The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-01-01
Conditions Similar to the DEGREES
Signed at Madrid Yesterday In
Behalf of Porto Rico.
EXPLANATION BY DE LONE
COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION TO
VIRTUALLY GOVERN THE ISLAND.
laws Passed by the Provincial As
sembIy Must he Carried Out by
the Governor General.

WASHINGTON. Dee. S1.-The form of
autonomy which Spain is willing to
grant To Cuba was decided on in Madrid
to-day at council of the Ministry presided
over by the Queen Regent. The decree
still lacks the official Endorsement of the
COrteZ, but this, it is believed will be
easily obtained when conditions have
reached such a point that the Spanish au-
thorities believe the reforms can be intro
duced in Cuba without disturbance and
turmoil from any discontented factions.
This information reached the Spanish le-
cation tonight and Minister De LONE was
authorized to make public the concessions
agreed on. The reforms are to go into effect
Immediately in Porto Rico, and are an
nounced to-day in the desire to promul-
safe them as a New Years gift TO the
citizens of Porto Rico. These same meas
ures of relief. it is said, will be announced in
Cuba as soon as the paoifcation of the
island is such that the reforms can
be brought about without such re-
volt as would now be caused by
the insurgents. 1t is claimed that,
should the rebeilious portions of the
island indicate their willingness to accept
the home rule suggested by Spain and
Immediately would go into effect. Though
the decree announced tonight is intended
at present for Porto Rico alone. when they
are effected in Cuba they will be on an
enlarged scale, and Porto Rico also will
be favored with the larger rights allowed
Cuba. Friends of the Spanish legation
here state that these reforms were not
brought about by the intermediation of the
nj no
night:
in February 1895. 1t was accepted then
by the Autonomist party and received Il
unanimous vote In the Cortes, Among the
voters were such conspicuous Autono-
msts as Montoro. Giberga, Labra, Ferry,
Fernando and Gonzales, all CuDans. The
leaders of the Autonomist party Of Porto
Rico nave 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 le-
cation in May last in the pamphlet en-
titled Spanish Rule in Cuba The re-
strictions on the appointment Of councillors
are not against the peope but a restriction
of the powers OF the government. Nearly
all the councillors appointed by the crown
are To be taken from people mat nave re-
ceived votes from the electors or have been
prominent in business community or among
the principal taxpayers Enrique Nariona;
the members of the New York Junto, and
even people now in the field could be ap-
pointed councillors by the crown, and Of
course elected.
The object of the reforms i'm Cuba and
Porto Rico is TO transfer 20 the council Of
administration of each island powers which
hitherto have been attributes of the gov
ernment officials and exercised in Madrid.
The reforms as announced state that this
council of administration is TO be COM
posed i'm the case of Porto Rico, of six
provincial assemblymen of the region in
which the next biennial election shall take
place. and six councillors appointed by
the supreme government. The councillors
appointed by the government must be
qualified fellows:
ITO be or TO have been president of a
chamber of commerce of the Economic So
ciety of Friends of the Country or of the
Association of Agriculturists:
ITO be or to have been director of the
Institute of San Juan. or dean of the cor
porations of lawyers of San Juan de Puerto
Rico.
TO be or to have been for four years
previously one of the fifty principal taXpay-
ers Of the island.
'"ro have been senator or representative
TO the Cortes in two or more legislatures.
ITO have been elected two or more times
president of the provincial assembly, or
two years mayor of San Juan de Puerto
Rico.
..,rhe council is to deliberate upon the
general estimates of expenditures and rev.
enues of the island: upon the general ac-
counts which the finance department of the
island must present annually within the
six months following the end of the finan-
cial year; upon the removals or suspensions
OF the mayor OF dlde1 anu upon the
petitions for legislative reforms that ema-
nate from the provincial assembly. The
provincial assembly shall resolve, in ac-
cordanoe with the laws and regulations,
whatever it may deem proper for the man
agement i'm the whole island, of public
works. posts and telegraphs, railways and
navigation. agriculture, manufactures,
trade. immigration and colonial tion public
instruction. charities and the health, with
out prejudice of the supervision and of the
powers inherent TO the sovereignty of the
nation-which the laws reserve to the su-
preme government.
THE revenues for it's appropriations shall
and rents that are the property of the
province or of the institutions whose man
agernent pertains to the provincial assem-
bly,: second Of the surcharges which the
law may authorize upon the taxes of the
state which are collected by the finance
department of the island: and third, of the
contributions ii may demand from the mu-
nicipalities. the contributions being appor-
toned among the municipalities in proper
tion TO their revenues. IL shall be. the duty
of the governor general as supreme chief
of the authorities of the island. to carry out
the resolutions OF the council.
Although the budget for the island must
be finally voted by the Spanish Parliament
the Antilles will send numerous and pow
erful representation 10 The CorteS. enjoy
ing in this respect a great advantage over
the English colonies.
THE DEGREES SIGNED.
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