Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1356

 1234 SANTO DOMINGO.

(Republica 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, at various dates in 1879, 1880, 1881, 1887, 1896, and 1908. By the Constitution of 1908 the legislative power of the Republic is vested in a National Congress, consisting of a Senate of 12 senators and a Chamber of Deputies of 24 members. These representatives are remunerated at the rate of 4.801. per annum each. There is one senator for each province, and the deputies are elected by the provinces in proportion to the number of their inhabitants. The members are chosen by indirect vote, in the ratio of two for each province, for the term of four years. But the powers of the National Congress only embrace the general affairs of the Republic.

The President is chosen by an electoral college for the term of six years, and receives a salary of 9,600 dollars per annum. There is no Vice- President. In case of death or disability of the^ President, Congress designates a person to take charge of the executive office.

President ad interim of the Repuhlic.—T)v. Adolfo A. Nouel (elected by Congress in November, 19] 2, on the resignation of President Victoria). Term of office 1912-14.

The executive of the Republic is vested in a Cabinet composed of the President and seven Ministers, who are the heads of the departments of the Interior and Police, Finance and Commerce, Justice and Public Instruction, War and Marine, Agriculture and Immigration, Foreign Affairs, and Public Works and Communications.

The Republic is divided into twelve provinces. Each province is admin- istered by a governor appointed by the President of the Republic, and they have all the same political, administrative, and judicial rights and powers. The various communes, cantons, and sections are presided over 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 Quisqueya or Sto. Domingo— the western division forming the Republic of Haiti — is estimated at 19,325 English square miles, with a population estimated (in 1911) at 708,000 inhabitants.

The population is mainly composed of Creoles of pure Spanish descent, and a mixed race of European', African and Indian blood ; there are, however, many Turks and Syrians, especially in Santo Domingo city, where the dry goods trade is almost exclusively in their hands. The language used by the populace is Spanisli, but on the Samana Peninsula there are a few hundred farmers, some of whom (descended from American negro immigrants of 1828) speak corrupt PZnglish, and others Haitian patois. The caj^ital, Santo Domingo, founded 1496 by Bartolomeo Colombo, brother of the discoverer, on the left bank of the river Ozama, was destroyed in 1547 by a hurricane, and subsequently rebuilt on the right bank of the same river. It has in 1912, 22.000 inhabitants; Santiago, 20,000; Puerto Plata, the chiet port, and Macoris have between 15,000 and 16,000 each ; Samana, Sanchez, Azna, and Monte Christy have from 4,000 to 5,000 each.

In 1911 there were 27,407 births, 2,442 marriages, and 6,603 deaths.

Religion and Instruction.— The religion of the State is Roman Catholic, other forms of religion being permitted. There is a Catholic arch-