Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-28
TALK On BRAZIL
BY the Financiai Commissioues {
Bfszu TO the United atatss.

NEW YORK, May 27.-The New Yorl
Times has the following: The Baron d,
Gondosiz Of Brazil arrived in New Yerl
last Saturday on the steamer Finance. II,
10 at the Victoria hotel. He received /,
cable dispatch from Para which told hin
that he had hem appointed fasnsial c,m
missioner Of Brazil to the United State
and Eufope.
The baron said to Times reporter tha
he hsd not received full Instructions as e
bis work ~ commissioner. He should
study the financial systems Of America and
Of several European countries. and on bis
return 10 Brazil make such recommends
tons as might seem wise. The govern
mens would consider this report in determ.
ining the future financial system Of the
republic, He did not know the precise
ground that he would cover.
"The money Of Brazil is now gold and
currency" he said. ..In this respect the
transition from An empire to a republic
made little change. Up to the time of the
formation of the new government all debts
were payable in currency. Nov the i'm.
port duties are payable iu gold coin. Ex-
port duties and other debts are still payable
in currency. This currency 10 based on
the pledge Of the government. Sometimes
it is worth more than gold. With ex change
on London at 27 pence per milreA the cur.
rency is at par, and have eeen exchange
higher than that.
THE republic Of Brszli is now fairly
settled and anxious to adopt those princi-
pies of government which hsve proved ad-
vantageous in other Countries. Ii is TO the
American Republic more than to any o;hsr
that Brsz1 looks in its transition stage.
You have Republicans and Democrats here.
Our political parties have been given the
same names. The Republicans are now in
power, having elected FonsecA to the Pres
idency by vote that Included three -fourths
of the voters of the republic"
"Who may vote in Brszilf' the Baron
was asked.
ANY man 81 years old who can read and
write. The voting is BY secret ballot
The clips are selected by the voter, placed
10 sealed envelope, and when the voters
name is called his slip is deposited in a box
There are very slight differences be-
tween the two parties The questions Of
financial policy, of tariff or free trade, aud
other questions which are Issues between
the two parties in the United States do not
enter into politics in our country. The
Republicans, however, who are in power
now, are in favor Of reciprocity in trade
with the United States. The Democrats
are opposed to it. The subject is so new
with u', however, ard so many questions
have arisen in the organizing of the rev
republic that the question of benefits has
not been much discussed.
There is little for the two parties to
contend for except the offices. We do not
know what civil service means. but the
appointive offices are all filed by represen-
tatives of the dominant party"
There is third party, known as the
Catholic Psrty, which was organized by the
priests, but it is small and cuts very little
figure Our legislative bodies are much
like those in this country. We have
national Senate and national House Of
Deputies, corresponding to the two houses
of the American Congress. and each state
has its own Legislature, like those in this
country.
Baron de GondoIil is the managing
director Of a company that deals in rubber.
His company is not only the leading one in
Para, handling more than all other Brazil
ian companies. but it owns at the present
time three fourths of all the rubber 10 stock
IN the world.
The total stock is about $500 tons" the
Baron said, land our company controls
from $500 10 5000 tons of that. We have
held'it for some lime. not with the ides of
raising prices, bat because manufacturers
have shown reluctance in buying. As
rule the supply is about equal to the de-
mand. The crop this year is greater than
it was last year, and no advance in prices
is likely. Our stock is worth. laid down in
New York, Ss or 80 cents pound, duties
and freight paid. The export duty from
Brazil is 81 per cent. OF this IL per cent.
is levied by the State from which i. is taken
and per cent by the general government.
The coudi,ion of Brazil indicates sea
con of prosperity. Much depends on the
crops, although there are some ni1es there
that are being worked. These are chiefly
golf, and are not very extensive. The
greater portion Of our gold we buy from
England. and silver cuts no figure worth
meniioDlng. Our principal crop 10 coffee,
and sugar. rubber, woods and grains are
ais1 important 1t is estimated that the
value Of the crops for the coming year will
be E45 COO, 600"
The Baron said he intended to study the
national banking system of the United
States and examine into the business poll.
cies of this and other governments. In
short, he supposed that he should inves.i-
gate sli questions bearing on the finances
of the republic. He said that he should
sail for Europe nextweek probably, though
no had not determined the exact date.
Meantime he vas awaiting explicit instruc,
Mons from the Minister of Finance in
BrsZl