The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-08


cultivated regions are embraced in the fertile
valleys with their high and sheltering noun
tain walls. The pasture lands are the great
plains with many kinds OF grasses and wafsred
by large streams The wooded belt Is near the
Orinoco and includes the mineral belt In this
wooded belt are produced without euiuvation'
Caout chouc, the crude product from which
rubber is obtained, tonKa bean, copaioa
and other articles priced in Tor
eign markets. The minerals found In
Venezuela are OF every variety, from goid down
to kaolin, and these extensive mineral resources
have been developed only in small degree. Inc
greatest wealth of the republic, which is one OF
the richest OF South America as regards natural
resources and easy means of developing them,
consists in her agriculture, of which coffee and
cocoa are the chief products. The value OF the
coffee export annually is estimated at $lZooo,-
600, and that of cocoa at more than sS,uOO,oOo.
The cattle industry is another source OF wealth,
the country containing about 1l,0Oo,0oo head,
and from the ex portation OF hides the revenue
annually Is 81 10000
The government consists OF the president,
vice president and cabinet as executive officers,
and a congress which includes a senate and
chamber OF deputies. Three senators are elected
from each state by the respective legislatures,
and the deputies are elected by popular vote,
the apportionment in each state being one
deputy for every group of IS, 900 inhabitants and
u
$1,000. The members OF congress are elected for
four years and substitutes or alternates elected
at the same time to fill vacancies. Every second
year congress elects from its members a federal
council OF II members, made up OF one senator
and one deputy from each state, and one deputy
from the federal district, and this council, from
among its number, elects the president and vice
president
The country is traversed by several railroads,
I'M fala md fall
is connected by cable with Europe and the
United States. An American company is about
to build a cable road between Caracas and the
port of La Guayra, which is near by. The ma
ton maintains 1,346 public schools, and there
are national and private colleges, universities
and an academy OF arts and trades. The proper
ton of those attending educational institutions
is forty-six for each 1000 inhabitants. The
country pursues liberal policy toward indus
trious immigrants aad toward foreigners in gen.
eral, and the largest fortunes have been made
by the latter.
Venezuela is one OF the South American re-
publics which largely increased their commerce
with the United States in the last decade. In
1889 her exports to the United States amounted
to 0,000, 900, and she purchased merchandise
for that period to the value of 100000, which
was a larger trade than she did with the Euro
pean countries. But. influenced, no doubt, by
the countries of the Old World, the republic
did not enter into a reciprocity treaty with the
United States and was deprived of the enjoy
ment OF privileges in trade which such treaty
would have conferred by the presidents procla-
nation putting the commercial barriers be-
tween her and the United States. The money
of the nation is gold and silver only, the none
tary unit being the bolivar, silver, of 15.4 cents
value. The private banks have the privilege Of
issuing bank notes.
The judiciary consists OF the supreme federal
courts, supreme court of appeal special local civil
and criminal, district, borough and municipal
courts. The supreme federal court consists Of
as many members al there are states In the
Union, and for their appointment congress
meets on the 18th of its session and out of list
OF principal members and one of substitutes
submitted by the representatives of each state,
congress chooses principal member and sub
stitute.
The federal council which elects the president
and vice president in the manner stated above
holds office for only two years. as do the two
executive officers, and neither the president nor
any member OF the council can be reelected to
succeed himself.
This is the provision OF the law over which
the present trouble arose. The senators and
deputies met in joint session on February 20,
but owing to the opposition against the govern
ment a deadlock resulted, the senators closing
their doors, and this resulted in failure to elect
a federal council. 1t appears that the last con-
gress and the legislatures of the union sane
toned the reform OF the constitution in several
important particulars, including the extension
OF the term of office OF the president from two
to four years. President Raimundo Andrezza
Palacio now insists that the first act of the pres
emit congress shall be to declare the reformed
constitution in force, then next to elect presi-
dent and vice president for the term to be
| named by him The opposition decline to
agree to this, and say the first act of congress
shall be the election of president and vice presi-
dent, then shall follow the declaration of the
reformed constitution being in force. Neither
party will give in. hence the deadlock. The
president declares 1t to be his duty-and in this
he is supported by a large pa56y-to see that the
reformed constitution is in Yorce before any
thing else is done. He says he is responsible to
| the country for this.
The matter was submitted to the supreme
federal court, which is tribunal OF the people,
and it decided that Palaco had no legal title to
| the Office. Then Palacio asserted his powers
| and as dictator Imprisoned all the judges This
led TO the breaking out OF the revolt, famed by
| the opposition to Palacio and even conservative
| men have taken up arms against the dictator,
| knowing that his reign of terror and usurpation
| must soon come to an end.
The government is determined to face the sit
\ uation. The bank of Caracas has advanced
| 100000 of bolivars about s75O,0O0), and the
national forces at its disposition are said to be
in a condition of thorough preparation to meet
| the revolutonists.
| Prominent Canadian Dead.
| OUFRFC One ADril --Tu1oa Ta,s;a-