Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-06

cial and political progress
The case Of Uruguay, the dimlnut1ve
southern republic whose political stability and
advanced social legislation are models for the
whole world, is not unique in Latin America.
Costa Rica one OF the smallest of the Central
American nations, has attained degree OF de-
VelOpment, politically and socially which places
her in the front rank, in that respect, OF the
Caribbean nations. And now another OF the
smaller states of Latin America, Ecuador, Is
undertaking certain politico-social changes OF
extraordinary Importance, reforms which are
being tried out In some Of the most progressive
states Of Europe.
Few people in this country-if anyhow
that in that small and far-away Latin re-
public there is being put in practice today the
principle of legislative representation according
to occupations, one of the transcendent political
reforms Of our century When Fascist italy
announced to the world that she was going to
change her legislative system. abolishng the
traditional bodies Of So-called Representatives
OF the people," and substituting for them nom
political bodies composed of representatives Of
professional classes, such the universities,
scientific and cultural organizations, workers
unions, commercial, agricultural and industrial
associations, etc, the press of the whole world
discussed the importance possibilities and prob
able results OF this innovation, which did away
Win the principles, practices and prejudiceS
that had grown up during some centuries Of
what we have come to call democracy. But
now when Ecuador, a state hardly known to
readers Of American newspapers is on the eve
OF adopting similar method, the fact passes
almost unnoted, and little attention is given to
the approaching general elections soon to take
place in Ecuador, in which for the first time,
not the sovereign people" but the organized
entities and professional groups will choose the
national Senators
The Ecuadorean Senate, until recently COM
posed, as in other democracies of Senators
elected by the people Of each one of the prov
lhceS departments or states composing the ma
ton, Will hereafter consist, according to the
new constitution adopted this year. of IS sena-
tors chosen by the provincial councils of each of
the l5 provinces and of "l5 senators represent
ing various callings, as follows: One repre-
sentative OF the universities, l of teachers in
nigh and special schools, l of teachers of
primary and normal schools, of the press and
Scientlhc academies and societies, 2 of farmers
OF commerce, ! of industries 2 of working
men, OF the rural population and of the
national armed forces" Also there is to be a
special Senator for the defense and care OF the
Indian"
In this way the Senate heretofore a political
institution, Is converted into a technical entity
in which, for the first time, the various profess
Sonal classes and the organizations which con-
Stltute the social fabric will actually participate
IN directing national affairs. The change is not
so radical as that carried out in Italy, where
the Chamber Is constituted exclusively of occu
patlonal representatives but, in any event this
is the nrst time that such an experiment has
been made in the New World by giving occu-
pational character to one-half of the Senate.
which changes the control of national legislation
from the hands Of politicians to those of tech
HE new Ecuadorean constitution which pro.
vides for this legislative reform. is the
thirteenth to be adopted since Ecuador became
an independent state in 1880, upon her separa-
ton from the Republic of Great Colombia.
founded by the Liberator Bolivar when Span
ish dominion ceased in South America. All the
Ecuadorean constitutions have been liberal and
advanced, perhaps too advanced for the aver
age of political and social conditions of the
country. AS long ago as the middle of the last
century the fundamental charter of Ecuador
contained precepts which only recently have
Deeh lnciuoeo IN those OF other American and
European nations.
The creation of a Senate "a la Fascista" Is
not the only important innovation contained
In the new Ecuadorean constitution It pro-
VideS for other political and administrative
reforms in consonance with the most advanced
principles of the day. One of the most inter.
esting OF these is that relating to property
rights. The new Ecuadorean law departs from
the individualistic principles of the previous
constitution, adopted in 1906 and tends toward
modified socialism more in harmony with the
spirit Of modern days. Property rights are
recognized as social functions" which not onlv
afford benefits and rights but also impose duties
and obligations toward others. The tendency
Is toward the subordination of individual lib
erty TO higher needs of social character. The
value placed upon social interests is increased,
setting aside the strictly individual values
which until recently were the fundamental
bases of all democratic constitutions In doing