Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1241

 AREA AND POPULATION — RELIGION, INSTRUCTION 1119

of four years, with a non-active Vice-President, who is also President of the Senate. The Senate and Chamber of Deputies are elected directly by the people, the former in the ratio of one representative to 12,000 inhabitants, and the latter one to 6,000 inhabitants, though in the case of the sparsely populated divisions a greater ratio is permitted. The Constitution provides for ttiis proportion, but in practice the original number of 1.3 Senators and 26 Deputies is still adhered to. The Senators and Deputies receive each 2,000 dollars per month (320Z. per annum).

President of the Eepublic. — Eduardo Schaerer, elected for years from August 15, 1912.

Vice-President. — Dr. Pedro Bobadilla.

The President exercises his functions through a cabinet of responsible ministers, five in number, presiding over the departments of the Interior, of Finance ; of Worship, Justice and Public Instruction ; of War, and of Foreign Affairs. The President receives a salary of 10,000 dollars per month (16,0001. per annum), and each of the ministers 4,000 dollars per month (640Z, per annum ; but the total administrative expenses are stated not to exceed 700,OOOZ.

The country is divided into 20 districts, which are governed by chiefs, who are the civil authorities, and by justices of the peace, assisted by muni- cipal councils.

Area and Population.

The approximate area of Paraguay is 171,770 square miles, including the Paraguan Chaco, which is estimated at 106,922 square miles. There is an unsettled boundary dispute with Bolivia. In 1911 the population was estimated at 700,000, not including 100,000 Indians. The population is a mixture of Spanish. Guarani Indian, and Negro races. Of foreigners in Paraguay, in 1910, there were 20,000, including 9,300 Argentines, 10,000 Italians, 1,400 Brazilians, 1,100 Spanish, 2,500 German, 800 French, 600 Uruguayans, 400 English. In 1911 the population of the capital, Asuncion, founded 1536, was 80,000: other towns are Villa Rica, 26,000 : Concepcion, 15,000; San Pedro, 8,700; Luque 15,000, Carapegua 15,000, Paraguari 10,000, Villa del Pilar, 10,000. In 1908 there were 1,774 immigrants, 1909, 830, in 1910, 578, and in 1911, 389. Nearly three-fourths of the territory was national property, but in recent years most of it has been transferred to private ownership, much of it in very large tracts.

Religion, Instruction, and Justice.

The Roman Catholic Church is the established religion of tlie State, but the free exercise of other religions is permitted. Asuncion, Suffragan to Buenos Aires, is the only Paraguayan Episcopal See. The law of civil marriage was introduced in 1898. Education is free and compulsory, but schools are not everywhere available. In 1911 there were 800 schools with some 50,000 pupils. Private schools are subsidised by the Council of Edu- cation. There are a few private Protestant schools for boys and girls. Near Asuncion there* is an agricultural school with a model farm doing good work (temporarily closed in 1912 ; to be reopened in 1913 or 1914). At Asuncion there is a National College, with 15 professors and 120 students. Under a law of July, 1903, the State maintains 42 pupils in Europe and the United States. Besides contributions from general taxes, there is a special