Evening journal., 1898-09-24
A UNION IN SIGHT.
The New Omitted States" OF
Central America.
MANY OBSTACLES TO Be OVERCOME,
Prominent Features of the Proposed
COnstitution-A Hitch AZ 10 Inn
port Duties-PresfdentsM May
Not Pass over Arms.

MANAGUA. Nicaragua, Sept. 24.-Ths
delegates who are daily holding meet
ings at this place for the purpose OF de-
Gliding on the articles OF the constitution
10 be formulated for the proposed
United States OF Central America" TO
be composed OF the states of Salvador
Honduras and Nicaragua. have had
several serious differences, the repre-
sentatives OF Nicaragua and Honduras
voting In some instances sOlidly, OF
nearly lin opposition to the Views OF
the delegates from Salvador. one con
tention was in regard TO the finances
of the proposed federal government. All
the delegates conceded that the federal
government should control the custom
houses and collect the import duties,
but the salvadorians declared that one
half Of the import duties collected from
their state should be returned TO SAL
vador, because that country imported as
much or more than Nicaragua and
Honduras combined. The convention
voted against this, however. but the
next day, as "a disruption was evident
from a protest published In the news
papers by the Salvador delegates, the
convention agreed In order TO smooth
matters over that one-half the revenues
collected by the federal government
through the custom house In each state
should be paid to that state. The SAL
vador representatives are evidently not
satisfied with several articles that have
been adopted over their votes by the
other delegates.
The members of the convention have
declared themselves at present the sole
and supreme eXpressers OF the Will Of
the states and people of Salvador, Hon
duras and Nicaragua, and therefore ig-
more the diet" OF the Greater Republic
of Central America" that had them APP
pointed through the state governments
(they were not really elected, as they
claim, and will not submit the consti-
tuition (nominally formulated for the
states and people, to the people for APP
proval or disapproval.
Many critics of the work OF the con-
vention declare that when the presi-
dents Of the states are ordered by the
federal government on its organiza-
ton, In compliance with the new con-
stitution, to deliver up to the federal
government all the cannon. rifles, mu-
nitions OF war and soldiers In the va
rious states there win be much opposi-
ton and that some OF the presidents
ance with the order and thus prevent
the establishment OF the United States
Of Central America, for It is believed
that the position and even the life OF
some of the presidents OF the Central
American countries depend solely on
the fact that they vigilantly control,
personally or through paid satellites, all
the arms, munitions OF war and sol
diers in their respective states.
The following are some OF the promi-
nent articles agreed TO by the consti-
tuition forming the assembly:
The Name.-To be "the United States
of Central America"
The Federal District.-To be compos-
ed Of the four civil departments Of Chi
nandega (Nicaragua), Chomteca and
Morizan (Honduras) and La Union
(Salvador), being the land boundary of
the gulf OF Fonseca and extending in
terlorward to the crest of the noun
tains that face the Pacific ocean. con-
tanning over $500 square miles of land
area and embracing the excellent ship
harbors of Corinto (Nicaragua). La
Union (Salvador). Amapala (Honduras)
and the gulf OF Fonseca.
The Capitalize be at present ANA
pala, on Tiger island (Honduras). In
the gulf OF Fonseca, the federal gov
eminent 10 select a site hereafter with
in the federal district for a permanent
capital.
The government will most probably
select as the site for the federal capt.
tai one OF the well watered. large. ele-
waited plateaus in the Choluteca noun
tains that overlook the gulf Of Fonseca
and its entrance into the Pacific ocean
near Rio Choluteca.
The Government-To consist of a
president, four senators and ,13 repre-
sentatives from each state and three
senators and four representatives. from
the federal district. elected scr -four
years. The president is not TO be re.
elected. The supreme court is also e
be elected by the people. for four years
when the federal government orders.
Territory.-The civil departments com.
posing the federal district are TO b,
coded by the states TO the federal GOV
eminent; but the states and fedora
government are prohibited from cedinl
any part Of state or national territory
20 any foreign power.
This is evidently an effort to proven
any foreign power from acquiring tn,
canal route across Nicaragua.
A commission appointed by the con
vention Is to meet at Amapala on Nov
/ next. empowered TO take all necessar!
steps to have an election In the state
on Dec. /. 1898, for president, senator
and representatives and TO inaugural
the persons thus elected at Amapala on
March !, 1899. as the officials OF tn
federal government.
The federal government is TO be tn
supreme power within the states and &
be the medium OF communication be
tween the states and foreign countrie
and is to control all custom houses Il
the states and TO collect all import du
ties. dividing the collections as mad
equally with the state government O
the state from which collected. Thi
division OF the import duties is to be tn
rule at first. The federal congress ha
power to order differently
The arms. ammunition and munition
of war owned by each state and all tn
soldiers are TO be turned over TO tn
federal government on it's organization
None of the presidents of the state
nor any of the commission TO inau
gurate the government Of the union ca
be elected president Of the federal unto
during the term OF his office