to 12,551. graph system, the coining of money, the issue and repayment of bank notes, and the weights and measures of the Republic. It provides for the revenue in general, and especially decides on the import and export duties in accordance with principles embodied in the constitution. It legislates in matters of civil capacity, copy-has steadily advanced. In 1874 it was made obligatory right, bankruptcy, patents, sanitary police in dangerous epidemics, and it may create and subsidize, besides the Polytechnic School at Zurich, a Federal University and other higher educational institutions. There has also been intrusted to it the authority to decide concerning public works for the whole or great part of Switzerland, such as those relating to rivers, forests, and the construction of railways. The supreme legislation and executive authority are vested in a parliament of two chambers, a Ständerath, or State Council, and a Nationalrath, or National Council. The first is composed of forty-four members, chosen and paid by the twenty-two cantons of the Confederation, two for each canton. The mode of their election and the term of membership depend entirely on the canton. cent. of the inhabitants adhering to the former, and 40 per cent. to the latter. According to the census of December 1, 1900, the number of Protestants amounted to 1,918,197, of Roman Catholics to 1,383,135, and of Jews Instruction.-In the educational administration of Switzerland there is no centralization. Before the year 1848 most of the cantons had organized a system of primary schools, and since that year elementary education (the school age varying in the different cantons), and placed under the civil authority. In some cantons the cost falls almost entirely on the communes, in others it the cantons primary instruction is free. In the northeastern cantons, where the inhabitants are mostly Protestants, the proportion of the school-attending children to the whole population is as one to five; while in the half Protestant and half Roman Catholic cantons it is as one to seven; and in the entirely Roman Catholic cantons as one to nine. The compulsory law has hitherto not always been enforced in the Roman Catholic cantons, but is rigidly carried out in those where the Protestants form the majority of inhabitants. In every district there are primary schools, and secondary schools for youths of from twelve to fifteen. Of the contingent for inilitary service in 1900, .18 per cent. could not read, and 62 per cent. could not write. is divided between the canton and communes. In all PANAMA, 460 miles from east to west and has an area of Local Government.-Each of the cantons and demicantons of Switzerland is souverain, so far as its independence and legislative powers are not restricted by the federal constitution; each has its local government, different in its organization in most instances, but all based on the principle of absolute sovereignty of the people. In a few of the smallest cantons, the people exercise their powers direct, without the intervention of any parliamentary machinery, all male citizens of full age assembling together in the open air, at stated periods, making laws and appointing their administrators Such assemblies, known as the Landsgemeinden, exist in Appenzell, Glarus, Unterwald, and Uri. In all the larger cantons, there is a body chosen by universal suffrage, called der Grosse Rath, which exercises all the functions of the Landsgemeinden. In all the cantonal constitutions, however, except that of Freiburg and those of the cantons which have a Landsgemeinde, the referendum has a place. This principle is most fully developed in Zurich, where all laws and concordats, or agreements with other cantons, and the chief matters of finance, as well as all revision of the constitution, must be submitted to the popular vote. In many of the canOn November 3, 1903, dispatches to the tons, the popular initiative has also been introduced. The members of the cantonal councils, as well as most daily papers informed the world that the inof the magistrates, are either honorary servants of their habitants of the state of Panama were in fellow citizens, or receive a merely nominal salary. In each canton there are districts (Amtsbezirke) consisting revolt against the government of the United of a number of communes grouped together, each dis-States of Colombia. On November 7, President trict having a Prefect (Regierungstatthalter) representing the canton. In the larger communes, for local affairs, there is an Assembly (legislative) and a Council (executive) with a president, maire or syndic, and not less than four other members. In the smaller communes there is a council only, with its proper officials. Religion. According to the Constitution of 1874 there is complete and absolute liberty of conscience and of creed. No one can incur any penalties whatsoever on account of his religious opinions. No one is bound to pay taxes specially appropriated to defraying the expenses of a creed to which he does not belong. No bishoprics can be created on Swiss territory without the approbation of the Confederation. The order of Jesuits and its affiliated societies cannot be received in any part of Switzerland; all functions clerical and scholastic are forbidden to its members, and the interdiction can be extended to any other religious orders whose action is dangerous to the State, or interferes with the peace of different creeds. The foundation of new convents or religious orders is forbidden. The population of Switzerland is divided between Protestantism and Roman Catholicism, about 59 per Roosevelt, through Secretary IIay, recognized the Republic of Panama, and notified Colombia that she must not attempt to regain control of the isthmus. On the same day, the provisional government of the Republic of Panama, through the American consul, notified Secretary Hay that Philippe Bruneau-Varilla had been appointed its diplomatic agent in this country, and that a commission would leave Panama for Washington on November 10, to arrange for a treaty to govern the construction and operation of