SANTO DOMINGO. (REPÚBLICA DOMINICANA.) Constitution and Government. THE Republic of Santo Domingo, founded in 1844, is governed under a Constitution bearing date November 18, 1844, re-proclaimed, with changes, November 14, 1865 (after a revolution which expelled the troops of Spain, who held possession of the country for the two previous years), and again in 1879, 1880, 1881, 1887 and 1896. By the terms of the Constitution the legislative power of the Republic is vested in a National Congress of 24 deputies. The members are chosen by direct popular vote, with restricted suffrage, in the ratio of two for each province and two for each district, for the term of two years. But the powers of the National Congress only embrace the general affairs of the Republic. The executive of the Republic is vested in a President chosen by an electoral college for the term of four years. During several years, according to the British Consular Reports, the country went on prosperously, but recently civil war has thrown everything into confusion. President of the Republic.-Carlos F. Morales. The administrative affairs of the Republic are in charge of a ministry appointed by the President. The Ministry is composed of the heads of the departments of the Interior and Police, Finance and Commerce, Justice and Public Instruction, War and Marine, Public Works and Foreign Affairs. Each province and district is administered by a governor appointed by the President. The various communes, cantons, and sections are presided ever by prefects or magistrates appointed by the governors. The communes have municipal corporations elected by the inhabitants. Area and Population. The area of Santo Domingo, which embraces the eastern portion of the island of Haiti-the western division forming the Republic of Haiti-is estimated at 18,045 English square miles, with a population in 1888 officially estimated at 610,000 inhabitants, or about 34 to the square mile. The Republic is divided into six provinces and six maritime districts. The population, unlike that of the neighbouring Haiti, is mainly composed of a mixed race of the original Spanish inhabitants and the aborigines, of mulattoes and of negroes, the latter being less in number; the whites, or European-descended inhabitants, are comparatively numerous, and owing to their influence the Spanish language prevails, though in the towns both French and English are spoken. The capital of Santo Domingo, founded 1494, at the mouth of the river Ozama, has about 20,000 inhabitants; Puerto Plata, the chief port, has 4,500 inhabitants. Religion and Instruction. The religion of the State is Roman Catholic, other forms of religion being permitted under certain restrictions. Primary instruction is gratuitous and obligatory, being supported by the communes and by central aid. The public or state schools are primary, superior, technical schools, normal schools, and a professional school with the character of a university. It is estimated that there are 300 schools with about 10,000 pupils. There are several literary societies in the capital and other towns; and in the Republic there are published about 40 newspapers. Justice. The chief judicial power resides in the Supreme Court of Justice, which consists of a president and 4 justices chosen by Congress, and 1 (ministro fiscal) appointed by the executive-all these appointments being only for the presidential period. The territory of the Republic is divided into 11 judicial districts, each having its own tribunal or court of first instance, and these districts are subdivided into communes, each with a local justice (alcalde), a secretary and bailiff (alguacil). Finance. The revenue derived from customs duties on imports and exports amounted in 1896 to 1,545,450 dollars; in 1897, 1,601,294 dollars; in 1898, 1,683,584 dollars; in 1899, 1,529,903 dollars; in 1900, 2,392,052 dollars; in 1901, 2,141,084 dollars. This is the main source of revenue. The estimates for the year 1902-3 put the revenue at 1,910,000 dollars, of which 188,500 dollars was already assigned, and the expenditure at 1,721,500 dollars. In 1897 the foreign debt of the Republic was converted into a new Unified Loan of 4,236,750l., consisting of 2,736,7501. in 2 per cent. bonds and 1,500,000l. in 4 per cent. bonds. Both classes of bonds are