way approaching what
SPAIN has given to understand would be
the character of the proposition submitted
by the Sagasta cabinet.
The suppositiop is that this decree is not
IN accordance with the first intention of
the new ministry and the plan under CON
temptation when Blanco was sent to sue
ceed Neyler in Cuba, but that Spain has
been compelled to abandon the more Ib-
eral scheme and to run the risk of Offend
ing the United States rather than to excite
pubic resentment at home If the dis
catches properly describe the autonomy
proposed the Sagasta government is PLACED,
In the attitude of tritiing with the United
States Ine United States government and
the public were given to understand thai
under the Few liberal policy autonomy
would be offered to Cuba such as is enjoy
ed by Canada.
Upon the plea that reforms which would
De satislactor 10 any reasonable people ware
tc be iaaugurated. the public has been aan
pealed to TO suspend judgment until the
new policy could be put into operation. and
this government has been expected 10 ex-
ercise a restraining influence upoo Con
gress. and u refrain from any hasty ac-
tion based upon resentment heretofore ex
cited Now.when the plan is announced it
appears 10 be no way IN advance of the de-
ceptive plans before proposed, ard does not
fulfill the promise held out.
Difficult to Restrain Congress.
1t Is. of course. well understood that the
fnsursent leaders did not intend to accent
autonomy in any form nor to retire from the
field except with independence. But lib
eral proposition, such this government
was given to understand the Spanish con-
templated. together with the liberation of
prisoners and a cessation of the crueIties
which characterized Weyler's administra-
tion. would satisfy the United States aud
deprive the Insurgents of that sympathy
both in Cuba and elsewhere which ia no.
essary to the continuance of the revolution.
The autoI oiny offered now will not do this
unless Il is far more liberal than the dis
patches indicate. and it will be very diff
cult TO restrain Congress from taking ac-
tloi IL. aDie 70 the insurgents, no better
plan tnan this being proposed. The belief
is that the Spanish government NAV have
been sincere in the representations of what
was intended to be done, but that the new
ministry has been compelled to WELD m
public sentiment in Spain, which annea -
to be hostile 10 any sort OF Concessions
and which is backed by a very consfdera bIe
faction, who are disposed to bear a haugbtv
demsanor toward the United States i
much less cheerful view of the situation
Is taken here than was before the decree
was announced.