The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-10-13
SOUTH AME RIGA
HAS NEW NATION
Federation Includes Honduras,
Guatemala and Salvador.
NINE MEMBERS IN SENATE
Constitution of United States Is Model
Pact of Union Was Signed at
San Jose, Costa RIGA, Last
January.

Tegucigalpa, Honduras Oct. IA
new nation having an approximate
area of 100000 miles and a population
of 100000 came into existence on
Monday when the governments of Hon
duras, Guatemala and Salvador cease
to function and the provisional federal
council of the Central American feder-
alton composed of those countries,
took charge.
The new republic lies between Mex
leo and Nicaragua, with Tegucigalpa
as its capital.
The pact of the union was signed
early in January at San Jose, Costa
Rica, by the three states and also by
Costa Rica, whose national assembly
rejected it later by a vote Of 10 to 20.
u S. Rights Baked Nicaragua.
Nicaragua refused to sign the pact
on account of the differences with its
neighbor states about the interpreta-
ton of the Bryan-Chamarro treaty,
which gave to the United States spe-
cial rights for the construction of a
new interoceanic canal through its ter
rltory.
Similar considerations, apparently
prevailed in Costa Rica, but in both
countries public opinion is divided and
a unionist party is endeavoring to
bring about the union of Nicaragua
and Costa RIGA with the federation. If
this comes to fulfillment, the popula-
ton of the new nation would be in
creased by more than 100000 inhab-
itants and would extend its boundary
down to Panama.
The union of these sister republics
has been national aspiration since
eighty years ago, when political trou-
bleS destroyed the federal republic of
Central America which, as a whole,
liberated itself from the Spanish pow
er in 1921 and maintained its unity UNI
til the forties they speak the same
language-Spanish have the same re-
ligiOn-Roman Catholic-and are of
the same race, predominantly Indian,
except in Costa Rica, where the white
race prevails. Since the Spanish con-
quest they have had identical legisla-
ton and the same culture.
Constitution of U. S. as Model.
The text of the treaty Of union pro-
vides for a government following the
lines of the constitution of the United
States with three separated branches,
the executive, legislative and judicial,
although the executive is modelled
more on the Swiss system. A con-
stitution embodying these provisions
was finally approved by the constitu-
ent assembly which met in September
at Tegucigalpa.
In so far as it does not infringe on
the federal constitution, each state re-
tains its autonomy and independence
in the management and direction Of its
internal affairs and will carry on the
governmental. functions not specifical-
" delegated to the federation.
The executive power repOses in a
federal council composed of popularity
elected delegates, each state to elect
one councilman and one alternate, for
the term Of five years.
First Senate of Nine Members.
The legislative branch reposes In
two houses, one of senators and the
other Of deputies. The senate con-
sists of three senators for each state,
elected by the state congress for the
term Of six years, and will renew IT.
self by thirds every two years. The
house of deputies is composed of pop
puarly elected representatives in the
proportion of one to every 100000 In
habitants or fraction Of more than 3d.
900. The deputies are elected for
four years
The judicial power is vested in a
supreme court and other courts estab-
lished by law. Supreme court judges
will be seven in number and will be
elected for life by the senate from a
list of eligbles prepared by the fed
eral council.
Liberty of thought and conscience
and many Democratic principles are
provided for.