The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-04-02

bia, 100 miles Of which were traversed
on muleback, and he crossed each Of the
three principal chains Of the Andes. He
returned full Of enthusiasm for the country
and President Reyes.
Colombia has had q rotten Government
for the last twenty year,, said Mr.. Mason
up to that time the Government was clean
in spite Of the fact that there were frequent
revolutions.
Gen. Reyes had trouble at the start Of
his administration. There was an organ
ized opposition to him IN Congress by mem
bers Of his own party. In consequence
Congress refused 10 pass necessary laws
They agreed finally 10 pass the tax laws
The regular season expired about Nov.
% Reyes extended the session until Dec.
1, and Congress spent its time probably
discussing points Of grammar. Another
extension produced a Ike result, and Con-
Eress adjourned
The monetary unit In Colombia Is the
paper dollar, but contracts can be made In
any currency the contractors choose, and
Colombian gold Is the same In hneness
as ours. When Reyes came In the whole
country was demoralized, the schools were
closed and Colombia was ruined. Curiously
enough, there was no lAwlessness, and high
way robbery is unknown In Colombia
But things were in q bad way.
Twenty-Five members Of Reyes's party
issued a manifesto condemning the Gov
eminent, and Reyes promptly exiled them
TO a distant point In the great Ilanos In
the southeastern part OF Colombia. He
was authorized 70 do this by the existing
n ed Oh nj
and a vast quantity Of ammunition which
were scattered through the country IN the
possession Of the petty leaders OF the last
revolution
AT that time Venezuela stopped navi-
cation on the River zulia, through which the
products Of northeastern Colombia are
marketed. The River Zulia hows into Lake
Maracaibo, which is really gulf Of the At
lsntio Ocean. Hostillties were feared for
a time.
The President declared a technical
state Of siege In the northeastern part OF
Colombia a. q result Of the affair, and the
nominal state Of siege stil maintains. I'm
der Article III Of the Constitution the decla-
ration invested the President with legis-
htivs a. web as executive power. Any
decree dgnsd by him and all Of his Ministers
becomes . Law.
The laws be has passed by means OF
this authority have been few, but import
ant. He has revised the tan system and
increased the customs 70 per cent He
created q government monopoly In brandy
and cigarettes, In addition TO the monopo-
lies h salt and emeTalds, which have ex-
listed for many years. He increased the
revenue from 5000 900 to go 900 900 per
Gnnum, which insmes a surplus.
An extremely popular measure was the
reduction Of the army from 1900 10 600
men. -Four thousand Of them are at present
employed in improving the public roads
The reform is popular With the soldiers
~ well az the people, a. they get a slight
increase in pay through this employment.
The President has opened and IL opening
the public schools throughout the country
He has created a series Of lazarettos FOL
the leperA Leprosy has made frightfu
tnroads In Colombia.
The President has sent capable Minister
70 Venezuela and Brazil 10 negotiate the
boundary questions, which have arisen with
both those countries, and also TO arrang,
for the free navigation Of the Orinooo anc
Amazon rivers. The latter affair Ia mos
important, as II extends the steamboal
navigation from the northeast coast o.
Colombo 10 within 100 miles Of BogotS
the capital
Reyes has laid the foundation for I
national bank and for the gradual retirinl