El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-01-31
SIGN MEXICAN
CONSTITUTION
Document Is Completed: 1t
Contains Rigorous Restric-
ton on Foreigners.
RY AssnCIATED PREss.

Queretaro. Mex, Jan. 3l--The dele
gates to the constitutional assembly
which concluded its labors Tuesday
night. assembled this morning and
signed the constitution on which they
had been working for two months.
The ceremony was attended by great
enthsuiasm All the members OF the
cabinet were present except Luis Cab
rera. minister of finance. and Ygnacio
Bonillas minister of fomento and COM
munications.
The new constitution contains some
advanced legislation Among the pro-
visions are: Abolition Of the office of
vice president; prohibition of the re-
election of a president: stringent and
radical labor laws which provide for
an eight hour day. seven hours OF
night work. and six working days a
week: compulsory arbitration, profit
sharing. free employment bureaus.
antitrust laws. national department
Of health with plenary powers and
compulsory military instruction.
Article 30 Is Passed.
The assembly on Tuesday passed
president may expel. without prior
trial. foreigners whose presence in the
republic is considered troublesome
The article also provides that for
eigners may not take part in the
politics of the country. make denounce-
I1ents Of land. acquire landed property
or obtain concessions to exploit the
products of the soil unless they re-
nounce their character as foreigners
and the protection Of their govern
ments and alb that pertains TO the titles
in question. and remain completely sub
ject in this respect TO the laws and
authorities of the nation.
The assembly also passed articles Of
the constitution dealing with lands,
which provide that the nation owns ali
natural resources. Under this article
only Mexicans. or foreigners who re
linquish treaty rights. can acquire
right Of possession Of lands and water.
No church may acquire. administer or
possess real estate.
Restrictions On Foreigners.
Commercial or oil companies or man
ufacturers of oil may hold no more
land than is necessary for their pur-
noses The decision as to their hold
ings is to be left to the president.
Foreigners who acquire property by
waving their rights forfeit II il they
invoke the aid Of their governments.
Foreigners may not acquire land with
in 10 kilometers Of the border or so
kilometers from the shore. In no case
may they acquire direct control Of
land or water Under this article re-
ligious associations may not take mort
cages on real estate.
All church titles and mortgages pass
to the national government and may be
denounced by popular action
Churches To BE Nations Property.
All churches are declared to be the
property of the nation, which will de
termine how many of them viii be per
mitted TO be used for their original
purposes. All seminaries. colleges.
converts and asylums or buildings of
religious associations constructed for
the purpose Of religious learning pass
to the nation which will use them for
the pull lie services of the nation. No
commercial or stock company may
acquire. possess or administer agricul-
tural lands according to these articles.
To Divide Up Estates.
The next congress will frame laws
for the division of large estates. II
will then be determined the maximum
OF land an owner viii be allowed to
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