Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-27
CHANGES PLANNED IN
THE CONSTITUTION
May Do Away With Presi-
dent and Congress and
Place All Legislative and
Executive Power in the
Hands Of Body Of Seven
Men.

Montevideo, Uruguay, Dec. 27.-Leg-
islation of the most radical character
is being discussed by congressional
commissions which have been meeting
regularly in this capital for the past
few weeks The ordinary sessions OF
congress are fixed by the constitution
tc be held between Feb is and June
Is of each year, but the radicals have
forced the issue and their advanced
ideas are being considered at this
time.
The most revolutionary of the pro-
posals is that Uruguay shall change
it's form of government so that COM
mission instead of a president shall be
vested with the executive power. Uru-
quay, one OF the richest and best
governed, though one of the smallest
Of the South American republics. has
population of less than 100000,
which the supporters of the commits
s,cn plan say would lend itself to the
new idea. Its 10 departments, corre-
spending to states in the United states
of North America, are so closely weld
ed by railways and waterways that
the governmental problem, is simpler in
the little republic than in any other
entity of the southern continent.
Tho proposed commission would con-
sist of seven members. one to act as
executive chairman for the period Of
year, to be replaced at the expiration
OF this time by another member of
the commission. The retiring execu-
tive chairman would leave the post
to be replaced by a new member to be
selected by the Legislature. Only those
who had served on the commission for
n period longer than year would be
eligible to the craftsmanship.
TRYING TO STEM TIDE
Under the present constitution the
executive power is vested in nresi-
dent who is chosen by the general as
sembly for a term of four years and
who is forbidden to be a candidate for
reelection for the term Immediately
following his own tenure of office. DR..
Feliciano Viera, who heads the present
Uruguayan government, is a pro-
nounced radical, but it is political gos-
sip that the program of the extremists
of his own party has taken him off
his feet and he is doing what he can
to stem the tide.
Already the insurance business and
the electric light and power business of
the capital have sbeen taken over by
the government and enthusiasts are
calling for state owned railways. bak
cries and street car systems. Here
they have met the opposition of the
British owners of the railways who
have threatened to withdraw their
capital IL the proposed laws are put
into effect.
Recently the socio1ogists have be
come active and Domingo Arena, one
of the most prominent lawyers of the
country, made a speech before the
commission advocating the enactment
OF divorce law by the provisions Of
which woman might be released
from the matrimonial contract upon q
mere request to that effect before
a properly constituted magistrate. II
the case of the husband long list o.
limiting causes Is enumerated. The
author of this measure declared thai
the peculiar conditions in Uruguay
called for such radical remedial leg.
islation. His speech was at first ridi.
culed but is now receiving the seri
Gus consideration of the law makers
COMPROMISE PROPOSED.
Senior Battly Ordonez, who preceded
DR. Viera as president of Uruguay
and who is one of the present chic
executives close friends, is leader o
one of the most advanced of the radi
cal wings. Through his efforts thu
eight hour law has already beef
adopted in practically all parts of thu
republic The fact that the presen
government cannot follow the propose'
program of this leader and that o
Senior Arena has threatened to cause
split in the Radical party. This coul'
mean that the opposition might com
into power after being out for hal
of a century. 1t Is to avoid this yer.
thing that the compromise of a com
mission form of government has bee
proposed, the idea being to find place
for all wings Of the radical party.
Uruguay is the only country in Soutl
America where paper currency is to
day at premium, measured in term
of American or English gold. Tn
republic has a gold standard, but ha
never coined any gold pieces. Thos
which are in circulation come fror
foreign nations. The unit value of 1t
paper peso, however, Is $1.034 and a
the money changers offices 1t take
$1.05 American currency to buy on
dollars worth of Uruguayan paper n
matter how radical has been the pro
gram of any government, the lawmak
ers have always been extremely jealou
Of the republics reputation for finan
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