the canal. Singularly enough, M. BruneauVarilla holds a great deal of stock in the French Canal Company, of which concern he is also one of the engineers. The promptness with which the United States and Europe showed a determination to prevent punitive action by Colombia caused many persons to assume that there had been concerted preparation. The theory has been both strongly supported and strongly contested. At any rate, a record in republic-making has been established, not only in speed but also in bloodlessness. Not a shot was fired, nor is there on record the wounding or killing of one man. Only in Panama could such an undertaking have been carried through to success, and only under conditions actually existing in Colombia at the time. Necessary, also, was an incentive. The big canal gave that, because secession from the Federation meant the paying to Panama of many millions of dollars that would otherwise have gone into the Colombian treasury. the Panama Canal, and to pay Colombia ten millions for the right to build and control the canal, and an annual rental of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars for the territory traversed. The President was authorized to negotiate a treaty with Colombia, which he did, but, unfortunately, the Colombian senate adjourned on October 31, 1903, without ratifying it. Italy and France have recognized the new republic of Panama, Germany has refused all invitations to interfere, and England is neutral. In February, 1904, Panama was duly organized as an international state, and a treaty concluded with it by the United States, granting to the latter country the right to construct the Panama canal. In pursuance of this treaty, the President appointed a board of commissioners, made up for the most part Cortez was the first to see that a canal across of eminent civil and military engineers, to the isthmus was necessary, and he actually take charge of the construction of the canal. had a route surveyed. Then came Antonio Work is expected to begin as soon as the Galvao, in 1550, who suggested digging a ditch appropriation becomes available, and after along the identical route now proposed. In the title has been legally passed by the French 1818, Spain decided that the work should be company. Ten years is the time estimated begun, but industrial progress was interfered for its completion. with by a continuous insurrection inaugurated International Copyright Protection. just then by Bolivar, the Liberator, who suc--By an act of Congress which went into effect ceeded in organizing the United States of on July 1, 1891, the United States GovernColombia, which became the Republic of New ment removed the limitation of the privilege of Granada after his death. In 1840, Panama copyright to citizens of the United States, thus and Veragua seceded, but were quickly whipped making it possible for foreign authors to obtain back into the union. In 1813, the French protection in this country upon the same terms government discussed the advisability of build- as native authors, except that they are required ing the canal, but soon abandoned the idea. to pay a double fee. At the same time ConIn 1846, when travel to the Pacific was increas-gress stipulated that this copyright protection ing, the United States entered into a treaty should apply only to a citizen of a foreign with New Granada, wherein that government state or nation when such foreign state or guaranteed that "The right of way or transit across the Isthmus of Panama, upon any mode of communication that now exists or may hereafter exist, shall be free and open to the government and citizens of the United States." In compensation, the United States, in the same treaty, guaranteed to maintain uninterrupted traffic between Panama and Colon, and to preserve "The rights of sovereignty and property which New Granada has and possesses over the said territory." Then following the building of the transisthmian railway, which was completed in 1855. The next year Panama and Antioquia seceded, but were reincorporated in the Federation after a few years. In 1879, Ferdinand de Lesseps organized a large company for the construction of the canal and failed. In 1902, Congress passed a bill in which provision was made to purchase from the French company, for forty million dollars, its entire interest in nation permitted citizens of the United States to enjoy the benefits of copyright on substantially the same basis as its own subjects, or when such foreign state or nation should become a party to an international agreement providing for reciprocity in the granting of copyright. Under the operation of this amendment of the copyright law, therefore, the privileges of copyright in the United States have been extended, by presidential proclamation, to the authors of Belgium, Chili, Costa Rica, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain and her possessions (Australia, Canada, India, etc.), Italy, Mexico, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland, and, as the result, the artists, composers, and authors of these nations are now entitled to receive copyright protection from the United States, and American authors and makers of works of art may demand the same privilege for their production under the laws of the other countries. Indebtedness and Finances of Nations. (Compiled from the Summary prepared by the Bureau of Statistics, Department of Commerce and Labor.) Argentina... Australasia. COMMERCE WITH THE UNITED STATES. Exports Imports into from United U. S. fromStates to $9.808.529 $10,396,873 13.845,001 6,672,580 10,093,346 Revenue. Expendi- $35,021,820 $62.723.000 $60,757,000 41.979.208 140,755,000 Austria. Hungary. 1903 1902 43,515,112 17,912,084 6.180.602 4 -5 510.693.936 4 -6 368,763,125 3 -6 76,926 11.155.565 57,886,757 1,731 71,583,086 22.875.024 Canada.... 1902 271,829,090 22-5 $1.417.532.295 $7.901.486,000 $7,980,856,000 $1.356.965.925 $1,003,224.820 * Except Australasia, Canada, and British India. Largely in depreciated paper. Included under Sweden. § Totals include figures of a few small countries not included in this table. |