New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-12-01
COSTA RIGA.
BY A FORMER BRITISH consul.
VIII.

VIII.
The people Of Costa Rica pay no direct taxes
the 81 stem Of indirect taxation being the only
one resorted to for a revenuc-nor any tithes to
the Church, the dgpitaries Of which are salaried
by the Government from yearly ALLEGATION of
$1,000 voted with the general Budget.
The principal sources of revenue OF the Gov
eminent are the mOnOpOlios Of spirtuous liquors,
mar ufactured in the country from the sugar canes
the sale Of tobacco imported from San Salvador
and the United States; and the duties levied on
all foreign manufactured goods entered through
the Custom House. The sale of Government
| lands, called "tierras Valdias" or "Valdios, "
also brings in yearly few thousand dollars and
lastly the estate-alienationduty contributes its
mite to the budget.
Foreigners are authorized TO hold real estate in
their own name, and transmit it after their DEATH
by testament to their offspring next of kin;
hbut il is important, when they become possessors
3of real property by private purchase that they
should see that the right of presumption has been
attended to, ss the nOn.fulhlment Of this law
would invalidate their title deeds. This law re-
quires that the vender should successfully inform
bis immediate neighbOrs of the sale, (beginnng by
the proprietor whose estate has the greater eIent
cfb0rder his land, and give them the option Of
| taking il at the offered price. The Costa Rlcans
have way of avoiding this law by adding to the
price of purchase some article or other. which 1t
Is in the purchasers sole power to give; whether
| il be an old pair of pantaloOns or lesson in
music In regard to the "NaldiOs " the imm-
grant who desires to settle will find 1t next to
| impossible to obtain information concerning their
position from the Government he must inquire
| the inhabitants of the country, more especially
| IN the districts neghboring ON the wilds where he
| yshes to purchase. When he has obtained the
Ysouisite Information, he must cause the g Val
aos" he wants to be measured, and have land
marks established. His application to the Gov
| eminent must nclose the above description of the
hrds he has chosen. This application is called
sdenouncing the land, ~ the price of which is then
ired. The applicant takes possession, paying
outain amount thereon and yearly interest OF
Nr cent on the remainder. There have been
pes-some remaining to the present day in Stotu
wewhere the purchaser "a native of influenced
IA been allowed to take possession retain and
utivate without paying anything more than the
Erly interest of per cent
4 The courts, which administer the old spanish
IN with it's notifications drawn from the French
ole are the following:
A Supreme Court, composed of President,
Ielled In the language of the country "Rejente,
I've Magistrates an Attorney General and nine
aSplentes' or supplementary Judges. This
Cart is divided into two chambers, (the first and
ssond "Sala,") each formed by a Presi-
,nt two Magistrates, and two OF the sup
SUPPLEMENTARY Judges. Both OF these chambers
1 ut Courts OF Appeal EVIL. -'iVhu"l W." S"""
ss meet in the aggregate form as the Supreme
Court. under the Presidency of the "Rejente,
hdhjde all questions of law brought before them,
ms consultative body, by the Inferior courts. Ii
cply before this Court that member oil the
House of Congress can be sent for Judgment.
Next. and below the Supreme Court, are the
Courts Of First Instance, OF which there are
two for the capital; one for civil and the other Tor
criminal cases. The other Provinces Oh the he
public, such as Heredia Alsiuela, Carriage; ana
Guanacaste have each only one Court ol FIRST
Instance Punta Arenas, however beng iree
pers, has its own magistrates. These other tro u
Nncia Courts Of First Instance evoke ahke All
elvil and criminal cases But l must mentoh
hat these Courts OF First Instance are not Courts
but Magistrates Of First Instance, since one man
u the whole Bench
When this magistrate is refused by law (and
lie is always so If be is party TO the SUIT or mas
k~aern al former period counsel 70 one OF the HUI
~. NE suit is carried before an Alcalde acting
L~sgisfrate OF First Instance, accidental ORe-
p1nera instoneia accidental, and such, uniof-
~aatg Is frequently the case, from the tangie oil
which spreads it's network over every
'eay ud everything.
rw each provincial capital there are three Al
sAei with three "SspleHtes" or Subrocates;
ese sebrogates, when not acting as magistrates,
'm ne Municipality or Town Council In the
f"@ni departments there are other Alcaldes-
several to each department, according 10
SPECULATION. In each rural district there is
ss%sr OF Peaee, whose jurisdiction extends over
sls'es OF a value below tuo doDars and lastly,
sefe Is petty officer who decides all cases not
ss'e one dollar. Ii is said that these small mags-
ss*s have the most 10 do: from their sentence
Fs no appeal. Lastly, there are two other
strates called the "Juez and the Fiscal
a., w Hacienda" to whom are intrusted all eases
%E from the recovery of duties.
tond the year 1858 the Superior Courts Of Costa
1Tere as the judicature is in all countries, in.
tadent of the immediate action of the GOV
1ent. This independence however, exists no
IL was dangerous to the safety of the State
%molslsg it IN responsibility which il had no
s Of avoiding. Ii has, therefore, been re-
s."d 10 shadow on the occasion Of the inter
.'ehee Of the British Vice Consul, in case of
ne celebrity in Costa Rics. but the details of
Nh are not necessary here. Ii was in conse-
: Taee OF the steps taken by the British agent
! 1.-THE Congress Of Costa Rica, when the case
ssid before them by the Executive, passed a
! aee explanatory of the meaning and extent Of
3 18th article Of their Constitution, in which de-
B. wthey conferred on the Government full powers
= akrfere in and revise or suspend, as the occa-
~@sAse be, allSsaisucss % sdt' wherein for