The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-27
In OTHER REPUBLICS.
How the Office OF President Is Filled
the World Over.
France Does Handsomely by Her Chief
Executive

least 40 years of experience with worldly
affairs He receives each year snug little
fortune of $4,000, which Is just equal Co
the total salaries of our president and his
eight cabinet members added together.
Besides this, be is furnished beautiful
palace, and Is annually given s3l, 900 pin
money with which TO pay the expenses of
his household and stables. Mr. Cleveland
is allowed an annual appropriation of but
ss, 900 "for the contingent expenses Of the
executive household, /" and has to pay for
the feeding and keeping of his own horses,
besides paying bis coachman out Of his
own pocket.
The French people never enjoy this hur-
rah and furry Of presidential campaign
which we are now experiencing. They
have no voice In the selection Of the presi-
dent, all of that important work being re-
served for congress. The French senate
and chamber Of deputies, which corre-
spond TO our two houses Of congress, meet
Jointly a month before the end of the ex-
listing presidents term. They march In
lire past large urn, in which each men,
Der drops a slip of paper containing the
name Of the candidate of his choice. The
man receiving an absolute majority re-
mains president for seven years, during
which term he receives altogether 81 ,015,-
900 from the government. France knows
no regular election day. There being no
vice president, the national assembly Is
called upon to Immediately elect a success
sor upon the death or resignation Of pres
ident The new executive does not merely
fiji in tho uncxpirsd term Of his predeces-
sor, but continues in power for a full term.
In Switzerland any man who is 90 years
old or over can vote. All Ssters, except
clergymen, are eligible TO the presidency.
Asin France, however. the common people
have no vote for the president, not even In
directly, through partisan electors. Every
three years the Swiss congress elects an
executive cabinet OF seven members, who,
after being chosen, divide among them
selves the portfolios Of foreign affairs, post
and telegraphs, justice and police, finance,
war, interior aud commerce and duties.
Every year this cabinet meets and elects
from its own mem bers ISesident and vice
president Of the republic.
Election day In Mexico, as in this coun.
try, occurs every four years. There is no
such Intermediate body rs our electoral
college in that republic. The majority of
the votes Of al the people cast at the polls
elects the successful candidate The presi-
dent Is inaugurated on the 1st Of Decern-
bcr, which IS much warmer day in that
locality than Is tho 18th of March here. The
Mexican presidents salary amounts 20 30,-
600 Of our dollars year, which is really
considerably more than Mr. Cleyelands
official wages, the cost OF living being
much less In that republic. Tie chief JUS
tice of tho Mexican supreme court is some
what of Pooh Bah. Besides being tho
official head Of bis own tribunal, he is ex
oficio president Of the senate and vice
president OF tho republic. President Diaz
has a cabinet OF seven secretaries, each Of
whom receives exactly the samc salary as
that given to "a cabinet officer in this coun-
try
The official Job Of president in Argentina
is worth $1,000 moro per term than is the
same position in this country. Although
the president of that country receives but
s36, 600 per year, We 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 servo two terms in succession, but
may be even third termer, or perhaps
fourth tormer, II he allows six years Co in
tervene between each term. In Argentina
the president, according to the constitu-
tion, must be over 30 years of aye. The
cabinet Of the Argentine president CORE
spends very much 10 that of our own with
the addition of a minister of worship and
education, who directs allenterprises aimed
nt tinoral and intellectual health. Cabinet
ministers In Argentina receive each year as
much money rs ours receive in year and
a half
Tho presidento of Bolivia receives S24, 900
year for forr years. He Is elected by the
direct vote of all citizens of the proper age
who can rcud and write, but cannot enjoy
more than ono term In the presidential
chair, no matter whether be skip term
or not. For the same term are elected two
vice Presidents known as the first and 500
ond vice president. They in turn perform
the functions OF the president in case Of
the death, absence or inability of the lat
ter. The first vice president receives an
annual salary OF SO, 600 year, while tho
second receives 81 600 less. The head Of
the cabinet, which consists of five mem
bers Is known as the minister of foreign
relations and worship.
If we were governed by the same laws
hs are in vogue In tho republic of Chile,
our bachelors would have TO wait until 20
before being of voting age, although our
married. meu, older In experience and re-
sponsibility, might vote on becoming 81.
A Chilean voter must be able 10 read and
write, and must each year pay certain
amount OF tax % the government. The
salary Of the president is but $4,000,
which is ample for his comfort and, be-
sides this, his term lasts for year longer
than the term OF our executive. He Is
voted for through an electoral college com
prisod Of three times as many members as
there are representatives in the lower
house OF the chilean congress. Thore are
ii members of his cabinet, but he can
choose but 1yc OF these, the other six be-
Ing elected by congress.
a man in Colombia cannot vote II un-
able TO read and write, unless he receives
an annual income OF at least $500. In
case Of the death of both the president and
vice president Of this republic, the success
sion falls to "designado who Is elected
by congress eycgy two years, although tho
president and vice president are elected cv-
cry six years The Colombian congress
alsn elects n council Of state, which acts as
u secondary cabinet 10 the president.
Ill Ntal