The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-09
THINGS In COLOMBIA.
ITS GOVERNMENT PATTERNED
AFTER THAT OF THE
United States, WITH Variations - Too
Much Liberty In Some Matters-How
the People Live and Move.

Much Liberty In some Matters-How
the People Live and Move,
Especial Correspondence of the Journal
and Courier.)
Bogota, Colombia. Dec. Both, 1903.
According to the Colombian consti-
tuition. the presidents term of Office is
six years; but in reality he sticks to
the executive chair for as long, or as
short a period as his military author
tty holds out. He is assisted by vice
president, seven ministers and a coun-
cal OF state. Congress meets in Bogota
on the first day of the new year, the
senate and house of deputies both US
ing the same room, which is a very
large, bare apartment, having galleries
on three sides. Original legislation be-
longs only to congress, but the COVER
nors of the various departments" or
provinces, have power to issue edicts
upon laws passed by congress, for IA
cil1tating the affairs of their respective
districts. The various departments are
administered by departmental assem-
bi1es, which meet once in two years;
and each has it's own municipal coun-
Gil, superior court and district judge.
Besides the civil, criminal and district
courts, commercial courts" are also
HE'D. So far as the text of the law is
concerned, foreigners enjoy equal rights
with Colombians in this so-called re-
public; but it would not be advisable
to test the question in any native court
of justice, unless the matter is weighty
enough to carry with it the fear of
Uncle Samueps long strong arm. I'm
prisonn1ent for debt has recently been
done away with and trial by jury in
criminal cases established. The only
monopoly in the country is that Of
salt, which is yet in the hands of the
central government; and in some de-
partments that of the rum distilleries,
which is administered for the benefit of
their own municipal revenues. The
trade in arms and ammunition has
been free for several years. There is
large public debt owing to foreign
ers, three-fourths of which is due to
British creditors, who hold as security
a mortgage on Colombia's chief source
of revenue, that derived from the Gus
toms. A system intended to place the
commercial and public credit of the
country on a better basis was intro
duced some time ago and is already
largely developed. In 1871, what is
known as bill and discount company
was established in Bogota and COM
mands public onfidence-although in
all this changeful world there is moth
ing that varies more than the money
market. The principal national coin is
the half-dollar; but that being away
below par, is not thought of at all in
the conduct of commercial transactions
abroad, and is nearly valueless in
Central America, where drafts are
sometimes sought by business men on
the Isthmus. For the purchase of such
drafts the silver dollar of Peru and
Chili-the former called soles, the lat
ter pesos-are preferred and are noted
at from | to 10 per cent above the
money OF Colombia. The demand for
these foreign dollars, however ceases
when the price Of local drafts is such
as to induce purchasers to buy them
at home, where the gold of the United
States is brought for Panama railway
purposes. The latter is generally plen-
tiful, and is eagerly bought up, twice
every month, by mechanics and others,
to send away to their friends and fam
lilies at home. When the foreign dollar
was introduced, the gold was sold at
par; but domestic want, added to the
bi-monthly calls above alluded to, has
esnt American money away up in the
market. Therefore the very best sort
of funds one can possibly bring to
South America is United States gold,
the premium on which is always con-
siderable. II ~,
During the last quarter century, in
the intervals of revolution, the Colom-
bian government has occupied itself
largely with the educational problem.
An organization of national schools,
modelled on the German method, took
place in 1870, and already there are
about two thousand educational insti-
buttons of various classes in the coun-
try, supported from the public treas
ury. Among them is national nor
NAL school in each province for the