New-York tribune., 1901-01-27
VENEZUELA.
WHICH AMERICA GOES FOR
ASPHALT,
ASPHALT.

was ordered to La Guayra Venezuela, De-
cember 81. will probably remain at that port
until the difficulties arising out of the asphalt
concessions question have been adjusted. When
the vessel started her trip south it was
expected that she might proceed as far as
Guanaco which is the nearest point to the
asphalt concessions accessible to the Scorpion,
but since then the two days trip up the ORR
noco River has been abandoned. Guanaco is
in the northern part of the republic, and is the
point of shipment for the asphalt which IS
brought by the Guanaco and Labresa Railway
from the great pitch lake fifteen miles to the
eastward. The asphalt concessions have been
the possession of the American company for
about twelve years. This property is now
claimed by La Fel6cidad Concessonnaires, under
a later title from the Venezuelan Government,
and the adjustment OF the questionable stand
taken by the Government against the Amer-
can company and the charge brought by Ven
ezuelan citizens that the Americans making
efforts to grab asphalt property beyond their
concess ions-has brought the country again
prominently into public notice.
The concessions" which are referred to SO
often in the asphalt controversy grants by
the Government to individuals and to corpora
tons for the development of the public lands.
All lands within the bounds of the republic for
which no ownership has been recorded are con-
sidered the property OF the republic and are
under the control of the Federal authorities.
These lands may be sold granted to persons
who desire to develop them. When the lands
to be used for agricultural purposes they
given to the prospective farmer in the
proportion of two and One-half acres for each
member of his family. Mining lands and other
public lands with water rights given To cor
porations free with the proviso that certain
improvements must be made within certain
period
These lands" said native Venezuelan. "are
given free. but To obtain any of them requires
what you call in this country "A pull and in
the days Of CrespO number of Americans ex-
trted that power with much success. \ little
influence. little money and little political
work go a great way in Venezuela toward get
ting possession OF public lands"
The republic originally one of the Free
States founded by Simon Bolivar in Spanish
New-Granada. The present form Of government
was founded about seventy years ago but
changes and reconstructive measures were
passed in 1864 and in 1881. II was intended 10
establish government similar To that OF the
United States. but the result different in
many respects.
The national Legislature consists Of two
houses. one of Senators and another of Dep
utes endowed with the most ample power in all
affairs related both to politics and admnstra-
tion. To form the Senate each State designatcs
by means Of its respective Legislature three
Senators and an equal number of substitutes To
hll the vacancies that may occur. and to form
The other house each State returns by popular
election one Deputy for each 5000 inhabitants
and another for any number exceeding 1JpD0
In the same manner equal number of sub
stitutes are returned to replace principals in
of need. Both Senators and Deputies elect
ed for term of four years. This body meets
every year in the capital of the union on Feb
ruary 20 and its sessions last seventy days and
may be prolonged to twenty more. The Fed
eral Council is composed OF seventeen members
viz. one Senator and one Deputy for each in
dvdual State of the union and one additional
Ieputy for the Federal District, and is chosen
10y Congress every two years from among the
particular representatives. of each State and of
the Federal District From among its own
members the Federal Council elects the person
who. during the corresponding term of two
public and the one who has To replace him in
case of temporal or total vacancy. Members of
the Federal Council remain in office during two
years, as also does the President of the United
this post cannot be reelected for the term i'm
mediately following. Nor are members of a
Federal Council eligible members of the next
new Council
he last of ba liz