The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-04

Correspondent-Chile is the chief rail-
road builder among the countries on this
side of the Andes. IT built the first rail-
road on the continent, and I would like an
expression from your Excellency as to what
your people think of the intercontinental
railway Is it practical scheme and will
it ever be built?
The President Chile appIauds every
movement toward the completion of the in
tercontinental railway, but she considers
that 1t is still a long way off, On her own
part, Chile is endeavoring to extend her
railways from one end of the country to
the other. Her territory is very long. 1t
includes a large part of the Pacific coast
line of the continent, and her railroads will
contribute to a certain extent TO the pro-
posed intercontnental railway. / think
the advantages of this proposed interna-
tional line will be OF great Importance to
all interests.
After this the interview continues as fol-
lows:
dine Railway which is to connect the At
lantic and Pacific oceans, running from
Valparaiso to Buenos Ayres? 1 understand
that Chile will complete it?
The President-The Transandine Railway
is work which has been carefully studied
in Chile and it has been steadily protected.
AS you know, less than fifty miles of road
are yet needed to complete it, and part of
this is on Chilean and part on Argentine
soil. AT present, on account of the extraor-
binary demands of the companies proposing
to finish the work, the road is being more
carefully considered. There are some diff
culties in the way of it's extension along
the lines proposed, but 1t will be without
doubt continued as soon as these difficulties
are removed.
Correspondent-How about the railways
that Chile is building in the south? 1 un-
derstand they will open up much new coun-
try which will be available to immigrants.
The President-The southern railways
are destined to be Of great advantage to
Chile. They will give easy access to the
richest agricultural regions of the country.
They will give a great impulse to the es-
Establishment of agricultural colonies and will
stimulate immigration. Chile earnestyade-
sires immigration, and as far as lies in her
power endeavors to encourage it. She con-
Siders it one of the chief factors of her
progress We need more people in Chile,
and we have a country which, if properly
cultivated, would support many times our
present population.
THE MONROE DOCTRINE.
After a question as to the nitrate deposits
which the President answered by saying
that the Investigations show that they
will last for long time yet 1 asked his
Excellency what Chile thought of the Mon
| roe doctrine. This was a ralner delicate
question, many people down here think
that the United States wishes to control
the policy of the two continents. His writ
ten answer, however, was as follows
1.-The international policy of Chile has al
| ways tended towards the maintenance of
peace and the strengthening of her politi-
cal and commercial relations with the ma
| tions of the American continent, and be-
lieve that this policy does not depart from
one of the phases, perhaps the most i'm
portant one, of the Monroe doctrine"
Correspondent-Will the pending ques-
tons between Chile and the Argentine be
amicably adjusted or is there likely to be
| conflict of arms?
The President am confident that the
matters now pending between the Argentine
/ and Chile will be peaceably arranged, and
| believe that both governments are anxious
that they should be. This closes the in
| terview.
Chile is a republic, but there are a num-
Der of differences between its constitution
| and that of the United States. The Chilean
| President is elected for five years instead
of four, and he is not eligible for a second
| term. The presidential election day is June
Is of the fifth year of each presidency and
| Inauguration day is Sept. Is of the same
| year. Both of these dates are in the winter
months, and the 18th of September is also
the Chilean day of independence CORE
spending to our Fourth of July The Pres-
dent of Chile gets a salary of $4,000 and
he has in addition an allowance of $4,000 for
| expenses. This is, however in Chilean
| money so that it is equal just now to not
more than $1,000 in American gold. Pres-
dent Errazuriz probably spends several
times this sum every year. The President
has the veto power as our President has,
but his veto can be overridden by a two-
| thirds majority Of the members of Congress
present at the time the measure is brought
| back, and the political situation is such that
when a presidential measure fails it is
usually the custom for the Cabinet to re-
| sign, so that Chile has new Cabinet, l am
| told, on the average once a month. In add-
ton to his Cabinet, which is made up of
ministers after much the same lines as
those of our Cabinet, the Chilean President
has a council of state consisting of five
| HelHpSiS dppOlIlSO Wy AAAhSSlA di0 SiA
chosen by Congress-
THE CHILEAN CONGRESS.
ChiIeans cannot vote until they are twen-
ty-five years of age if they are unmarried,
but married men can vote at the age of
twenty-one Members of the House of
Deputies, which corresponds to our House
of Representa- must have an income of
| G100 sterling year. and senators must each
have incomes of G40O, or $1,000 year. Con-
gress sits in regular session from June 1 I'M
| til Sept. l ever year, but the President can
| call an extra session whenever he chooses.
! The building known the houses of Con-
| gress was burned year or so ago and is
\ now being rebuilt. 1t was and will be the
| finest building in Santiago. 1t covered a
full square of ground and looked not unlike
some of our great buildings at Washington,
save that it was made of brick covered with
| terra Gotta stucco instead of granite or
| marble. The walls of the building still
stand and within a short time it will again
be ready for occupancy. At present the
lower house is meeting in one of the halls
| of the University of Santiago, and the SEN
/ ate holds its sessions in one of the buildings
devoted to the government departments.
| The sessions of Congress are often very
| stormy. The Chleans are fond of politics,
| and you will hear more political talk here
| in a day than you hear in Washington in
a week. There are two great political
| parties, the Conservatives and the Liberals,
| each of which has a number of subdivisions