The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-30
Reforms to BE Put Into Effect Which
Will Give the Island Govern-
ment Like That of Canada.
CONTROL OF THE CUSTOMS
POSTAL AFFAIRS, BANKING, CUR
RENCY AND OTHER MATTERS
To Be Vested i'm n Parliament Elected
by the Votes of the PeOpIe-Three
Reservations In Specific Cases.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-Senor Dupuy
de LONE, the Spanish minister has received
long dispatches from Madrid showing in de-
tail the plan of autonomy which Spain is
about to apply to Cuba. While these do
not give the text of the new law they ex-
plain all important features and clear up
doubts which had arisen from the unofficial
reports which have come from Madrid.
Speaking of the new laws the minister said
to-day;
Il regret that much misrepresentation has
arisen over the new law owing to the very
meager reports heretofore received con-
corning it. / must admit also that | have
been astonished at the disposition in some
quarters to critcise small technical features
without looking at the broad, general char
acter of the new reform law 1t is a meas
ure which will stand the closest scrutiny.
and | am very desirous that the American
people should look into it with care study
ing it and comparing it with other con-
stitutonal methods of governing colonies.
Such study. l am sure, will fully vindicate
the law and commend it to the people of
this country outside of those irreconcil-
ables who are always to be met with.
"One of the recent criticisms is that this
plan of autonomy is the same as the old
plan with some change Of detail. AS
matter of fact the new plan is a COM
plete realization of the policy and plat
forms of the autonomist party during the
last twenty years. The old plan of autonomy
gave to Cuba advisory body. 1t did not
have final authority in making laws, but
merely advised as to those laws. Now,
however, the new law proposes to give Cuba
parliamentary body of full law-making
power. The completeness of this legislative
power is as great. if not greater, than that
enjoyed by Canada or by any State of the
United States. This is readily demon
strated by comparing the plan of the new
law with that of the British North Ameri-
can act of 1867 which establishes the pres
ent parliamentary system of Canada Ac-
cording to the Canadian law, the Canadian
Parliament consists of two bodies. The
upper house is made up of members ap-
pointed by the crown, each member holding
a life tenure, with a qualification that no
member is eligible unless he has an income
of $4,000. The provision for the new Cuban
upper house is along the same general line,
but is far less stringent. Instead of the
crown appointing all of the upper house,
as In the case of Canada, the Spanish
crown is to appoint only one-half the men,
berS of the upper house of Cuba. The other
half is to be elected by the people of Cuba
every five years. There is q $4,000 property
qualification for membership of the upper
house of Cuba, which is the same as that
In Canada The same comparison holds
good between the proposed lower house in
Cuba and the lower house in CANADA There
is a $500 property qualification for mem
bers of the lower house in Canada, and also
a qualification as to those who may vote
for such members 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
SCOPE OF THE REFORMS.
IF the new home rule law is compared
with the systems prevailing in the several
States of the United States it will 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 in
stance, she is given control of her postal
affairs, control of her banking and cur
rency. control of her customs. This last
feature is most important, and, according
to dispatches l have received from Madrid,
ii is as follows: The insular parliament
will form its own tariff. fixing both inn
port and export duties. The home govern
mert, together with the inSular govern
ment, will make a schedule of such PENN
sulsr and inSuiar products as by common
agreement shall ENJOY a preferential duty
over similar foreign products which in no
case shall exceed IS per cent. In case OF
disagreement in the preparation of said
schedule the point in dispute shall be SUBJ
mitted to a committee of members of the
Cortes consisting of an equal number of
peninsulars and Cubans.
1T will be observed that this gives to the
Cuban parliament entire control of the
tariff, with the condition that there shall
be preferential duties for Spain not exceed
ing 35 per cent. 1t should be understood
that these preferential duties are not an
unusual feature. Even under the last reci
procity treaty between the United States
and Cuba which is conceded to have been
the most satisfactory reciprocity treaty
made by the United States. there was a
rApl o1 1-,4xr 9 n
Under the new law this is cut down to 30
per cent. Moreover it should be under
stood the preferential duties do not cover
all the tarin schedules as they Gid when the
United States and Cuba had reciprocity
treaty, but cover only limited number of
articles. These articles doubtless will be so
chosen as not to affect the trade betweeen
the United States and Cuba, so that while
Spain enjoys the preference from her col
ony 1t will not be a preference as against
the United States"
When it was suggested to the minister
that among certain classes no plan of au-
tonomy was acceptable he said Certain
ly; there are irreconcilab!eS on both sides
Spanish irreconcilables and Cuban irrecon-
cilables But they are not the ones to be
considered. It is the people at large and
the material interests of Cuba that are to
be considered. The Cuban irreconcilable
does not point out its defects or suggest
remedies. He simply declines to accept it,
Such men are out of court. They are not
open to argument or reason
ASSUMES PART OF CUBA'S DEBT.
There is another feature which should be
noted. For the first time the government
has said, officially, that Spain will assume
a part of the debt of Cuba. The payment of
this debt is to be arranged by the Cortes,
but it is to be a basis satisfactory to
both parties
Recurring to the legislative powers which
Cuba would enjoy the minister was asked
if this was not qualified to some extent by
the right of approval reserved to the gov
ernor general in certain cases. 1T win be
found on examining the new law" an
sWered the minister, that the governor
general has this reserved right only in three
specific cases, while the general rule is that
the laws so into effect without reserve.
Furthermore, these three reservations are
the same as those given to the governor
general of Canada, or to any other colonial
executive. This will be found to be the ease
by examining the British American act of
1867, already referred to- In short there is
nothing unusual in these reservations in a |
few specific cases of a national character
but 1t is the universal principle in the con-
stitutional government of colonies.
THAT honest investigation of the new law
Will show its broad scope and liberal pro-
visions is shown by dispatch / have just
received from friend at Madrid con-
tinued the minister. He states that Mr.. |
Giberga has statement in the Liberal |