The Newark star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1909, 1909-08-18
AMERICANS NOW
HAVE EYES TURNED
ON VENEZUELA
Fair Future Under New COnsti-
tuition Is PrOmised-P0wers
of Congress Enlarged.
PRESIDENT GOMEZ'S
CABINET A GOOD ONE
Business Men See Good Pros.
poets Ahead Now That Trouble
Is Not in Sight.

CARACAS, Venezuela, Aug. 1S.-The
appointment by President Gomez OF a
new cabinet and of a new council of
marks the commence
ment of the provisional government
provided for under the constitution
adopted by Congress week before last,
and at the same time puts an end to
innumerable speculations that have
been rife here since the plan of a pro-
visional government of the republic
was decided on. The new constitution
supersedes that enacted on April p,
1904, under the Castro regime. and
differs from it in many important par
t~iculars.
Four-Ycar Term for President.
Chief among these are the provision
for a f%our-year term for the presidency
and the congress in place of six years,
as heretofore; the election of the PrSsi-
lent by the two houses of congress
direct instead of by the intervention
of an electoral body of fourteen, chosen
by congress; the creation of eight new
states in the federation and the aboli-
ton of one, making the total number
of states twenty instead of thirteen,
and the creation of a new govern
mental body. to be known as the coun-
Gil of government, consisting of ten
members, to be elected by congress at
the time OF electing the President n
to serve for the same term.
The whole purpose of the new Con-
stitution is to enlarge the powers and
Importance of the Congress and to limit
the powers of the executive in the func-
tons of government; and this reflects
the reaction against the arbitrary and
dictatorial rule of General Cipriano
Castro, and the purpose of the leading
spirits in Venezuela that there shall
not be the opportunity hereafter for
such an arrogation of absolute au-
thority as President Castro assumed.
This purpose appears very clearly in
the provision that only the Congress
can declare war, and that at its order
the President must, during war,
negotiate for peace.
To Prevent EntangIements.
Furthermore, the Congress is to ap-
prove or reject all contracts of public
interest negotiated by the executive,
and without its approval no such con-
tract can be put in force. This will
serve to make impossible such en-
tanglements as arose in the case of the
Critchfeld or United States and Vene-
zuela Company's contract, in which
case the execution of the contract was
entered upon in advance of the Up
prevail of Congress, which approval the
Congress never gave.
Length Diplomatic Correspondence.
This resulted in the long diplomatic
correspondence and negotiation, which
has only been terminated by the settle
Inent effected between the United
States and Venezuela during the past
fortnight. The powers of Congress are
also extended largely over the armed
forces of the republic, since that body
alone Is to fix the numbers of the land
and naval forces and to regulate their
government and disposition.
To the surprise of everybody In a
county where public lotteries have al
ways hourished under governmental
sanction, the constitution prohibits lot
teries and public gambling within the
republic as contrary to order n good
custom. Whether or not this provision
will be strictly enforced is perhaps an
other question. Taken altogether, hoW-
ever, the new fundamental law of
Venezuela seems to be a distinct i'm
provement upon that which existed be-
fore and to be well adapted to secure
her citizens in the enjoyment of those
liberties Of which they were so out
~rageously deprived by the dictator,
Castro.
Senior Ortega- MARTINEZ. n of the
new cabinet, is we'll known in New
York. having passed most. if not all,
Of his period of exile under Castro in
that city. He. too, is a man of char
acter and ability, and it is to such men
rs these in her important governmental
posts that Venezuela must look to put
an end to the limitless thievery and
grating that has been all to charac-
~teristic Of public ofice-holders in this
country.