Omaha daily bee., 1914-10-18
The Moueda or Chtzlar7 White House

ter. its sessions running from June to
September !. This country, as YOU know,
is south OF the equator and it therefore
has its winter when we have our summer.
In addition TO this regular meeting. the
president can call AN extra session when
ever he chooses. and during the recess a
permanent committee of members OF both
houses presidcs over certain public bust
ness.
Capitol in Heart of city.
The houses OF congress arc situated in
the heart of the city. The capitol build
ing is of two stories. Its material is
white stone. and the rorticos, which
form The entrance TO the chamber of
deputies and the senate, arc each upheld
by six Cornthtan columns. 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
thirty feet high. There are also beds OF
beautiful flowers. At ono corner Of the
grounds is a fountain, and at the other
statue standing on the site OF the Jesuit
church. which was burned while the con-
gregation was at worship, resulting in
the death OF more than 1000 women. The
doors Of the church opened inward, and
when the fire occurred the audience
pressed against tho doors, holding them
! Shut, ana causing this enormous loss OF
life. Tho monument Is a beautiful marble
Madonna in the attitude of mourning,
with four lneelng angels mt her feet
I l passed this monument in going into
{ the Chamber Of Deputies This chdmber
: is entered by beautiful hall in the shape
/ # half moon, and the galleries for
/ visitors are reached by a marble stair
: case, which leads to p second and third
/ floor. Both OF the chambers have tho
desks of the members running In rows
back from the seat of the speaker The
! desks are of mahogany and are more like
chool desks than those which we for
merly had in the house of representative
Tho building has also rooms for the presi-
dent and secretaries and there is a con-
gress hail, where the president reads his
message to both houses, which come to-
gether for the purpose.
The government of Chile has three
branches: Executive. consisting OF the
president and his cabinet; legislative
comprising the two houses of congress
and judicial embracing the courts. Tho
country is divided into provinces. which
correspond to our states, and departments
that may be compared to our counties
The president appoints the governors oil
the provinces and the chief officers Of
the counties They in turn appoint tbs
officials under them, so that the prosi
, dent practically controls the civil service
OF the country. He also controls tn,
courts. appointing the judges and theil
, subordinates with the approval OF tn,
J council OF state.
The courts are like ours IN some re
spects and different in others There q
/ a supreme court at the capital which
: supervises all the other courts of the re
public. There are six courts Of appeal
r one in each OF the principal cities, an'
! there are minor courts scattered over tn,
r. country. There Is no jury system excep
D in the cases wneTe the freedom OF tn
e press has been abused. All trials are be
, fore one or more Judges the government
being represented by public prosecutors
- The police are under the control of tn
] minister OF the interior. and seem to b.
very well managed. Police expenses ar
= paid out Of the national treasury.
I The Chleans are proud OF their army
{ They are natural soldiers and IL Is sal,
y they would rather fight than cat Ao
T Cording TO- the laws, every able-bodie'
e citizen Is obliged 60 serve in the army
/ and recruits are called up In their TWEEN
:. tieth year and trained for one year. The
c Gfterward serve off and on for nine year
e In the reserve. The country IS divide
t into zones on military districts. each o
o which forms a complete division o
L mobilization. The total strength Of On
G army Is 1900 officers and 1900 men.
II The country has good military school
e and its officers arc oil trained by Ger
mans The army IL said 10 he about Oh
most efficient in South America.
As TO financial matters. the government