The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-18

Mexican drawings and, Mexico got those Tor Santiago. The result was this enor- nous moneda. which is today the largest presidential residence on this hemisphere
 Returning to the government of Chili. the country is one of the best managed of all South America It's people are noted for their patriotism. They are for Chilli first last and all the time, and although they will fight each other during the presidential campaigns. they are peaceful enough once the president is elected. The country is not one of revolutions It has had only 13 presidents since 1880, and one of these was elected but did not act. Since the beginning of the republic in 1910. there have been 25 presidents. and the only revolutionary perjod'was between 1923 and 1880. wien there were 10 different execu-, tiyes. During the first year of the republic several of the presidents had terms of 10 years. and 1t was not un- til 1871 that the five-year period. without reelection. which now prevails began. The president has the right to veto, but congress can. by two-thirds vote, override his objections. and make its bills law. When a presidential measure fails. it Is the custom of the cabinet to resign, and there have been times when Chili has had new cabinet on the average about once a month.
 The congress of Chil differs from ours. as to it's elections, it's times Of meeting, and in several others fea- tures.s The members of both senate and house are elected by the males of the country. but no one can vote with out he can read and write. There Is a difference in the. voting age as to whether man is married or single. The bachelor has to wait until he Is 25, but the married man can vote at the age of 2l. Members of the house of deputies must be at least 21 at the time of their election. and senators must be 36 or more. All candidates for congress must have a specified in- come. and a member of the lower house cannot serve without he has at least $500 per year Every senator must have at least s2000 a year. and members of both ho'ases must serve without salaries. There is supposed to be no financial profit in the position. and the place is one of honor alone. As to graft, I have no doubht that more or less exists Indeed. I have yet to find a legislative body on earth where each and all of the members Are saints.
 The provisions for educational quail fications for suffrage and the require ment of suffrage income makes the
  practically confines the administration to the richer classes, and the great families control the country. This is so not only In Chile, but in all of the Latin American republics. It has all ways been so In Mexico, and the sup position that the Mexicans can have free and fair elections under the pres ent conditions is absurd to any one who knows Latin America. The gov ernment of these countries has always been in the hands of the few, and 1t is only by education and gradual uplift that the masses can be fitted to take part in the legislature and the gov ernment.
 The Chilean Congress meets in the winter, its sessions running from June l to September l. This country, as you know, is south of the equator, and 1t therefore has it's winter when we have our summer. In addition to this regular meeting, the President can call an extra session whenever he chooses, and during the recess a permanent committee of members of both houses presides over certain public business. . The houses of Congress are situated in the heart of the city. The capitol building is of two stories. It's ma terial Is white stone, and the porticos, which form the entrance to the Cham Der of Deputies and the Senate, are each upheld by six Corinthian col umns. The building is surrounded by a beautiful garden filled with semi tropical trees. There are palms as big around as a hogshead, which are nevertheless not more than 30 feet high. There are also beds of beautl- ful flowers. At one corner of the grounds Is a fountain, and at the other a statue standing on the site of the