secured on customs duties and specially assigned revenues, the collection of which was vested in a Régie controlled by the Santo Domingo Improvement Company of New York. Default in the payment of interest was made on April 1, 1899, and, after other arrangements had been attempted, the Dominican Government, in 1901, took the collection of the revenues out of the hands of the Improvement Company. In January, 1903, an arrangement was made by the Government of the United States and that of Santo Domingo for the settlement of the dispute by arbitration. The award, given on July 14, 1904, was entirely favourable to the Improvement Company. In the middle of 1904 the foreign debt, including arrears of interest, amounted to 3,885,350. The Improvement Company debt amounts to 4,500,000 U.S. gold dollars, and other debts, mostly internal, amount to 5,300,690 U.S. dollars gold. An agreement has been signed on the part of the United States and Dominican Governments (Feb., 1905) whereby the customs and port dues assigned by the award as security for the debt and interest due to the Improvement Company will be collected by United States officials. Defence. There is a small army of infantry, cavalry, and artillery, a regiment being stationed in the capital of each province. There are also reserve corps, and universal liability to serve in case of foreign war. The naval force consists of three small gunboats. Production and Industry. Of the total area, about 15,500 square miles is cultivable. Sugar-growing, which has been the principal industry, seems declining, and cocoa has become the staple product. In 1902, about 290,000 cwts. of cocoa were exported. Tobacco of a superior quality is grown, the annual produce being about 150,000 cwts. American capital to a considerable amount has recently been invested in banana-growing land; experiments are being made in cotton-growing; the cultivation of rice is being undertaken by a concessionaire, who has obtained an exclusive right for the purpose; some attention has recently been given to cattle-raising and dairy produce. Large sugar plantations and factories are at work in the south and west of the Republic. In 1900 the quantities of the chief products exported were: sugar, 107,942,000 lbs.; coffee, 3,592,000 lbs.; cocoa, 11,231,000 lbs.; tobacco, 17,392,000 lbs. ; logwood, 4,468,000 lbs. ; mahogany, 565,951 feet; bananas, 285,000 bunches. The country is rich in timber, including mahogany, satin-wood, logwood, cedar, iron-wood, sabina, and other woods. Iron, gold, copper, coal, salt, and many other minerals are found. Commerce. The commerce of the Republic is small, owing in part to customs duties of a prohibitory character. The imports and exports for five years were valued as follows (in American dollars) :: There are no recent commercial statistics. The chief exports are mentioned under the head of production. Minor exports are hides, wax, honey, dividivi, rum. The imports are cottons, hardware, and provisions. The trade is mainly with the United States (which supply more than half the imports), Germany, and France. In the Annual Statement of the Board of Trade,' the exports to and imports from Great Britain are added to those of Haiti. The imports into and exports from the United States from and to Santo Domingo in 4 years, ending June 30, were as follows, in U.S. dollars : The chief article of import from Santo Domingo into the United States in 1903 was sugar, 2,107,428 dollars; the chief exports to Santo Domingo were breadstuffs, 201,364 dollars; cottons, 327,860 dollars. Shipping and Communications. In 1902 the ports of Puerto Plata and Monte Christi were visited by 235 vessels of 381,201 tons. Steamers of four European and American lines visit Dominican Ports. The interior is not well supplied with roads. A railway belonging to an English company runs between Sanchez on the Bay of Samaná and La Vega (62 miles), and has been carried on to Santiago as a Government line; total length about 130 miles. Concessions have been granted for other railways. The Republic entered the Postal Union in 1880. In 1902 there were in the Republic 69 post offices. The inland letters, printed packets, &c., numbered 1,329,444; and the international 302,082. The telegraph, in the hands of the Antilles Telegraphic Company, is in operation between Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, and Santiago, from Santiago to Monte Cristi, and along the railway from Sanchez to La Vega; total length, over 430 miles. Several other inland lines are in project. The foreign telegraphic system in operation is that of the French Submarine Telegraphic Company. Money, Weights, and Measures. The National Bank, in return for cash advances made to the government, has the privilege of selling government stamped paper and postage stamps, and of collecting 5 per cent. tax on import duties. Its notes are in circulation. On July 1st, 1897, the United States gold dollar was adopted as the standard of value, but only a debased silver coinage and depreciated paper money are in circulation. On March 31, 1899, the coinage and notes in circulation were estimated as follows:-Silver, 2,200,000 dollars; old bank note issue, 600,000 dollars; new note issue, 3,600,000 dollars; total, 6,400,000 dollars. An attempt is being made to redeem the paper money, but nothing satisfactory has been accomplished. Quintal=4 arrobes = 100 lbs. (of 16 oz)=46 kilograms. For liquids the arrobe = 32 cuartilles = 25 498 litres=4 110 gallons. Diplomatic and Consular Representatives. 1. OF SANTO DOMINGO IN GREAT BRITAIN. Consul-General.-Miguel Ventura; appointed July 20, 1876. There are consular representatives at Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham. 2. OF GREAT BRITAIN IN SANTO DOMINGO. Vice-Consul at San Domingo.-H. H. Gosling. Statistical and other Books of Reference concerning Santo La République Dominicaine. Par Francisco Alvarez Leal. Paris, 1888. Santo Domingo. Bulletin No. 52 of the Bureau of the American Republics. Washington, 1892. Abad (Jose Ramon), La República Dominicana, reseña general geográfico-estadística. 8. Santo Domingo, 1889. Garcia (José Gabriel), Compendio de la historia de Santo Domingo, escrito para el uso de as escuelas de la República Dominicana. Santo Domingo, 1879. Hazard (Samuel), Santo Domingo, Past and Present; with a Glance at Haiti. 8. pp. 511. London, 1873. Jordan (Wilhelm), Geschichte der Insel Haiti. 2 vols. 8. Leipzig, 1849. Keim (D. B. Randolph), Santo Domingo. Pen Pictures and Leaves of Travel. 12. Philadelphia, 1871. Merino (Padre), Elementos de geografía fisica, politica é histórica de la República Dominicana. Santo Domingo, 1889. Monte y Tejada (Antonio), Historia de Santo Domingo. desde su descubrimiento hasta nuestros dias. Tomo I. (all published). 8. Habana, 1853. Report of Council of the Corporation of Foreign Bondholders. London, 1895. Saint Remi, Vie de Toussaint Louverture. Appendix for 1894. 8. Paris, 1850. SERVIA. (KRALJEVINA SRBIYA.) Reigning Sovereign and Family. Peter I., born 1846, son of Alexander Karageorgevitch; married, 1883, to Princess Zorka, daughter of Prince Nikolas of Montenegro; widower since 1890; ascended the throne, June, 1903. The children of the King are Princess Helene, born October 23 (0.S.), 1884; Prince George, heir apparent, born August 27 (O.S.), 1887; Prince Alexander, born December 4 (O.S.), 1888. In The founder of the Karageorgevitch dynasty was George Petrovitch Karageorge, who, in 1804, was proclaimed Commander-in-Chief in Servia, but was murdered in 1817, leaving two sons-Alexis, born 1801, and Alexander, born 1813. 1842 Alexander was designated reigning Prince by the Skupshtina, and the title was confirmed by the Porte, but the dignity was not hereditary. In 1858 Alexander was dethroned, in 1868 he was banished, and in 1885 he died in exile. King Peter is thus the third of his house who have ruled in Servia. He succeeded to the throne on the assassination of King Alexander of the Obrenovitch dynasty; was proclaimed King by the Army, June 11; was elected King by the Skupshtina June 15, and assumed royal rights and duties June 25, 1903. The independence of Servia from Turkey was established by article 34 of the Treaty of Berlin, signed July 13, 1878, and was solemnly proclaimed by Prince (afterwards King) Milan at his capital, August 22, 1878. The King's civil list amounts to 1,200,000 dinars. Constitution and Government. The Constitution voted by the Great National Assembly, January 2, 1889 (December 22, 1888, old style), continued in force till May, 1894, when it was repealed, and the constitution of July, 1869, revived. On the |