The herald., 1897-11-27
Granting Autonomy to the
Cubans
COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION
WITH AN ELECTIVE MAJORITY
OF ONE
After Releases Made Yesterday, No
I American Citizen Remains in
Cuban Prison

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MADRID, Nov. 27.-The official Ga
kette publishes this morning Saturday.
the royal DEGREES granting autonomy TO
Cuba and Porto Rico, thus removing
the anxiety that had begun to be ex-
pressed on all sides as the result Of the
governments reticence and unex-
planned delay.
Article explains the principles of the
future governments Of the two islands.
Article Q DEGREES that the government
of each island shall be composed of an
insuiar parliament, divided into two
chambers, while the governor general
representing the home government shall
exercise in its name the supreme author
ity.
Article declares that the faculty of
making laws on colonial affairs rest
with the insular chambers and the gov
ernor general.
Articles4 directs that the insular rep
resentation shall be composed of two
corporations with equal power, cham
ber of representatives and a council of
administration.
Article provides that the council of
administration shall consist of thirty
five members, of whom eighteen shall be
elected and seventeen nominated by the
home government.
Article six provides that the members
Of the council Of administration must be
Epaniards over IS years of age, who were
born on the island and who have resided
there continuously for four years. 1t
specifies numerous officials, such as SEN
ators, presidents of courts and Of cham
bers of commerce and other bodies as
eligible to election to the council.
Articles to IA inclusive deal with
nominations and the conditions of cleo
ton to councils.
Article Is empowers the throne or the
governor general to convoke, suspend
Or dissolve the chambers with an obli-
cation to reassemble them within three
months.
PORTO RICO RIOTING
HAVANA, Nov. 26.-Advices just re-
ceived from Porto Rico say that riot
occurred there yesterday. 1t appears
that a steamer having on board a num-
ber Of political prisoners recently re-
leased from the Spanish penal settle
ments on the African coast in accord
ance with the amnesty decree arrived
there and the liberated men were al
lowed to land. They soon found their
way to a drinking saloon. partook of
stimulants and began cheering for the
United States, crying, "Hurrah for free
America" This demonstration was re-
sented by the crowds about the place
and a riot followed. The police were
called upon to interfere and compel the
liberated men to re-embark. During the
disturbance the police captured the in
surgent Col. Alipo Sanchez, who is de-
scribed as being incognito in Porto
Rico. Senor Maritos Garcia, the gov
ernor of Santa Clara, has arrived at
Sagua in order to be better able to judge
Of the condition of the reconcentradoes.
From this day on these unfortunate
people will receive rations.
The Spanish authorities today re-
leased from prison Thomas ]. Jordan,
prisoner captured, according to the al
legations, after the landing of an ex-
pedition by the American steamer
Three Friends, and Manuel Hernandez,
who is said to have been a member OF
another filibustering expedition. Both
men were under sentence Of DEATH
The government has also released
from prison Juan Arias, Austin Cossio
Emilio Betancourt, Rosendo Betancourt
and Rosendi Betancourt.
No American citizen is now confined
In prison on the island of Cuba.
BOMB THROWERS' TRIALS
BARCELONA, Nov. 26.-Great inter-
est is felt in the trial now in progress
here of the two men, Calls and Enrique,
accused by Ascheri, instigator of the
bomb throwing outrage during the pro-
cession of the Corpus Christi in the
spring of last year, of throwing bombs
at strike meeting in 1886, when several
persons were killed and many others in
jured. Calls was lately condemned to
20 years imprisonment as an accomplice
of Ascheri in the Corpus Christi out
rage. During his trial on that charge
he confessed himself guilty of the bomb
throwing of 1886. Brought now to trial
on that confession he alleges that it was
extorted from him by torture at Mont
puich fortress and his statement that
he was subject to torture e confirmed
by the testimony of Other convicts
called as witnesses.
Enrique, arraigned with him on the
charge of bomb throwing in 1886, was
acquitted today. With regard to the as
sertion of Calls that he was tortured
Lieut.. Portas and others called for the
prosecution deny that there is any truth
in the story and the weight of evidence
Is against Calls. The public prose-
cutor demands a sentence of imprison-
ment for life in his case.
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