The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-11-03
Choosing Presidents
in Other Republics
From the Philadelphia Times.

From the Philadelphia Times.
Mr. Mckinley or Mr. Bryan, which
ever our next chief executive may be,
will count as only one out of more than
twenty-five presidents of republics in
this world. Considering the greatness
of his country and the official ceremony
and hospitality expected of him. he Will
doubtless be the poorest paid of all these
executives. If this were France istead
of the United States, MIR. Bryan would
be ineligible to the highest office, on ac-
count of his youth. Besides being ma
tivc-born Frenchman, the president Of
F,raEle must have had at least torty
years Of experience with wori-,y affairs
lie receives each year Il snug little for-
tune of $1l4,0Oo. which is just equal TO
the total salaries of our president and
his eight cabinet members added to-
gcther. Besides this. he is furnished
the hire Of beautiful palace and Is an
nually given $4,000 pin Nancy. with
which to pay the expenses of his house
hold and stables. Mr.. Cleveland is al
lowed an annual appropriation of but
IS. 900 for the contingent expenses OF
the executive household" and has to
pay for the feeding and keeping of his
own horses, besides paying his coach
man out of his own pocket. The French
people never enjoy this hurrah and
furry OF the presidential campaign,
which we are now experiencing. They
have no voice in the selection of the
president. all of that important work
being reserved for congress. The
French senate and chamber of deputies,
which correspond to our two houses of
congress. meet jointly a month before
the end of the existing presidents term.
They march in line past large urn,
into which each member drops "A slip Of
paper containing the name of the can
didate of his choice. The man receiv-
ing an absolute majority remains presi-
dent for seven years, during which
term he receives altogether I.0l5.OO0
from the government. France knows
no regular election day. There being
no vice-president, the National ASSEM-
bly, is called upon to Immediately elect
Il successor upon the death or resigna-
tion of president. The new executive
does not merely ill in the uneXpired
term of his predecessor, but continues
in power for a full term.
in Switzerland any man who is tWen-
ty years old or over can vote. All Vut-
erS, except clerSymcn, are eligible to
the presidency. As in France, how
ever. the common people have no vote
for the prcSiGent-nut even Indirectly.
through partisan electors. Every three
years the Swiss congress elects an exc
CutiNe cabinet of seven members. who
after being chosen divide among them
selves the portfolios nt foreign az
fairs" post and telegraphs," Justice
and police finance. war in
terror" and commerce and duties.
Every year the cabinet meets and
elects from its own members IA prcsi-
lie.
Election day in Mexico. as in this
country, occurs every four years. There
is no such intermediate body as oui
electoral college in that republic. The
majority OF the votes Of all the peOplt
cast ut the polls elects the successful
candidate. The president is lnauSur-
ated on the LIST of December. which is
a much warmer day in that locality
than is the 4th of March here. The
Mexican presidents salary amounts t.
20. 600 OF our dollars a year. which is
really considerably more than Mr.
CleVelands official wages, the cost OF
living being much less in that repub.
lie. The Chief Justice of the Mexican
Supreme court is somewhat of pooh
BAH" Besides being the official head
of his own tribunal he is, eX-officio
president Of the senate and vice presi-
dent of the republic. President Dia2
has a cabinet OF seven secretaries, eacf
of whom receives exactly the same sal.
airy as that given To cabinet officer
in this country.
The official Job of president in Ar.
gentina is worth $4,000 more per term
than is the same position in this coun-
trN- a IA nf hl
country receives but $4,000 per year. he
holds his position for six years. He is
voted for through an electoral college
comprising double the total number of
members of congress. He cannot serve
two terms in succession. but may he
even third termer, or perhaps fourth
termer. if he allows six years to inter
vene between each term. The vice
president of Argentina holds q much
more lucrative position than that which
will fall to either Mr.. Hobart. Mr.. Sew
all or Mr. Watson. AS far as ease is
| concerned he has exactly the same sine.
cure which one of these will enjoy. bu,
| receives $4,000 a year for six years, ol
| $4,000 more per year than our success
| full vice presidential candidate will b'
given for four years. Religion counts
as much as, if not more than, politics
in Argentine elections. Every young
man who has ambitions for the presi
dency must be Roman Catholic. ol
his warnings will he of no avail Be
sides being a Romanist. the president
according to the constitution, must b,
! over 30 years of age. Boy orators hav,
| even more of a show in that country
than they seem to have in this. TIL,
cabinet of the Argentine president cor
responds very much to that of ou
own, with the addition of minister o
Worship and Education" who direct!
all enterprises aimed at moral and in
| tellectual health. Cabinet ministers
! in Argentina receive each year as mucl
| money as ours receive in year and ;
| half.
The president Of Bolivia receives $2i.
! 900 q year for four years. He is elect
ed by tre direct vote of all citizens o
the proper age. who can read ant
write, but cannot enjoy more than on
! term in the presidential chair, no mat
ter whether he skip Il term or not. FO
! the same term are elected two vic
presidents, KnOWn as the first an,
second vice president. They in turi
perform the functions of the prcsidcn
in case Of the death, absence or in
! ability of the latter. The first vice pres
/ lutnl receives an uIllUul VI 20,
O0O n year, while the second receives
thousand dollars less. The head of tn
cabinet, consisting of five members. i
; known as the minister OF foreign rela
tions and worship.
II We We're governed ny the sam
laws as are iii vogue in the republi
of Chile our bachelors would have t
wait until % before being of votin
! age although our married men. olde
in experience and responsibility. Nigh
vote on becoming u. \ Chilean vote
must be able 10 read and write, an
must each year nay Il certain amour
of tax 10 the government. The salar
of the president is but $4,000. which
ample for his comfort, and besides thl
his term lasts for a year longer tha
the term of our executive. He is vote
for through an electoral college CON
plised of three times as many mem