New-York tribune., 1902-04-02
States has officially finally and in the constit"
| tional way declared itself anxious TO secure
THE SPANISH PROGRAMME.

| The proof of programme is in its fuillllneh'.
! That is the idea which spontaneous! coIheS
| 10 mind at thought of the meeting yesterua! Vi
! the Spanish Cortes and of the mnlsterlai pro-
I cramme before IT. The first item TO be deai'
with is that relating the Bank OF sPalh'
which bank will probably be compelled 10 re-
duce It's issue of notes and to increase its guar
antees thereon-a salutary measure. After Il'it
| will come other matters of more general inter-
| est, some of them also of greater Importance.
| One proposition is for the formation of labor
| department in the Ministry of Public WORKS
This will probably be done without much oppo-
! sition or delay, as sop to the sociaiist Ger
herus The practical results Of it. so far as the
| interests of workfngmen are concerned, may be
| considerable, they may be nil. 1T all oe
pends" Another item is the development OIL
public works of various kinds. Doubtless there
| is need of so doing. But public works cost
money and it is by no means clear where the
| money is to come from. That uncertainty is
not dispelled by the next item, which calls tor
| a reorganization and Increase of the navy and
| Improvement Of the army. These things. 100,
| cost money and Spain's treasury Is not over
! flowing.
| There follow some proposals of real reforms
| One is the reformation of the octrof tax. with
n view to its abolition. There can be no doubt
| that a complete abolition of that burdensome
| tax system would be good thing for Spain, as
| abolition of the likin would be for China. But
| If If should be abolished whence would be de-
rived the revenue it now provides! Another
item contemplates decentralization of the ad-
| minfstration and development of greater local
authority in municipal councils. That will be
a step in the right direction which will not in
volve financial cost
Finally several pTODOSalS of
ticulary contentious character dealing with the
relations Of Church and State. One aims
suuarely entire liberty Of conscience. of creed
| and of worship. Another calls for the reduction
| of Roman Catholic bishops from siXty-thrce, as
at present to fOrty-nine or one for each prov
| ince Negotiations with the Vatican upon this
subject now in progress, and may result
| amicably but opposition TO the measure is sure
| 10 be strong in Spain itself third proposal
contempates the suppression, at any rate the
stringent State supervision of all religious con-
gregations not expressly included in the Con-
corlat And the last broadly demands a gen
eral strengthening of the rights and authority
of the State against what are termed the ZEN
croaChmentS" of the Church.
Such is the work which Se1or Sacasta and his
colleagues have cut out for themselves. Most
of the Ministers are somewhat moderate almost
conservative in their tendencies. But Senor
MOntylla. Minister Of Justice and Senior Cana
leias Minister of Agriculture. are decided radi-
Gals, and will insist upon n vigorous prose
cution OF the programme. and especially Of the
anti-Clerica items, or else will prccipitate an
other ministerial crisis Altogether the outlook
for Spanish politics at the young Kings corona
ton season IS not a placid one The proof of
programme is IN IFS fulilment. But. whether
fulfilled or not. this threatens TO raise
storm