Evening journal., 1897-11-30
PLANS OF AUTONOMY
Details of Spain's Proposed
Laws for Cuba.
SENIOR DE LONE TALKS ABOUT THEM.
The Spanish Minister Says They Contain
Many Important Features-Cuba to
Have Parliamentary Body With
Full Law Making Power.

run Law Making rover.
WASHINGTON. Nov. s0.-senor Du-
puy de LONE, the Spanish minister, has
received long dispatches from Madrid
showing in detail the plan of auton-
omy which Spain is about to apply to
Cuba While these do not give the
text of the new law they explain all
important features and clear up doubts
which had arisen from the unofficial re-
ports which have come from Madrid.
Speaking Of the new law, the minister
said:
Il regret that much misapprehension
has arisen over the new law owing TO
the very meager reports heretofore re-
ceived concerning 1t. 1t is a measure
which will stand the closest scrutiny,
and / am very desirous that the Amer
lean people should look into 1t with
care. One of the recent criticisms is
that this plan Of autonomy is the same
as the old plan, with some change Of
| detail. AS a matter OF fact, the new
plan is a complete realization of the
| policy and platforms OF the Auton-
omst party during the last 20 years.
4 The old plan Of autonomy gave to Gu
| ha an advisory board. Now, however,
the new law proposes to give Cuba
parliamentary body of full law making
power. The completeness Of their Leg
islative power is as great, If not great
err, than that enjoyed by Canada or by
any state OF the United States The
Spanish crown is to appoint only one
half the members Of the upper house
| Of Cuba. The other half are to be
elected by the people of Cuba every
five years There is a $4,000 property
qualification for membership of the up
per house Of Cuba. which is the same
as that in Canada. The same COM
| parlson holds good between the pro-
posed lower house In Cuba and the
lower house in Canada, but in the new
plan for Cuba there is no property
qualification as to the electors 1t is
one man, one vote. the same be he
black or white
IF the new home rule law is compar-
ed with the systems prevailing in the
several states OF the United States. It
viii be found that Cuba is to have a far
greater measure Of control Of her own
affairs than do the several states in this
country For instance. she Is given con-
troll Of her postal affairs. control OF her
banking and currency and control of her
customs. This last feature is most im-
portant, and. according to dispatches
have received from Madrid, it is as fol-
lows:
The insular parliament will form its
own tariff. fixing both import and ex-
port duties. The home government. to-
gether with the nsular government
Will make schedule Of such peninsular
and insuar products as by common
agreement shall enjoy a preferential
duty over similar foreign products
which in no case shall exceed 35 pei
cent. In case Of disagreement in the
preparation of said schedule the point
ia dispute shall be submitted to a com
mlttee Of members Of the cortes consist
ing Of an equal number Of peninsulari
and Cubans.
! 1T will be observed that this gives Il
the Cuban parliament entire control o
. the tariff, with the condition that ther'
shall be preferential duties for SpaiI
not exceeding 35 per cent. 1t should b.
! understood that this preferential dut,
: is not an unusual feature Even unde
the last reciprocity treaty between tn
} United States and Cuba. which Is con
I ceded to have been the most satisfacto
: / ry reciprocity treaty made by the Unit
ed States, there was a preferential dut,
Of so per cent to Spain. Under the ney
law this Is cut down to 35 per cent
= Moreover 1t should be understood tn
e preferential duties do not cover all tn
k tariff schedules as they did when tn
United States and Cuba had a reciproo
r ity treaty. but cover only a limite
: number of articles. These articles doubt
n less will be so chosen as not to affec
: the trade between the United States an
o Cuba. so that while Spain enjoys tn
I preference from her colony it will nc
be a preference as against the Unite
States"
When it was suggested to the minis
Il ter that among certain classes, no pla
\ OF autonomy was acceptable. he said:
4 Certainly, there are irreconcilable
on both sides. Spanish irreconeilahle
!, and Cuban irreeoncilables. But the
= are not the ones to be considered. 1t
the people at large and the material Ii
terests of Cuba that are to be consic
cred The Cuban irreconcilable says h
will not accept this new law He doe
not point out it's defects or suggei
remedies. He simply declines to acceI
IT, Such men are out Of court. The
are not open to argument or reason.
d There Is another feature whic
q should be noted. For the first time Il
Is government has said officially thu
80 Spain will assume a part Of the debt
Cuba. The payment Of this debt is
sr be arranged by the cortes. but ii is
IS be on a basis satisfactory to both pa
q ties.
THAT honest investigation Of the ne
c. law will show it's broad scope and III
eral provisions Is shown by a d.spat,
II have just received from a friend
a | Madrid" continued the minister.
"He states that Mr.. Giberga has
y; statement in The Liberal strongly a
k. proving the new law. This Mr. Gibe
Ea is one of the most prominent Auto
H. omists of Cuba. He was elected as
Autonomist to the eortes. but declin
n. owing to his hostility to the form
government. Lately he has been
"a Paris and now gives this strong a
nroyal Of the home rule law"
p "