The age-herald., 1898-01-04
CUBAN CABINETS
 GREAT AUTHORITY With Few Excepted Powers It
 Rules the Island. DUTIES OF THE MINISTERS Questions Which Relate Directly to Spain
 in BlanCO'S Hands. GEN. BLAncQ g JAKE THE FIELD Within the ew Days and Proceed
 stern Cuba. FAvoR4 PERCEPTION TO CABINET  The War Will No Longer Be Against Spain But Against Cubans Themselves San-
 quilly at Havana and is Under
 Watch of the Police.
)R4 PERCEPTION TO CABINET

Washington, an. 3.-The large measure of authority conferred on the new Cuban cabinet is shown in an official decree issued at Havana Dec. 29, copies of which have been received by the Spanish legation. The document apportions the budget of the island, giving to each cabinet officer the amount to be spent in his department, and then states in detail what subjects are to be managed by each minister. The first provision states that the powers which Governor-General Blanco and Sec- retary-General Congosto will continue to exercise as folows
 The conduct of general affairs between Spain and Cuba; intercourse with diplo- matic and consular officers of foreign gov ernments; census of foreigners; public peace and order; honors and decorations; relations with the church.
 With these excepted powers the entire administration of the affairs of the island are turned over to the members of the cabinet. Each member is authorized to se- lect an assistant secretary and to employ his own staff of assistants. The authority of each cabinet officer is then specified as follows:
 Senor Galyezs Duties
 The premier, Senor Galvez, directs the general policy of the island, confers with the other ministers and is the executive head of the organization, the detailed work being left to the other ministers.
 The minister of justice and interior, senor Govin, has charge of affairs relat- ing to the courts and judicature; appoint ment of marshals and other court officers; tiar rta y,ollp provincial deputations; local police. public charity, charitable institutions. public health, asylums, etc., the press and theaters
 The minister of finance, Senor Menteco. has control of all affairs relating to the customs of the island, appointment of GUS toms officers, conduct of the treasury dis bursement of public money, etc.
 The minister of public instruction, Senor Zayas, has charge of the University of Havana, all colleges, professional schools and other institutions in which the control is not reserved to the province or mu- nicipality.
 The minister of public works and tele- graph, Senor Dolz, has control of the postoffice and telegraph system, railroads. ports and lightships, public buildings and grounds. H1
 The minister of commerce, Senor Rodri- guez, has charge of agriculture, patents and copyrights, banks and chambers of commerce, public forests and mining.
 Duties Will Continue
 This division of duties will continue until the Cuban legislature meets and estab- fishes by law the exact duties of the va- rious cabinet officers. It was desired to have the cabinet begin work at once, so that without waiting for the legislature the decree establishes the system until the law is made. z
 The Spanish minister regards the decree as fully carrying out the plan of turning over the internal affairs of the island to Cuban officials As indicating this, the minister points out that the decree reserves to the governors general only the questions which relate directly to Spain or to her intercourse with the colony, while all the internal affairs, such as customs, prisons, etc., are conducted by Cuban officials, with their own staff of assistants.