Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/76

VENEZUELA. 52 VENEZUELA. ly to France) , 9,728.202 pounds ; and hides (almost entirely to New York), 3,'Jll,tiO0 pounds. Other important exports were fustic, divi-divi, deer and goat skins, rubber, tobacco, cattle (to Cuba), copaiba, balata gum, and gold. The total exports of gold in 18'jy amounted to 42,315 ounces. The exjjorts of Venezuela to the United States in 1901, consisting largely of coffee and hides, and in value exceeding one-half of the whole, amount- ed to .$0,64.5,848, more than a million less than those of 1898, but surpassing bj- some $3.50,000 those of 1902. The following table shows (ill bolivars equaling francs) the changes in the com- merce of the Republic between 1890 and 1900, exports and imports having greatly decreased since, owing to the blockade by German and Enalish fleets: Imports.. Exports.. 8:i.61i.41l 100,917.338 97,.'i00.000 111,455,000 42.7()7.500 74,407.550 The principal imports of Venezuela from the United States are cotton goods, iron goods, ma- chinery, petroleum, provisions, chemicals, and flour; from Great Britain, cotton and linen manu- factures, woolens, jute goods, and ironware; from Germanj-, hardware and beer; from France, wines and oils. The United States supplies about 44 per cent, of the imports. GovEKNMENT. The Constitution of Venezuela, adopted in 1830 and amended in 1SG4 and 1881, was changed March 29. 1901. This recent change has been further complicated by the foreign and domestic difliculties that, since its inception, have beset the present Administration. In gen- eral, Venezuela may be said to be a federal re- public, organized somewhat on the model of the United States, but allowing greater au- tonomy to the separate States. Tiie executive power is vested in a President, elected for six years. Under the previous Constitution the Con- gress elected for two years a federal council of nineteen members, and this council from its own number chose a president, who was also President of the Republic. The council and President were ineligible for a succeeding term. The legislative powers are vested in a Congress, composed of a Senate of forty members (two from each State) and a Chamber of Deputies, each Deputy repre- senting 40,000 inhabitants (or a majority frac- tion). Under the former Constitution the Sen- ate was com])Osed of three luciiibers from each of the eight Slates and the Cliauiber of Deputies of one member for each 35,000 inliabitants, al- though the largest number of Deputies ever re- portefl was 52. Senators and Deputies are elected by popular vote for six years, and qualitied electors must be 21 years of age. The federal judicial power is vested in a Federal High Court and a Supreme Court of Apjieal. By the Consti- tution of 1804 the States numbered' 20; in 1881 by combination these were reduced to eight States, eight Territories, two national settle- ments, and a Federal District. Ry the new Cimsti- tution the twenty States of the Constitution of 1S(!4 are restored. The States are practically autonomous in all local affairs, each with its own executive, legislature, and jiidiciary, and with local executive and judicial olTioers for the separate municipalities. In general the course of justice in civil and criminal matters is dila- tory and ineffective. Cariieas is the capital. Finances. The revenue and expenditures of Venezuela for the year 1901-02 balanced at 37,- 000,000 bolivars, or francs. Two-thirds of the revenues are derived from customs. The chief expenditures are for the Finance and the War and Marine Departments. The foreign debt in 1902 was computed at £5,202,077; the outstanding internal debt was reported at 100,433,810 boli- vars. In addition Venezuela has incurred various very trouLilesome chums from foreign powers by reason of interference with the property rights of foreign residents. (See History below.) The Bank of Venezuela and the Bank of Cariieas are the leading financial institutions, with a com- bined capital of about £800,000. The former is the main bank of issue, and to some extent transacts the business of the Government. The metric sys- tem is in legal force, but the Spanish weights and measures are connnonly employed. Defense. See under Armies. Population. The population in 1891 was 2,317.027. It was estimated in 1894 to have in- creased by about 130,000, but a deduction must be made on account of the territory lost in 1899. The foreigners number about 50,000, mostly Spaniards. In 1891 the Indian population was estimated at 00,000 independent, 20,000 semi-civi- lized, and 240,000 civilized. In no South Ameri- can country has there been such a complete ad- mixture of the Spani.sh, native, and negro ele- ments. There are very few pure native whites or pure negroes. Most of the population is gathered in the agricultural and mountainous sections of the northwest. The leading cities are Caracas, Valencia, Maracaibo. and Barquisimeto. Education and Religion. The early culture of the people of CarScas, commented upon by Humboldt, gained for that city the title of 'the Paris of Latin America,' and Venezuelan writers have occupied a brilliant position in the Spanish- American literary field. (See Spanish-American Literature.) In 1870 education was made free and compulsory. The town schools are fairly well kept u]), but in the country districts there is a great indifference shown toward education. Possibly 25 per cent, of the population can read and write. For primary instruction there are about 1450 Federal and 150 State schools. There is a central imiversity at Carflcas and there are five universities in other parts of the Republic. The University of Caracas has a school of engi- neering and other professional schools, an obser- vatorj-, and a national library. The Stale re- ligion is Roman Catholicism, but other forms are tolerated, though most of the Protestants (over 4000) are foreigners. History. The coast of Venezuela was first sighted by Columbus during his voyage of 1498, and a year hater Ojeda and Vespucius examined it more carefully, giving to it the name of 'Little Venice' on account of sonu' Indian villages which they observed built upon jiiles or stakes in Lake Maracaibo. In 1527 .luan ,mpues. who was sent from Santo Domingo to settle some dill'erenccs between the Indians and a small Spanisli colony, founded the city of Com. which reinaincd (he sent of government until 1570, when it was transferred to Carficas. .About the time of the establish- ment of Coro, Charles V., whose Kiiropean wars had obliged him to borrow extensively, agreed